befng conducted. The mission of the 926th is that of collecting parti- -o™N culate and gaseous samples by flying specially equipped J-57 aircraft through nuclear clouds. This squadron becomes the nucleus of the Test Aircraft Unit that is formed at each site. The remaining squadron, the 4952nd Support Squadron, is made up of military specialists and technicians who are sent TDY to either Nevada or “niwetok to augment these support activities during test operations. The 4952nd has a normal strength of about 250 airmen and 12 officers. Its strength and composition has to be changed after each test; however, because the augmentation required at Eniwetok where some items of base support are the responsibility of the Army (Task Group 7.2) is much different than that required at Indian Springs Air Force Base where the entire base support is a 950th responsibility. During the Summer and Fall of 1957 when the 950th and its subordinate organizations were participating in Operation PLUMBOB in Nevada, the Directorate of Personnel and Administration was additionally engaged in revising the Unit Manning Document of the )952nd Support Squadron and requisitioning personnel necessary to augment and support the Test Base Unit (951st Support Squadron) in the Eniwetok Proving Grounds during Operation HARDTACK. It was necessary to compute the overall strength of the Task Group and to predict the personnel support requirements that were not at the time firmly established. Conferences and meetings were held with individuals who were later to form the Test Services Unit, Test Aircraft Unit and the Test Base Unit. Strength and billeting figures of their respective organizations were discussed. Emphasis was placed on attempting to get the job done with a minimum of personnel. Estimates were obtained as to length of time that various 34 srwuna 44