"
132
Til
The Ionospheric slement moved to tniwetok on 6 April 1958, and,
after the TxAK and ORANGE events were rescheduled for Johnston Island
{see "Operation NEWSREEL (Johnston Island)", this chapter/, the C-97
returned on 12 April 1958 to the Zone of Interior.
The aircraft moved
to Hickam Air Force Base in July 1958 and operated from that location
while participating in the TEAK and OHANGS rehearsals and shots,
The last Test Aircraft Unit eslenent was the Very High AltitudeUltra High Altitude clement.
This element was manned, trained, and equip=
ped by Air Force Special Weapons Center,
Its objective was to main=
tain and operate two 48-36 aircraft to support technical projects on tite
very high altitude and ultra high altitude shots.
More specifically, the
two aircraft were engaged in Programs 8,2 (thermal radiation measurements),
8.3 (early fireball photography), and 8.4 (thermal radiation spectrum
measurements), on the YUCCA, TEAK, and ORANGE shots,
The Be36 aircraft arrived at Eniwetok on 11 March and immediately
were put to use in the planning and training for YUCCA, naving engaged
in two practice missions for that event by the end of March.
«hen the
decision was mude to accomplish the ToAK and OfiANGs events at Johnston
Island in August 1958, the Be36's were returned on 2 Mayto Kirtland
Air Force Base.
In July the two aircraft returned to dickam Air Force
Base to train for and parfAcipate in the Johnston Island rehearsal and
shots.
«ifter accomplishment of tnese missions, the bej6's ueoarted for the
~one of Interior,
,
Ar Wes siQ)