The Redstone missiles were originally scheduled to be shipped from Huntsville, Ala., to Eniwetok on seven SAM C-124's between March 4 and April 4 but were rescheduled when the Teak and Orange firing site was changed to Johnston Island. Movement of the Redstone gear to the Forward Area and return of unused components was accomplished by C-124 flights from June to September. There were no unsolvable problems connected with the movement of the weapons or devices, and it is believed that MATS provided outstanding service in this respect when called upon to move this most sensitive cargo. 3.6 FORWARD AREA OPERATIONS General. During Operation Hardtack, as in Operation Redwing, Task Group 7.1 had its main base of operations on Parry Island at Eniwetok Atoll. Command and Staff Sections, Task Units, Programs, and Projects again pro- vided sufficient qualified personnel to man offices at both atolls, Eniwetok and Bikini, and later at Johnston Island. Each atoll maintained an independent firing capability. This operation found LASL devices detonated at Eniwetok Atoll and most of the UCRL devices detonated at Bikini. Some UCRL devices were detonated at Enlwetok later in the operation. This was done principally because of the more favorable firing weather at that atoll. The Task Group Staff Sections moved to the EPG well- in advance of the first planned ready date in order to orient new staff personnel, to become acquainted with their counterparts in the other Task Groups, to work out the final details of the plan of operations, and to expedite all matters of construction, transportation, and services which would enable the Laboratories to meet the first ready dates. In coordination with the other Task Groups present, standing operating procedures and schedules were drawn up for the different modes of trans-~ portation. The principal change from the original concept of transportation control was the delegation to J~-1 of the staff responsibility for booking pas- ; ‘ sengers on reflector flights between Eniwetok and Bikini and to the off-atoll sites. Of all of the scheduled events for Hardtack, Teak and Orange had the greatest impact on operations in the EPG. To meet advanced ready dates for the launching of the Redstone missiles from Bikini Island, priorities on construction, transportation, and communications were given to this effort. When the decision was made to transfer these two shots to Johnston Island, an evaluation was made of the capabilities to support both operations with personnel and equipment from resources available in the EPG. In addition, an all-out effort was directed towards the dismantling of the launch tower and other ABMA facilities on Bikini Island for shipment to Johnston Island prior to the first large UCRL shot. Prolonged bad weather delayed this first shot, and the island was evacuated completely without difficulty. Johns~ ton Island operations will be discussed later. Experience in the evacuation of Bikini Atoll gained from previous operations was put to good use during this operation. The evacuations conducted were all accomplished with no serious delays. The TG 7.1 J~3 Section published Operational Letters for each shot outlining prediction of effects and operational planning factors, ready date and shot times, evacuation and re-entry check list, and organization and 84 AFWL/HO 83