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would be utilized rather than Air Force SA-16 aircraft.
Provision of
helicopter and 1-20 aircraft and a crash boat for the HARDTACK test series,
bowever, renained as a firm Task Group 7.4 requirenent.
Further practices were conducted in the proving ground after the ar=
rival of Task Group 7.4 elements, and the group provided the required
aircraft support for the actual shots, starting with YUCCA on 28 April
1958.
Search and Resoue.
Plans for search and rescue during HARDTACK
were outlined at some length in the operation plan.
In general, the
search and rescue mission for HARDTACK was to be essentially the same =
as it was for REDWING, Seven SA-16 aircraft were to be made available
for search and rescue missions, although some of these aircraft were designated to support Weather island re-supply projects.
At least four
SA~16's were to be available at all times for search and rescue.
The over-all control of Joint Task Force SEVEN search and rescue
forces during rehearsal and shot periods was to be a responsibility of
the Task Group 7.4 Senior Air Controller and the Air Operations Center.
During all other periods, this control was to be exercised by the Search
and Rescue Element Commander (see "Mission and Organizational Structure
of TaskGroup 7.4 Units," chapter III, this histary, for a general state
ment of the mission and the organization of the Search and Rescue Element).