Os ite
wee
PRIVACY
ACT MATERIAL Petre
eee
13.
Letter to
ny
24 March 1954
Operationally, the m.zsion has procecded very smoothly,
In our
build-up for BRAVO shot we conducted a total of six (5) rehearsals.
These began as partial rehearsals to work out
iencies, Later, the individual missions wore
on 16 February a complete Air Fareo rehearsal
scale dress rehearsal was held on 23 February
showing up. Thc results of the air operation
individual mission deficgradually combined so that
was accomplished, The full
with only minor dcficienoics
of the BRAVO event were
extrencly gratifying. All aircraft perfornod thcir assigned mission.
The sampling operation, according to J-1l1 people from LASL, was the best
that has ever been run out here,
The Task Group Headquarters and those of the subordinate Units have
labored conscicntiously and cffectively.
Operations Division, Task Group
Headquarters, broke down considerably just prior to and during BRAVO. Re-
alignment of this Division has resultcd in improved work,
A11 other Staff
Sections have turned in a great performance, The Headquarters 4930th has
been consistently weak but you are aware of the reason for this. The
headquarters of the othcr two Units have been superb.
The Effects mission on BRAVO event can be considered as more succcss=
ful thon past attempts. Following scycral conferences which included
the Effects B-36 and B-47 were nositioned on
the thermal curve for an anticipated yield of 12 mt, and the remaining aircraft the
st curve for 20 mt. Tho best indications we have at present
is naa =: about 15mt.
we
did
git
There was no damage to the B-47, but
superficial demage on the B-36,
by TWX at the time,
Dctails were forwarded to you
It looks as though we finally got rclatively decent
data at about 60% design limit load for the 3-36,
The C-47 Inter-Atoll airlift performed by the 4930th during the
build-un and pre-mission phasc was oxcellent. There was only one (1)
abort during this period, The BRAVO event and the resultant contamination
of the airstrip at Bikini almost put us out of the airlift business, The
two (2) PEM aircraft which wore to arrive under our operational control on
er about the 15th of January did not reach here until 27 and 28 Februav~y
respectively, Their in-com-ission capability is not high duc to lazk cof
spare parts, maintenance personnel, cts,
With the ciose out of the Bixinl.
airstrip duc to contamination, it was readily apnarent that our amnnibicus
lift was totally inadcauatc,
It was at this time that your aid was re-
quested in obtaining Air Force amphibious help.
Two (2) Shilo atrerafs
arrived 9 March, At the prescnt, the Fikini strin was cooled sutficiontiy
to pormit us to fly two (2) C-47 mis:icas per day, aithouga 22 wiil mob-
ably be cYosed again to us after ROMEO and certainly ofter KOON,
2.
gues... ...;
acwsss
Le
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