——NEPBENT iA
4950th Test Group (Nuclear) to work directly with major commands in
formulating definite plans for the operation.
In the months following the receipt of this preliminary book message, Headquarters, Task Group.7.4 was active in the planning stages
outlining specific requirements and policies for the participating
organizations.
Many documents were issued during this planning phase,
the following being the most importants
Task Group 7.4 Planning
Directive published on 17 October 1957; Task Group 7.4 Operations Plan
on 6 January 1958; and Headquarters, USAF Movement Directive
on
9 January 1958.
The Task Group 7.4 Operations Plan, made effective as an Operations Order on 15 March 1958, was to be the directing and guiding
document fer activities throughout the entire cperation.
.
This started q
the second phase of Operation HARDTACK, that cf build-up in the fcrward
area.
At this time, all units came underthe control of Task Group Tod
ard the majority of the time, up to the first shot, was spent on practicing and rehearsing for the first event.
The nuclear testing for
Operation HARDTACK commenced with the firing
ofthe first event, YUCCA, on 28 April.
The test series itself in-
claded 35 nuclear detcnations at Eniwetok, Bikini and Johuston Islands.
(See Figure 1).
This is the largest nuclear test series yet conducted
by the United States.
Aircraft operated by or under the operational con-
troi of Task Group 7.4 participated iz ‘every shot fired during EARDTACK.
In support of the cperation, the aerial support elements carried 60,901
passengers and 2,626,265 pounds of cargo.
10,841
fiying hours frem the begirning of the operational phase cf
COPIEDype:
COPIED/DOE
LANL RC
These aircraft flew a total of
| fer:
°