1 March 1948,
They thoroughly demonstrated their usefulness throughout
the remainder of Operation SANDSTONE.
The need for air transportation between the remotely separated
atolls was anticipated in the early planning stages of the Operation.
The
regular Air Transport Command service to Kwajalein provided satisfactory
service from Oahu, but a special service from Kwajalein to Eniwetok had to
be established.
Other runs were needed to Majuro and other points in the
area. Therefore, the Air Transport Command provided three (3) C-47 type
airoraft, and one (1) C-54 for this inter-atoll service,
There was also a rapid courier service to the states and an
evacuation mission that had to be provided for.
The Air Transport Command
furnished eleven (11) C-54 type aircraft for this need.
Four (4) C54 type
aircraft would be in position at Eniwetok on test days:prepared to fly to
the United States with special samples.
was to act as a spare.
One (1) of the four (4) airoraft
One (1) C~54 was needed at Kwajalein to transport
spare drone control equipment from Iwajalein to Eniwetok to provide drone
landing equipment at that point. One (1) C-54 was stetidned at Kwajalein
prepared to fly to Eniwetok and thence to the Zone of Interior with speeial
photographic equipment.
Four (4) C-54 airoraft were needed at Kwajalein
to stand by for the possible emergency evacuation of personnel required to
remain on Eniwetok Island on test days.
For Air Rescue service in the area, two (2) OA-10 type airoraft
and two (2) Bel7 type aircraft were needed.
The OA«l0's were amphibious
type aircraft, and the B-17's were equipped with the Dumbo unit whioh
eould be dropped to the parties needing it in the water.
In addition to
these rescue provisions, the Navy furnished six (6) helicopter type
Sectiea VIII “es.
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