‘Force in general, Initial thinking had coneluded that Eniwetok Island would be the basebut AEC later indicated that possibly Kwajalein could serve as the base for the headquarters with additional bases at Eniwetok and Bikini. This was soon determined to lack operational feasibility, however, and by the end of 1952 all planning effort with regard to the matter was directed toward the objective of centering CASTLE air support on Eniwetok Island. The original designation of an Air Force Task Group Commander forCASTLE was cancelled at the time it was determined that CASTLE would be delayed from the Fall, 1953, to the Spring, 1954. Shortly afterwards Brigadier General Howell M. Estes, Ire, USAF, was designated; hcewever, General Estes would not be free to assume fully du- ties as commander until the Summer of 1953. Inasmuch as the Air Force Task Group Headquarters would not have a commander physical- ly present at Kirtiand for a period of several months, the Task Group 7.4 staff was integrated, at reduced strength, into the AFSWC staff. From that time, it was planned that the Task Group 7.4 staff would not officially be reestablished until about e4ght months prior to the first scheduled detonation of the CASTLE series. The mission of the 4&ir Force Task Group for the operational | phase of CASTLE generally was to provide air transportation, aireraft for sampling, air operations control, and general air support for the other Task Groups. More specifically, the tasks assigned by CJTF SEVEN Operation Plan No. 3~53 were as follows: 1. Provide, maintain, and operate aircraft in support of 86