on 100 per cent oxygen and remained on this for the duration of the
mission,

When the sampler pilot landed, a platform mounted on a fork lift

removed the pilot, thus preventing him from coming into contact with the

contaminated skin of the aireraft.~
Joint Task Force SEVEN limited personnel again to 3.9 roentgens
exposure,

Some personnel, conducting special experiments, had been

exempted from this restriction and included were the cloud sampler pilots

who were limited to 12 roentgens,

This would allow the pilots to fly

three or four missions.. But pilots who were expecting to fly on future
—

tests were restricted to 7,5 roentgens for CASTEE,

22

Sampling CASTLE Shots
After the training program had been drastically delayed, General
Estes arranged to have the sailing date of the aircraft carrier, USS
BATROKO, delayed so the pilots could have more time for this purpose,
Scientific personnel opposed because the carrier was taking some aircraft
to the islands which were required immediately.

The advanced echelon of

Task Group 7.4 arrived on Eniwetok 2 January 195k, and began preparing for
the main party which arrived on 27 January,

people began an intensive flying program.

schedules and commnications,

As noted above, the sampler

Flights were made to check time

These were followed on 16 February 195), with

a full-scaled rehearsal of the Air Task Group units, and, 23 February 195h,
with all participating units 23
CASTLE was to have seven shots, all producing energy yields in
megaton ranges.

However, one was cancelled and another changed so the

‘103

SWEH~2-003h)

stay

Select target paragraph3