The first of what proved to bo a number of seourity violations was discovered on 2 November 1952 when a ressaze containins Secret Security Information
vas transmitted in plain language from the TISNS DAVID G. SHANKS (TAP-280)
reporting the time of the detonation of MIKF Shot.
The message was address«d
from Commander Task Grour 132.1 to several aidressees in the Unite? States
and Japan, and because it was transmitted from a ship in the Task Group 132.3,
Commander Task Group 132.3 was directed by CUTF 132 to investigate the matter,
A court of inquiry was convened for the purpose of inquiring into the circunstances concerning the reported breach of security.
The fact that the message
in question was originated by an Air Force Officer serving in Task Group 132.1,
who was temporarily embarked in the USNS DAVID C. SHANKS, and because the ship's
vedio officers who handled and transmitted the message were Civil Service
Personnel, not formally cleared to handle claseified matter, many wnweusl
situations had to be considered by the court of inquiry.
Arprovel of the
Secretary of the Navy was required and obtained in order to name personnel of
the U. S, Air Force aa interested parties to the inquiry.
The inquiry was
completed on 6 December and submitted to the Judge Advocate General of the
Navy by Commander Task Group 132.3 om 10 December 1952.
At approximately M plus § days this command became aware of what sppeared ©
to be a series of letters, apparently from members of units of the Task Group,
which were appearing in newspapers throughout the United States.
These letters
were purported to be eye witness accounts of an "H" Bomb detonation, and, if
correctly represented in press releases, constituted breaches of security.
»
Investigations wers ordered to be made at once into the circumstances surroundthe letter writing.
Investigations were conduoted in each ship with re-
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