Chapter 3 - Organization
Headquarters Task Group 7.4 was organized into three directorates
(Personnel and Administration, Operations, and Materiel) and a small
special staff reporting directly to the Commander and consisting of
the Flying Safety Officer and the Flight Surgeon.
The operating personnel
were organized into three unitss the Test Aircraft Unit, Test Services
Unit, and Test Base Unit.
The organization structure and the general functional
areas of responsibility of each of the three operating units are indicated in
Figure 1.
The Commander of the Task Group was formerly assigned as Deputy Commander
of the Air Force Special Weapons Center and, thus, has been associated for some
time with the atomic weapons research and development program.
On 15 July 1957
he was reassigned to the post of Deputy Commander for Overseas Tests in pre-*paration for his subsequent assumption of command of the Task Group.
This -
arrangement made it possible for him to participate in the field phase of
Operation PLUMELOB, the 1957 atomic test series conducted in Nevada.
He as-
sumed comrand of the 4950th Test Group and Task Group 7.4 on 1 October 1957.
The former commander of the 950th Test Group became his deputy, a move which
served to insure the continuity of that unit's operations.
With the activation of Task Group 7.4 on 1 October 1957, the varicus staff
officers of the 950th Test Group assumed like staff positions within Task
Group 7.4, ah arrangement Which proved particularly effective.
In the case
of two officers making up the Commander's special staff it was necessary to
request manning from resources other than that of the Air Force Special
Weapons Center.
The services of a Flight Surgeon with experience in the bio-~
logical effects of radiation was obtained by arrangement with Feadquarters
Joint Force SEVEN and Headquarters United States Air Force.
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