29 April 1957 DIG 2917242 ROUTINE FROM COFS USAF WASH DC TO CINCSAC OFFUTT AFBNEBR COMDR ARDC PALTO MD COMDR MATS ANDREWS AFB VA COMDR ADC ENT AFB COLO COMDR TAC LANGLEY AFE VA COMDR FEAF FUCHU AB JAPAN COMDR FEAF HICKAM AFB TH COMDR AMC WPAIFB OHIO INFO COMDR AFSWC KIRTLAND AFB NMEX CH AFSWP WASH DC COMDR JIF-7 WASH DC DMA/AEC WASH DC <Rneeeiinite 1 CITE 55434 FROM AFOOP-OS-S, “THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ARE PLANNING FOR OPERATION HARDTACK, 1958 OVERSEAS WEAPONS TEST, SCHEDULED FOR THE ENIWETOK PROVING GROUND. THE TENATIVE STARTING DATE IS 1 MAY 1958. APPROXIMATELY 30 DEVICES WILL BE TESTED DURING OPERATICN HARDTACK. THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WILL BE THE EXECUTIVE AGENT FOR THE TEST SERIES AND AIR FORCE PARTICIPATION WILL FOLLOW THE GENERAL PATTERN ESTAPLISHED DURING PREVIOUS OVERSEAS NUCLEAR TESTS, ARDC WILL MAN, TRAIN, AND ORGANIZE AIR TASK GROUP 7,4. THE AIR TASK GROUP WILL CONSIST OF THREE "NITS, /1/ A TEST BASE UNIT PROVIDED BY ARDC, /2/ A TEST AIRCRAFT UNIT ORGANIZED BY ARDC BUT COMPOSED OF ELEMENTS PROVIDED BY MAJOR USAF COMMANDS AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AGENCIES OPERATING AIRCRAFT, AND /3/ A TEST SUPPORT UNIT PROVIDED BY MATS, THE MISSION AND FUNCTION OF TASK GROUP 7,4 AND SUBORDINATE UNITS WILL PARALLEL THOSE ASSIGNED FOR OPERATION REDWING. REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO TASK “ROUP 7,4 REDWING PLANNING DIRECTIVE, TASK GROUP 7.4 OPERATIONS ORDER 1-56, AND THE FINAL REPORT OF THE COMMAND=R, TASK GROUP 7.4 FOR OPERATION REDWING. THIS MESSAGE CONSTITUTES AUTHORITY FOR INITIAL PLANNING FOR OPERATION HARDTACK BY CONCERNED USAF COMMANDS AND UNITS. DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS CCVERING THIS OPERATION WILL BE FURNISHED ON OR ABOUT 1 JULY 1957, AFWL/ HQ eee C-04..938 PAGE 1 OF 1 Tae/ de ' spendin cr CO a “Sy uv -