on

VII
COMMANDER'S COMMENTS

Early in March 1954, we received Task Croup 7.4 Peguletion }0J-1
which made it mandatory that all electrically transmitted messages Lea
ing this Group be preparad in draf+ form and actually be released ‘yy the
anpropriate staff section in Hecdquarters, Task Group 7.4.

This regulation

aleo required that all eorresponceuce leaving this Group go turough Head.
quarters Task Croup 7.4 for indorsement,

Excaptions ia regard tc electri-

cal messages vere mide only Tor supply messages, RCS Reports and airercft
moveme:rs and 1oad messages.

This procedure wis estavlished as 2 result of

certnin watsazes being released the previous month by uthe> orgavizations
o2 tue Task G,oup without the necessary coordination,

The resuly oF this

preseaurc was to place a considerable additional vorkloud or. the esart EP
deadquasters Task Group 7,4, and to delay messages and correspondence by
tne time necessary to process it through that Headquarters.

Since this

@cun has a considerable amount of correspondence dealing vith menaing,
personnol records, and other routine administrative detaily, .t is telieved
the procedure should be modified to permit direct commimication with Air

Fores Sresial Weapons Center,

|

tne first shot of the CASTLE Operation was fired on 1 Much 1954.
This snot resulted in several major changes ia activity for this Group.

Detachment fl. which had evacuated Bikint prior to BRAV® stot with ‘the
tatention of returning within forty-eight (48) hours wis not pe:mi+ted

to return at all beeause of radioactive contimination of Sito TARE,
Pors nnel ef this detachment left most of tieir belongings in thcir tents

at Site TARE, many of which were knocked down by the blast and the coutents
scattered,

On the evening of 2 March 1954, the USS Rairoxo
15

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