by weather, normal maintenance checks, the lack of spare parts and
two mishaps which did not result in serious damage.
In view of
the handicaps, no appreciable decline resulted in transportation,
for the pilots spelled each other in order to maintain continuous
operation.
The need for rapid air transportation was realized from the
first day, when a call for critical parts from one of the islands
was answered with a delivery made by aircraft just thirty minutes
after the call was received.
The only other means of transportation,
was by boat, which required hours of travel after it was loaded.
One disadvantage, however, was the limitation on weight and bulk that
could be carried by the L-4 tyre aircraft.
Following the dispatch system used by the 2nd ESB, Fort Worden,
a priority system, controlled by the ISCOM S-3, was adopted, using
the following precedence of travel requirements in decreasing order
of priority:
Emergency evacuation of injured sick, delivery of
critical construction parts or special maintenance personnel, AEC
advisors and scientists, mail and VIP.
Flight clearances were made
by phone to Eniwetok Air Base in accordance with traffic regulations
prescribed for local flights.
In view of the growing demand for flights, CIG 7.2 requested a
total of twelve additional Navy and Air Foree aircraft from JTF 7.
The existing aircraft were operating continuously from sun up to sun
down and maintenance checks were performed during the night to take
Section VIb
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