Seven shots were originally scheduled for CASTLE, but one, ECHO | was cancelled on 12 April, partly because of numer— ous weather delays, but mainly because a scientific requirement no longer existed for the shot. High winds in the upper atmosphere necessitated numerous shot delays, seventeen straight one-day postponements of ROMEO alone, which served to lengthen the operation considerably and increase the mainte- nance work load on all aircraft, as well as to tax the patience and fortitude of everyone in the Pacific Proving Ground. Ever since GREENHOUSE, weather experts had pointed out that high winds in the upper atmosphere and general weather conditions made the Pacific Proving Ground a highly undesirable location for atomic tests. ‘ Other sites throughout the world were studied, but since remoteness from civilization was considered an equally important factor, it was doubtful that the searchers would find a more remote region on this planet outside the polar regions. D. , PLANNING FOR FUTURE OVERSEAS NUCLEAR OPERATIONS During the numerous shot delays in March, April and May, the Air Task Group, as well as Joint Task Force SEVEN and the other four task groups, devoted effort to other pressing matters, such as the five-year plan and the roli-up plan. The Eniwetok Five Year Construction Plan, initiated on 19 February, was submitted to JIF SEVEN in late April. This document was to be integrated into the JIF SEVEN Five Year Plan. Major General E. McGinley, Deputy Commander of JTF SEVEN, had requested the Air Task Group to study ene — [14