Chapter - Planning and -uildup Planning for task vroup 7.4 participation in Operation HARDTACK commenced in late 1956 coincident with the roll-up of that year's nuclear test at Eniwetok, Operation REDWING, and with the planning for the 1957 continental test, Operation PLUMBBOB, The first efforts were directed at the preparation of aircraft, supply, construction, transportation, and budget requirements, These studies led to the development of the data which was presented at the Joint Task Force SEVEN planning conference in February 1957 as being our needs for the conduct of our test mission. By mid-1957 a Schedule of Events and a Communications Plan had been published and our officer and airmen personnel requisitions had been forwarded to higher headquarters for action. As has been mentioned previously, the activation of the various Task Group 7.4agencies occurred early in the month of October 1957, Immediately thereafter the Task Group held its Logistics Planning Conference which brought the test participants together with representatives of the various Air Materiel Areas and the Task Group Materiel staff for the purpose of outlining requirements and the steps necessary toward meeting those needs. Mean- while, the Task Group staff published its first planning directive outlining the general operational concepts, undertook rehabilitation of the air control equipment, the AN/USQ 12, arranged for the modification of additional sampling aircraft, and prepared supplemental budgets necessary to reflect the changing requirements. By the end of the year the Operations Plan and a draft of the Movement Directive had been completed and the Commander and his deputy had completed staff visitsto the forward area. Ome of the principal purposes of these visits was to make mutually satisfactory arrangements with the Army Task Group, 7.2, APWL/HO XV? for the support the; would provide during the operational period. 21