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5. Another major implication is the effect on the FY 58
construction program of moving PILGRIM to the Pacific,
With the
PILGRIM operation in progress, it would not be possible tO
complete permanent construction considered essential for HARDTACK,
The airfield runway extension,
airfield facilities,
utilities construction and communication facilities construction
would be affected,
For example,
aithough the maintenance work
on the existing airstrip could be completed by October 1957 the
runway extension which requires 10 months construction time could
not be completed in time for HARDTACK,
It must be recalled that
with the present runway length, operations in 1958 aircraft would
always present a calculated risk to planes and crews and an
unacceptable one under certain wind conditions.
6, It is estimated that the Task Force would be somewhat
smaller than that for REDWING,
substantially fewer personnel,
8 major ships compared to 15, 100 or fewer aircraft of all
types compared to 120.
This is based upon the assumption that
the operation would be conducted on two atolls with minimum
effects participation,
7. JTP-7 (and probably DOD) would not have adequate
operational funds from those presently appropriated in the Task
Force and DOD budgets for FY 57, the Task Force because they
_
have budgeted FY 57 on the basis of an interim period and DOD
because the cost of carrying out their PILGRIM commitments
would rise considerably.
JTF-7 estimates that 75 percent of
its operational period pudget of 10 miliion would have to be
funded in FY 57 dssuming that the operational period starts in
October 1957.
In addition,
this would also affect the HARDTACK
budget which would have to absorb the other 25 percent or 2.5
million in the same FY 58,
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Appendix "D"