air for each shot time reconnaissance,

The frequent delays snd post-

ponement of ehots and the short notice on which they were so often
fired made scarches on mis twe day imprectical; the tesk force
sometizes reaained in elzug two dey atotus continually for days while

awaiting a break in the veathsr.

Coneequently the five plane ine

tensified searches were rede on pimus one day only, and efter a sket
{f required.

‘ven then aircraft conmenced many searches that were

called off after late shot postrenenents,.

To reduce unnecessary flights

to the greatest possible extent reconnafasance takeoffe were deferred
until about 1330 on minus one day,

Fo further oontemination of

itinerant vessels near the cuger area cocurred during CASTLE,

he

@ precautionary messcre C93 7.3 was authorised to aesuce operational
control of naval vessels passing through the falicut area t divert
' thes if necessary before or after a shet,

1h,

;

Along with the fserenee in Feconuaissange flights BRAVO

effects brought additional eapleyment to the patrol equadron in the
form of three radiologtaal survey flights over the atoll aren te the
oastward on BRAVO plus one day and a sinllar flight through the Gilbert
Telands on BRAVO rlus five daye.

These fiights, condined with a shot

day signifiannt secter search oaploying two aircraft, a flight in
eupport of Projeat 2,58 on shot day plue twoand the task ef furaishing

aerial escort fer a device movement from Eniwetok to Bikini on ERAY

plus two days required that CT] 7.3 retain control of more than the
six alroraft originally intended fer fulltime OASTLE amployment,

196

aw HO

rte mt

aw

ae

Ee
cA

E

ereones

Select target paragraph3