Aboard the USS MT. McoKINELY the staff of the Air Commander presented briefings not only to the interested personnel in Headquarters and
Task Groups but also to the VIP's immediately prior to test days.
A series
of charts were prepared by the drafting seetion of the office of the Air
Commander and each staff officer presented a synopsis of operations pertain-
ing to his field.
These inoluded discussion on the following subjecta:
Introduction to Air Foroe briefing schedule, Air Transportation, Liaison
Operations, Weather, Air Map Plan, Radio-Controlled Aircraft, Aerial
Photographa’ Helicopter Operations, Communications, Combat Information
Center and Technical Requirements.”
Briefings were conducted in the Wamwl Room, and in each case a
hundred or more officers and civilians were present.
Other briefings, con-
dusted by the Navy and the scientific personnel, were presented in much the
same manner, and as a result, all personnel engaged in the operation were
cognizant of the problems faced by others in the Task Force.
ne
"P" Day Exercise.
Operations Order Noe 2, Office of the Commander, Air Foroos, Head-
quarters, Joint Task Foree SEVEN, directed the air operations for the
practice day operation preceding "X" Day.
The purpose of this practice
day exercise was to put into effect all operations that would be followed
on "X" Day and to check the results.
Task Group 7.4 had planned its
procedure for "X" Day very carefully, but no organization oan carry out
a complicated air operation and expect it to proceed according to plan
without practice.
Although all units of the air task group had practiced
individually, "P" Day was the first time a full scale rehearsal of "X" Day
operations was attempted.
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