Ltr, Hq 4950th Test Group (N), SWS, 11 Apr 57, "Staff Visit to Eniwetok,
24, Mar-5- Apr 57", cont'd
4.

CONSTRUCTION:

a, The Unit was furnished a copy of the revised Construction
Program as established by JTF SEVEN, The changes in the program and the
reason for these changes was explained. Based upon those discussions it
aprears that the present program is entirely adequate to support our
future needs.
b.

Construction work under progress was examined,

Structual

members of the existing hangar have been cleaned and sare being repainted

and work will begin soon on reskinning this structure,
Completion of
this project will make the hangar much more usatle, The ramp end runway
repair work is vroceding in a satisfactory manner. The only difficulty
we may face is thet the new surfsces are less well sealed than the old
and may tend to spaul under jet blast. It appears that the only solution
is to wait and see tow the surfaces hold up under conventional aircraft
operation and then determine whether additional sealing is required.
5.
cussed.

OPERATIONS:
a. The requirement for establishing a unit on Bikini was disContractor personnel at Eniwetok have stated that it is their

intention to establish a camp at NAN during June 1957. As a result, it
was agreed that AFSWC would provide a Bikini Detachment Commander from its
own resources with a reporting date of 15 May 1957. Requisition action
has been taken on the airmen personnel required for this detachment.

Action has also been taken to provide the fire equipment required.

Be-

cause the contractor has stated that a camp will te established on PETEROBOE and that C-47 air support will te required, an additional piece of
fire fighting equipment mst te procurred for that location, It appears
certain that this equipment will not be in place in June but we hope to

have it there shortly ‘hereafter,

To provide local airlift, present

plans call for two (2) H-19's and one (1) L-20 to be moved to Pikini.

This Headquarters will inform FEAF of the requirement to detach their
aircraft and the 4951ist will arrange for the movement to Pikini.

vb.

AFWL/ HQ

Helicoptor operations now teing conducted at Eniwetok by-

FEAF personnel was discussed, The Unit is carrying out its mission in
a thoroughly satisfactory manner althongh it is evident that there is not
a mutual “understanding of all facets of the operation, This res:lts in

part hecause the ARDC-FEAF Agreement has not heen consummated.

One of

the principle points of contention appears to be on how requirements are

transnitted,

Our -osition is that all local airlift requirements should

come through the Commander, A4951st so *hat he can utilize the flexibility
that comes from having dispatch co-trol over both helicopters and L-20's,
FrAF apparently feels that their Detachment Command-r would be handicapred
if he Aid not receive his flight requirenents through the airlift consummer
Lt. Colo:el Cox will attenrt to resolve this problem locally and
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