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HEADQUTERS
TASK GROUP 7.4, PROVISIONAL
iPO 187, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California
TGO 580. _.
17 Mor 54
SUBJECT:
sirlift Operations
TO:
Commaniecr
Joint Task Force SEVEN
APO 187, (HOW), c/o Yostrastor
San Francisco, California
1, 4&4 complete survey of the Bikini lngoon was nace to dcteriine the
sofost place and rost expeditious procedures to be usa’ for rfi and SA-16
water landings at Bikini turing freivht on’? passenger airlift. Jn SAé-16
pilot, recently assignel, was usc] as an atvisor cn this survey 2uc_tq@
his extensivo experience of ovcr 2000 water lendings.
2. The survey has inticated that, a very experience pilot possi®ly~
could land at consi2crable risk in any part cf the lagcon, In ost of
the lagocen, cven thow;h the aircraft was lance} safely, it woul’ cncounter dcetrinentel buffeting cn the hull. One arca, shown on the
attached map, was consicercd to be « safe area for everyltay use because
of the shcltcr provided by HOW islanc and beenuse the parallel of ercvnd
swell lics at a 90° angle to the proveiling win’,
The lagcon in this
area is normally very calm and hans been chosen as the arca icsignete? for
all water loendings at Dikini.
3.
In an ebsclutc emergency, and still at pilot's Ziscroation, if may
be possible for our most quclificd pilot to len’ parallcl to and just North
of Tink, This, however, can only be considcree as an erers;oncy meastre at
not within safcty lirits desired for this opcration.
4.
The pilots cn this airlift fecl that they can better julse safe
woter conlition for landing than somecne shipboar? bcenuse he can view it
at 2000 fect to determine swolls, Further, the final lan? or no land
wecision rust be made by tho pilot concerned, therefore nn officer of TG
7.4-qualffice in water landings will not be require? aboarl the USS Dairoko.
Normally, the Bairoko will not be in the croa Vosicnated as wateo> loniing
areca, therefore, woul! be in no position to make recorncn'‘aticns on actucl
lencings.
5. To complete the rcequirorncnts for watcr lending inter-ctcll lift,
requcst action be taken to provide a rubber, airercft buoy in the place
shown on the attache! imap,
fre