This test was successful in that it pointed out several areas
where improvement wag necegsary if:

ZVENT /

was to go as

scheduled. CTG 7.1 noted a number of technizal deficiencies, most

significant ef which was the failure cf the high speed camera
ing cireuit intericck to function.

The devise could rot have been

fired had the rehearsal day been shot day.

CIG 7.27 also noted dis-

Many naval units could not participate, thus subtract

we

‘

fa
m

oO
"4

i}

oO

t

ships were experienced; and the Task Group 7.3 Oper

o

difficwities aboard
at

ing from a successful rehearsal; communications

v

crepancies,

fir-

due to late receipt of JTF SEVEN orders, had not been completely
distributed to all Navy units in time.

Immsdiate action was taken

to remedy the noted deficiencies so that tne shot-day schedule, as

well as any sutsequent rehearsals, would be executed satisfactecrily.
The participation of British aircraft in the Operation, firmed up quite late, created an additionai problem fcr the operations
and security people.

British participation would have proceeded ai-

most without notice had it not been for the loss ef one of the Can-

berras which was scheduled to take samples.

The Gisappearance cc-

curred between the Admiraity Islands ana Kwajalein on 23 February
1954.

Search and rescue operations were initiated aimost immedi-

tely with United States aircraft from Kwasaleic ard Eriwetok as
well as Britisn planes from Australia participating.

The search

was carried on, with negative results, until 3 March 1954.

Shortly

after discontinuing the search effort a second Canberra enroute

from Australia to Kwajalein was lost and another search had to be

120

Select target paragraph3