The Redstone missiles were originally scheduled to be shipped from
Huntsville, Ala., to Eniwetok on seven SAM C-124's between March 4 and
April 4 but were rescheduled when the Teak and Orangefiring site was
changed to Johnston Island. Movement of the Redstone gear to the Forward
Area and return of unused components was accomplished by C-124 flights
from June to September.
There were no unsolvable problems connected with the movement of
the weapons or devices, and it is believed that MATS provided outstanding
service in this respect when called upon to move this most sensitive cargo.
3.6
FORWARD AREA OPERATIONS
General.
During Operation Hardtack, as in Operation Redwing, Task
Group 7.1 had {ts main base of operations on Parry Island at Eniwetok Atoll.
Command and Staff Sections, Task Units, Programs, and Projects again provided sufficient qualified personnel to man offices at both atolls, Eniwetok
and Bikini, and later at Johnston Island. Each atoll maintained an independent
firing capability.
This operation found LASL devices detonated at Eniwetok Atoll and
most of the UCRL devices detonated at Bikini. Some UCRL devices were
detonated at Enfwetok Jater in the operation. This was done principally because of the more favorable firing weather at that atoll.
The Task Group Staff Sections moved to the EPG well in advance of
the first planned ready date in order to orient new staff personnel, to be-
come acquainted with their counterparts in the other Task Groups, to work
out the final details of the plan of operations, and to expedite all matters of
construction, transportation, and services which would enable the Laboratories
to meet the first ready dates.
In coordination with the other Task Groups present, standing operating
procedures and schedules were drawn up for the different modes of transportation. The principal change from the original concept of transportation
control was the delegation to J~1 of the staff responsibility for booking passengers on reflector flights between Eniwetok and Bikini and to the off-atoll
sites.
Of all of the scheduled events for Hardtack, Teak and Orange had the
greatest impact on operations in the EPG. To meet advanced ready dates
for the launching of the Redstone missiles from Bikini Island, priorities on
construction, transportation, and communications were given to this effort.
When the decision was made to transfer these two shots to Johnston I[sland,
an evaluation was made of the capabilities to support both operations with
personnel and equipment from resources available in the EPG. In addition,
an all-out effort was directed towards the dismantling of the launch tower
and other ABMA facilities on Bikini Island for shipment to Johnston Island
prior to the first large UCRL shot. Prolonged bad weather delayed this
first shot, and the island was evacuated completely without difficulty. Johnston Island operations will be discussed later.
Experience in the evacuation of Bikini Atoll gained from previous operations was put to good use during this operation. The evacuations conducted
were all accomplished with no serious delays.
The TG 7.1 J-3 Section published Operational Letters for each shot
outlining prediction of effects and operational planning factors, ready date
and shot times, evacuation and re-entry check list, and organization and
84
AFWL/HC
$3