l.
Can Eniwetok be used for Drone take-off?
After the issuance of Operations Order No». 2848, one of the many
suggested changes to the plan was the request that drone aircraft take off
as well as land at Eniwetok.
Two (2) factors prompted this request.
One,
the wear and tear on the automatic pilot used in the radio control of thé
drone aircraft seriously affected the weak point of the control systen.
This eqipment was constantly worrying the “beeper” pilots who controlled
the drone aircraft from the Mother aircraft.
Any serious malfunotion of
the automatic pilot would cause immediate loss of control of the dronee
The seoond problem concerned scientific personnel more than it concerned
Task Group 7.4.
Filter paper inserted in the drone aircraft for purpose
of taking air samples as the drone passed through the atomic cloud had a
diatinot aversion to raine
Inasmuch as the drone aircraft were'to take
off from Kwajalein and travel at least two and one-half (2%) hours prior
to reaching the target area, there was a distinct probability of the
filters becoming wet and thus losing much of their efficiency prior to
their entry of the atomic cloud itself.
During the course of the early
morming practices over the target area, several drones were flown to
Eniwetok on the previous afternoon and landed there.
They were taken off
the next morning, and for several other nornings following that, with
little or no trouble.
The principal objection to drone takeeoff from
Eniwetok was the fact that the island was so small that there was not
sufficient room for the maintenance shops, quartering of the personnel
and parking of the aircraft.
Also, from a command standpoint, General
Ramey desired that all elements of Task Group 104 be stationed on one
island insofar as possible, thus enabling consolidation of facilities,
Seetign. VIII,
“4