DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ARMED FORCES SPECIAL WEAPONS PROJECT WASHINGTON 25, D.C, ao 19 November 1957 MEMORANDUM FOR THE ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR ATOMIC ENERGY: Subject: Trip Report - U.K, Christmas Island Test, November 1957 1. As directed by the Chief of the Armed Forces Special Weapons-Project, Brigadier General J.W. White, USAF, Deputy Chief of the Armed Forees Special Weapons Project, and Rear Admiral G. 5S. Patrick, USN, Director, Atomic Energy Division, Office of th. Chief of Naval Operations, proceeded to Hickam Air Force Base in Havail on 1 November to observe the British atomic test at Cheistmas Island, On arrival at Hickam on 2 November, the British Lietison Officer advised that the Task Force Commander requested us to fly on to Christmas Island on 3 November. On arrival at Christmas, 1t was announced that the test had been postponed from 5 November to 8 November due to the excessively heavy rain over che weekend. which had grounded out cameras and electrical equip-.’: wr oe rw PYBELSo 2. The Task Force Commander was Air Vice Marshall Wilfred E. wulton, RAR, who met us very cordially at the airfield and was accompanied by Air Commodore C. T. Weir, who was in command of tne Aiz Detachment at Christmas Island. 3. The next day we received a tour of the operations and Soted the following: a. About 3,000 people make up the air and maintenance camp on the Island with about GOO in the ships which * operate out-of London Port. on the Northwest corner of “Ghe Island. The-camp of operations is across the Northeast point of the Island. Christmas Island is about 20 miles wide Hast to West and about 30 miles long in the direction of its Northwest-Southeast axis, b, The Operation Board in the JOC listed the following:alrcraft;: 5 Valiants 4 Canberra (Pr-7) for weather and photography. 8 Canberra (B-6) for samples 7 Shackleton for patrol 5 Hastings for logistic support 8 Whirlwind for rescue and monitoring