Charter 1 - rel Late in 1956 the L950th Test Group (Nuclear) was established by Headquarters Air Research and Developnent Command as part of the Air Force Special Weapons Center at Kirtland Air Force Bese. It ts a permna- nent orsanization whose mission is to plan for and to provide direction of air suprort for full-scale nuclear test prosrams both in Nevada and the Pecific. The members of the Headquarters of this group, while rarticinating in the PL’MBBOB ex-rcise in Nevada in the Spring and Summer of 1957, concurrently initiated plans for Task Group 7.4 participation in HARDTACK, Upon activation of Task Group 7.h, Provisional, by Headquarters — Air Research and Develonment Command on 1 October 1957, the Cormander and otier personnel assi ned to the Headquerters of the 950th, merely : assumed similar titles within the newly formed Task Group 7.) and continua doing the job at hand. Thus there was no time lost in organizing a new group of people to do the Jleadquarters Task Group 7.4 job. During the period from 1 October until thse orening of th: operational phas* of HANDTACK in the forward area on 15 March, the provisional units and «elements of Task Jroup 7.l: were established and organized at their various 4T home hases,. Commandsrs were assisned and planniny proceeded under the giidance of the Commander, Joint Task Force SEVEN and the Commander, Task Group 7h. ° Althou 2h advance detachments were jn the forward area as early as February, operational control of these units was not assumed by Task Group 7.4 and Joint Task Force SEVEN until their commanders arrived on 12 and Marc: r spectiv ly; this assumption of com-and was accomplished smoothly and without misunderstandinz. Connand arrangements during shots varied depending upon the shot Situation. COPIED/DOF LANL Re As no tim wes there ayy, S-rious difficulty in maintaining /y