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