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As for the overseas tests, specifically TU 8.1.3 was responsible for the
“two missile launched high altitude events to be accomplished before 30 June 62.
Historically, a year to a year and a half had been required to plan and prepare
for overseas tests.
(1 May 62).
FCWI was required to be in place ready for tests in 4 months
To meet this date, maximum effort had to be made.
Personnel with
overseas test experience or special technical or scientific qualitications were
obtained from FC DASA and the 4 services to augment those with FCWT.
April 62, TU 8.1.3 with Headquarters at J.J. was operational.
less than 4 months much had been accomplished.
to the Pacific to select site locations.
.. .
... By 15
In this period of
In Jan. 62 a team was sent
In some cases this required agreement
with foreign government for use of their territories.
Sites were selected throughout
the north and south Pacific and from the west coast to Okinawa.
By 2 May 62, when
Tigerfish, the certification shot of the Thor missile was made, TU 8.1.3 had
personnel and equipment in place and ready at the following sites:
J.I., Christmas,
Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii, French Frigate Shoals, Midway, Wake, Okinawa, Kwajalein,
Palmyra, Canton, Fiji, Samoa, Tongatapu, Rarotonga, Alaska (Adak and Fairbanks),
and Palo Alto, Calif."
To supervise and manage all this 8.1.3 set up several
elements at J.I., Hickam, Christmas, Fiji, and Sandia.
"At the same time that
sites were being selected, numerous meetings were held by FCWT to define
experiments, assign responsibilities and select contractors.
Data was to be
obtained from surface installations, aircraft, ships, rockets, balloons, pods,
and satellites.
Arrangements and agreements had to be made to use the satellites,
to modify aircraft and ships, to procure rockets, pods, and balloons and to obtain
scientific equipment.
New techniques and procedures for obtaining data at high
altitude by the use of the above equipment were developed.
To manage the elaborate
and complex scientific experiments, these were placed into 3 major programs under
the Task Unit 8.1.3 Test Director; Program A (electromagnetic), Program B (pods),
and Program C (photography and aircraft) under Program Managers.
Precise,