As Operation UPSHOT/KNOTHOLE came to an end, the 926th took on a
permanent look, Major McQuown returned to his duties with the L92Sth
Test Group (Atomic).
Lieutenant Colonel James A, Watkins, chief of Flight
Operations Branch. of the L92Sth, became the first permanent commander,
Lieutenant Colonel Watkins was a leading ace of the Pacific theater during
World War II, having destroyed 12 Japanese aircraft and flown 135 combat
missions,
Major James T. Corn became operations officer, Major Finis
Mitchell was minitions officer-of the nuclear applications section,
Captain
Claiborne F. Bickham served as aircraft maintenance officer, So that in
the middle of June 1953, the squadron had 17 officers assigned,”
The Test Aircraft Unit (TAU)
Begiming with Operation CASTIE, conducted in the Eniwetok Proving
Ground in 195, and for all subsequent test operations, the 926th Test
Squadron provided organizational framework for the Test Aircraft Unit.
The unit came into being only in preparation for and during a test series
to provide command operational control over all elements in the operations
area,
The organizational structure reflected the unique mission of the
926th Test Squadron.
In addition to executing the normal functional
sections of the mission squadron, which at the time of Operation CASTLE
had two different types of mission aircraft, the 926th maintained a
muclear applications section with a primary function to instrument and
267
SYEH-2-003);
a
AFWL/KO
b
a