at Enyu to support special missions at Bikini Atoll during the build-up
phase,
The airlift gapport of Bikini Atoll was provided by HMR-363, a Marine .
Helicopter Squadron with a complement of 15 HRS-1 (H-19A) aircraft. The
squadron initially provided eight aircraft with the remainder arriving on the
USS Badoeng Strait. Additional support by one Air Force L-20 was available during early phases of the operation; this was increased to a total of
two, immediately preceding JRausphamatersal
.
Following Zuni, the L-20’s were no longer required,
On March 27, the Marine Squadron at Bikini lost a helicopter owing to
engine failure. With the cause undetermined and with a history of similar
trouble, all helicopters were grounded.
Subsequently, limited numbers were
made available but were used for freight only following the decision of
CTG 7.1 that personnel would not be airlifted by Marine helicopter until the
A
sential due to critical requirements at Bikini. On March 29, the Air Force
was flying necessary support. On April 25, HRS-3’s (H-19B’s) were available at Bikini as replacement aircraft for grounded aircraft and took over
responsibility for Bikini airlift.
Helicopter support at Eniwetok Atoll was curtailed effective March 27
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engine deficiency was corrected or replacement aircraft were available.
decision was made to use the Air Force helicopters from Eniwetok until
later-model replacements were made available. This was considered es-
with the movement of the AF H-19’s to Bikini to support airlift require-
ments there.
The AF helicopters were returned to Eniwetok on April 26
after the arrival of the new Marine helicopters.
The Eniwetok islands were supported by air as follows:
Runit - L-20 and H-19
Rojoa complex - L-20’s primarily
Teiteiripucchi complex - L-20 and H-19
The Bikini islands were supported as follows:
Romurikku complex and north islands of atoll - helicopter,
Eninman complex and south islands - helicopters and L-20.
Procedures were established at both atolls for providing airlift for
TG 7.1 personnel. For published scheduled flights, {t was normal for individuals to request space by direct contact with the appropriate TCA dispatcher. For all special flights which regular scheduled service could not
accomodate, requests were submitted to J-3 for approval and booking,
The short airstrip at Runit necessitated using H-19’s for airlift any
time the wind velocity dropped to less than 10 mph or became a cross
wind.
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