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HEADQUARTERS
RASK GROUP 7,1, PROVISIONAL
APO 187, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California
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SUBJECT:
TO;
§ March 1954
Security Letter
Al) Personnel
1.
Information concerning the detonation of the first in a series of
tests is classified CONFIDENTIAL, except for that which has been officially
announced in the two (2) AEC releases, dated 9 January 1954 and 1 March 1954
as quoted below:
list Release ~- 9 January 1954
"During this month men and material will begin moving to the
Pacific Proving Grounds of the Atomic Energy Commission to carry out
a further phase of a continuing series of weapons tests of all
eategories,
These tests are part of the Atomic Energy Commission
es
“=e
researoh program for the improvement of weapons, pursuant to
its responsibility under the AEC Act, These tests will be conducted
by Joint Task Force Seven (JTF 7), commanded by Major General
Percy W. Clarkson, USA,
US officials."
There will be no observers other than
2nd Release - 1 March 1954
"Louis E, Strauss, Chairman of the United States Atomic Energy
Commission announced today that Joint Task Force SEVEN has detonated
an atomic device at the Atomic Energy Commission's Pacific Proving
Grounds in the Marshall Islands. This detonation was the first in a
series of tests,”
2. The fact that an official release was mde regarding the "First
detonation in a series of tests," autamtically downgrades that portion
of informationto unclassified,
HOWEVER, 4+ is desired that no reference
be made to this first detonation in letters home,
3, Let the folks back home gain their information through the
newspapers, radio and TV, regarding our work here in the Pacific Proving
Grounds. . By doing this, there is no possibility of you becoming in-
volved in a security leak through misinterpretation of what is classified
and what is not classified,
BY ORDER OF THE COMMANDER;
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Ahble lel A
WLR,
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Lt Colonel, USAF
Personnel Security Officer
THE BIGGEST GAP IN
SECURITY IS AN OPEN MOUTH
SOY
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