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"Pacific Missile Range Technical Memorandum #PMR-TM-60-7, Johnston
Island Geography and Facilities,"
dated 29 April 1960
Leman
This document apparently coincides with plans for using Johnston Island
as a test site in relation to the Nike-Zeus launching program. This document
reflects the history of JI through a visit by the author in November 1959,
in relation to the present development of the Nike-Zeus Program for
which JI is becoming the center of interest.
A figure in the document shows very roughly what looks like proposed
addition of land on the northern side of the island, parallel to the then
northern edge of the island and the installation of three launch pads as
part of the proposed facilities to be added onthis new section of island.
Apparently these launch facilities would have been for the Nike-Zeus.
One pertinent section on the previous activity at JI follows: "In July of
1948 the Navy transferred jurisdiction of the Island to the Air Force
which in 1949 assigned it to the Pacific Division of the Military Air Transport,
* Service.
In April 1955, the Pacific Air Forces' Base Command (6486th
Air Base Wing, Hickam Field, Hawaii) assumed control of Johnston and
assigned "housckeeping'duties to the 6488th Air Base Squadron. The
6488th is in present occupation. The April to August 1958 period however,
saw command ternporary granted to the Commander, JTF-7 for the
prosecution of Operation Hardtack.
.
The recent selection of Johnston for use inthe projected Johnston-Kwajalein
Nike-Zcus system testing relieves the Air Force of command;
the 6488th
is scheduled to leave between March and June 1960.
At this writing, the
Atoll is to be given to the Army which is to lease it to the Navy. The Navy
in turn is to provide range support to range users. '! Further pertinent
comments concern the population at JI and note that ''the present authorized
strength is 88 military (including two officers) and 14 civilians. Present.
actual population (including tenant organizations) is 164: 6488th Air Base
Squadron, 100;
1957th Air and Airways Communications Squadron, 3;
6005th Air Postal Group,
1;
US Coast Guard Loran Station,
Bureau, 6; US Army Corps of Engineers, 3;
working for the Army Engineers, 40."
11;
US Weather
and civilian contractor personnel
The discussion of facilities constructed at JI notes that the sole relic of
Hardtack is a blockhouse
near
— the east of the runway.
Further discussion of the plans for JI notes that JI is now scheduled to
serve as the launch facility for the targets for the Nike-Zcus Program
and therefore a program of dredging, landfilling and construction and
rchabilitation of structures has been instituted. The construction will
include the target launch pads and cognate facilities which will require
area that is not included in the present configuration of Jl and will require
che addition of approximately 25 acres of fill to the islands northwest .
quadrant for the installation of three launch pads and to the southwest corner
fill ;
for the installation of propellant storage facilities.. The dredge and
r1959
Novembe
in
complete
20%
about
operation had already begun and was
and was due for completion by March 1960.
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& fy
.