distances from the principal sites.

In many instances, the excellent cooper-

ation of other governmental agencies, particularly the Air Weather Service
and the CAA, made the final accomplishment of the mission possible.

4.4

TASK UNIT 4, SC ACTIVITIES
The mission of Task Unit 4 was to organize and field Programs 32 and

34, which performed tasks for and provided information of interest to the
AEC and DOD. These programs were supported by TU~-4 staff services,

consisting of Photo Support, Construction Liaison personnel, and the Task

Unit counterparts of J-1, J-3, and J-4.
All service projects being performed by Sandia Corporation for AFSWP,
LASL, and UCRL were organized into a single program with Sandia project

numbers and a Sandia Program Director. This method of organization proved
to be highly effective, as it not only provided better service to the organization placing the requirement but allowed closer administrative control over.

Sandia personnel connected with these projects.
Staff elements of TU~4 arrived in the Forward Area in January and
February, and personnel attached to Program 32 arrived in March. By
April 1 most of the personnel attached to Program 34 had arrived. The
first personnel peak was reached in April, when 111 SC men were present
at EPG. The second peak occurred in July, when 123 SC personnel were
present. Over all, a total of 200 SC personnel participated in Operation
~
Hardtack in the Pacific area.
In early April the decision was made to fire Teak and Orange at
Johnston Island. Although this put a considerable strain on supplying staff
elements, technical equipment, and qualified personnel, readiness at Johnston

was accomplished well ahead of schedule without interfering or delaying oper-

ations at Bikinf and Eniwetok.
A major objective in TU-4 planning was to do all possible to keep the
._ morale of the participating personnel high. This was accomplished by providing the following:

1.

A firm date for departing for home.

This was normally after a

2-month period.

2.
3.

4.

Amateur radio "Phone Patch" service to the United States.
Boats and motors for water skiing and fishing.

Indoor and outdoor sport equipment such as table tennis, tennis,

volleyball, and fishing poles.

.

5.
Tape recorders. These were used for playing music and taped
messages from home, and for sending taped messages home.

An evaluation of early test data shows that the technical phases of

TU-4 participation in the Hardtack operation were highly successful. These
successes were achieved, to a great extent, by action on the following recommendations made by Task Unit 4 on Operation Redwing: more extensive use
of prefabrication and trailermounted instrumentation, use of ECM equipment
to locate interference, better recreational facilities 4nd equipment, better

communication facilities.

The amateur radio phone patch service provided by TU-4 was by
far the outstanding contributor to high morale in the Forward Area, Even

with delays and extensions of the operation, Task Unit 4 morale remained
high.
121

AFWL/HO

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