on 1 Mar
USS”Albemarle (AV-5) sailed from Terminal Island, escorted by the
LX3SRogers (DDfi76). The Scientific Group boarded the Albemarie at Terminal Island
and joined the Task Force at Oahu.
Prior to the sailing of Task Group 7.3, the weapons to be tested were transported from
the Los Alamos Laboratory by rail under special security provisions. At Terminal Island
they were loaded onto the ships. From that time on security became the responsibility of
the Commander, Joint Task Force Sevn. The Test Director, however, was the accountable
officer to the AEC for all weapons.
While underway a Destroyer screen and air cover provided round-the-clock security.
Normal Naval precautions such as darken ship and zig-zag were taken by the Task Force.
Military guard was maintained over the weapons at all times. Access to the weapons was
controlled by entry lists which were limited to those whose duty required such access.
The movement from Terminal Island to Pearl Harbor was marred by a gas explosion
on the Duncan which resulted in the death of one crew member and injury to six others.
The Bairoko escorted the Duncan back to port and rejoined the Task Group on 3 March,
the same day the Albemarle joined. The USS Tucker (DDR-875) was dispatched as replacement for the Duncan on 4 March. On 7 March the Task Group arrived at Pearl
Harbor,
Task Group 7.4 moved by water and air, closing into Kwajalein during the latter part
of March.
An advance air echelon arrived at Kwajalein on 17 February. The main water movement of Task Group 7.4, comprising the ground echelon, sailed from Oakland aboard the
Pickaway (APA 222) on 10 February and arrived at Kwajalein on 22 February. The main
echelon moved from Hamilton Air Force Base in unit aircraft during early and mid-March.
During March the weather detachment of the 514th Weather Reconnaissance Wing arrived
at its base at Guam. By the end of March the Air Task Group build up of personnel on
Kwajalein was complete, totaling approximately 1,500. During the final two weeks of February the bulk of its supplies and equipment, amounting to approximately 3,500,000 pounds
s
had arrived and was off-loaded.
Headquarters of the Joint Task Force moved aboard the USS Mount McKinley on 8
March. The four major vessels of the Task Force with a screen of five destroyers and continuous air cover sailed that afternoon.
During the period 10-12 March, enroute to Eniwetok, the Task Force conducted a
Command Post Exercise aboard the Flagship. The purpose of the CPX was to test internal
communications, to familiarize the Commanders and Staff with communications facilities
available and to bring out typical situation that might be encountered during test operations. As a result of the exercise, a re-study of Field Order Number One was made and
necessary changes were accomplished to bring it up to date with current decisions.
At 1230 on 16 March (east longitude) the USS Mount McKinley passed through the
Deep Entrance to Eniwetok Lagoon and proceeded to berth.
Construction of the proving ground at this time was roughly 85 per cent complete.
Engebi, the number one test site was, for all practical purposes, complete. The scientists
were able to proceed with the installation of test instruments the day of their arrivai, so
far as construction was concerned.
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