.ie Radiological Safety Officer informed as to radioactive areas. It furity, and for keep
nished monitors to accompany all parties entering areas of possible radioactivity. These in
turn were responsible for informing party leaders when any member of the party reached
etsablished tolerance limits and to report violations of radiological safety regulations to
Headquarters, Joint Task Force Seven.
Task Group 7.’7was a command unit at Kwajalein for Joint Task Force Seven. Captain
J, P. W. Vest, USN, Island Commander at Kwajalein, within the Naval Command structure, was given dual status as Commander of Task Group 7.7. He was responsible to Commander, Joint Task Force Seven, for support of Operation Sandstone at Kwajalein, including preparation of the base for Task Group 7.4.
The Staff of Joint Task Force Seven was organized in conventional form with the exception of certain adaptations dictated by the operation. The Staff Radiological Safety
Officer, Colonel James P. Cooney, Medical Corps, USA, the Staff Photographer, Brigadier
General Paul T. Cullen, USAF, and the Staff Fiscal Officer, Commander Robert Whittemore,
LNN, represent such variations.
As Radiological Safety Officer, Colonel Cooney was the policy advisor to the Commander, Joint Task Force Seven. His duties included the determination of radiological hazards to all personnel, the institution of protective measures and safety regulations.
The Staff Photographer was responsible for the photographic documentation of the
operation, both still and motion picture, including technical as well as non-technical aspects
of tests.
The Staff Fiscal Officer was responsible for handling and accounting for AEC funds
which financed the operation and for auditing expenditures.
The Task Force’s channel of Communications to the Joint Chiefs of Staff was through
the Chief of Staff, LT.S. Army, who was designated by the J.C.S. on 4 November 1947, as
the Executive Agent for the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the Joint Task Force.
The Joint Proof-Test Committee had recommended in its basic plan (J,C.S. 1795/6)
that one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff be designated as the Executive Agent as a means of
facilitating operational control. Inasmuch as the Commander, Joint Task Force Seven, was
an Army officer, it was deemed appropriate that the Executive Agent should be the Chief
of Staff, U. S. Army. (Note: For detailed discussions of functions and operations of Task
Groups and Staff Sections see Annex 1, of this report.)
JOINT TASK FORCE SEVEN .AIR FORCES
The command structure of Joint Task Force Seven Air Forces merits more detailed
scrutiny. It was considered necessary, in order to effect closer coordination between the
dispersed air units and the other operating units of the Joint Task Force, to have an overall
commander. Further, it was necessary that this commander be readily available to General
Hull as air advisor.
In view of these considerations, Major General William E. Kepner, one of the Deputy
Commanders, was given dual status on 14 October 1947 as Commander Air Forces, Joint
Task Force Seven. In this capacity he was made responsible for all air operations, military
security within the Air Task Group, weather service, inter-island air transportation, air
rescue and aerial photography. In addition, this office carried responsibility for the opera19