Type " E " Report (Operation Redwing) (Extracted Version)

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BEST AVAILABLE COPY 0018928 United States Marine Corps Santa Ana, California This is an extract of TYPE "E" REPORT (OPERATION REDWING), which remains P as of this date. Extract version prepared for: DEFENSE NUCLEAR AGENCY Approved for public release; BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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BEST AVAILABLE COPY REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE 1 READ INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE COMPLETING FORM i. kcport HUHSCH jl, COVT ACCCSSIOH MO. 4. TITLE r~.rf 1. Tyre or REPORT 4 PERIOD COVERED 4. PERrORMIMG ORG. REPORT MUHSER 4. CONTRACT OR GRANT MUMAERf.J 1. »*CRTORMIMC OHCANIIATIOM MAUC ANO ADDRESS United States Marine Corps Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 363 Marine Helicopter Transport Group 36 10. PROGRAM CLEMCHT. PROJECT. TASKarea 4 YORK UNIT NUMBERS M. COKTHOLLIMG orncc M AMC anO ADDRESS It. REPORT DATE IS. NUMBER or PAGES Approved for public release; unlimited distribution. it. supplementary motes This report has had the classified information removed and has been republished in unclassified form for public release. This work was performed by Kaman Tempo under contract DNA001-79-C-0455 with the close cooperation of the Classification Management Division of the Defense Nuclear Agency. The following report contains Information pertinent to helicopter operations during Operation REDWING. It is the purpose of this report to aquaint all units concerned, with the operational methods employed by Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 363. It will also set down certain facts which may be used in evaluating the use of helicopters in Atomic Defense or Assault. This Squadron's method of operation will be set forth along with the problems encountered, how they were overcome, and recoimendations that may help alleviate them in future operations of this type. BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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BEST AVAILABLE COPY 9. Performing Organization Name and Address (Continued) Third Marine Aircraft Wing Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific Marine Corps Air Facility Santa Ana, California BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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BEST AVAILABLE COPY This report has had classified material removed in order to make the information available on an unclassified, open publication basis, to any interested parties. This effort to declassify this report has been accomplished specifically to support the Department of Defense Nuclear Test Personnel Review (NTPR) Program. The objective is to facilitate studies of the low levels of radiation received by some individuals during the atmospheric nuclear test program by making as much information as possible available to all interested parties. The material which has been deleted is all currently classified as Restricted Data or Formerly Restricted Data under the provision of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, (as amended) or is National Security Information. This report has been reproduced directly from available copies of the original material. The locations from which material has been deleted is generally obvious by the spacings and "holes" in the text. Thus the context of the material deleted is identified to assist the reader in the determination of whether the deleted information is germane to his study. It is the belief of the individuals who have participated in preparing this report by deleting the classified material and of the Defense Nuclear Agency that the report accurately portrays the contents of the original and that the deleted material is of little or no significance to studies into the amounts or types of radiation received by any individuals during the atmospheric nuclear test program. BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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BEST AVAILABLE COPY Escape and Evasion Flight Safety and Survival........... r BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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BEST AVAILABLE COPY Bjildings and Grounds — Billeting Special Flight Operations....................... Flight Safety and Survival ........................................ BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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BEST AVAILABLE COPY TABLE OF CONTENTS fContinH^iO Buildings and Grounds - Billeting .:................. 97 Summary and Conclusions ................................................ 110 Detachment ABLE unit Personnel and Tonnage Table. P-ear Echelon unit Personnel end Tonnage Table. Map of Bikini Atoll with mandatory reporting points. Typical ship landing platforms and landing sites. Squadron Plan of Evacuation BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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BEST AVAILABLE COPY The following report contains information pertinent t? helicopter operations during Operation REDWING. It is the purpose cf thie report to aquaint all units concerned, with the operational Licthods employed by Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 363* It will also set down certain facts which may be used in evaluating-the use of helicopters in Atomic Defense or Assaalt* This Squadron*3 method cf operation will be set forth along with the problems encountered, hew they were over— come, and recommendations that may help alleviate them in future opera tions of this type* This report is divided into two (2) parts for ease of writing and clarification. Phase I, Planning and Preparation Phase, will cover the period from 4 Jund 1955, the date the Squadron received notification of its future participation in Operation REDWING, to 15 March 1956, or the approximate date of the arrival of the U5S BADOENG STRAIT (CVE-116) in the Pacific Proving Ground. Because of the split operation empiayed by the Squadron during this period, Detachment ABLE will be covered separately. The period 16 March 1956 to 26 July 1956, the date the Squadron departed from Bikini Atoll, constitutes Phase II c± the Operation Phase* BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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BEST AVAILABLE COPY In June 1955» this Squadron received an information copy of a secret message from Commanding General, AirFMPTac to Commanding General, ITdFPac stating that Merine Helicopter Transuort Squadron 363 vas available for embarkation during January 1956 for spring and summer Pacific Fleet Man euvers, At this time, the stabilization of personnel and procurement of necessary supplies and technical equipment needed for a maneuver of this The Table of Organization for this Squadron called for thirty-nine (39) Marine Corps officers of which thirty--six (36) were naval aviators and one hundred and twenty-two (122) enlisted personnel® The starting strength at this planning stage was twenty-two (22) officers and ninety (90) enlisted men. The Personnel Officer, KiG(HR)-36, stated that the Squadron would deploy on the maneuver as close to the Table of Organi zation as the group could provide. During September, liaison was started between the Squadron, the Com mander, Joint Task Force SEVEN, the USS BADJENG STRAIT (CVE-116), and Holmes and Nawer, the civilian contractors at the Pacific Proving Grounds. To elaborate on certain phases, two officers were sent to the PPG in Dec ember 1955 to effect liaison with the Mr Force and the civilian contrac tors. Two officers were sent to the ship no effect billeting arrangements and to arrange storage of the marked-up supply system, which arose from previous liaison at the PPG. During the month of November 1955, transferring of men and officers having insufficient time to do, personnel having marital difficulties due to sickness and related matters and personnel having returned from an overseas station was well underway. The latter was on verbal orders from At this time the Souadrcn complera'-nt was still approximately the same as in the earlier stages. As the Squadron entered the latter portion of the planning stage, the personnel situation had changed very little, A great deal of personnel shifting had bten accomplished within M'lG(HR)-36, but the Squadron had not been materially s'cre-gthened. Based upon liaison and reference to the HMk-362 EASY REPORT on OPER= ATION CASTLE, it was confirmed that a definite need for medical personnel, motor transport personnel, stewards, and cooks existed. A system of leave was established for officers and enlisted personnel beginning in mid-November. A deadline for the leave of personnel of the BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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forward echelon vns determined at 10 J'lmn.ry 1956 "ind 10 February 1956 for the rear echelon. On 1 January 1956, personnel problems had not been alleviated even with the added strength of supporting personnel, maraoly £wo (2) cooks, two (2) motor transport personnel, four (4) stewards, ono (l) Naval Medical Corps officer, and two (2) hospital corpsmm. The continuing program of personnel transfers was now becoming very complex as the request for secmity clearances took up to twelve weeks to complete, oven on a priority basis. Our engineering section, the largest section in the Squadron recei ved no appreciable increase in personnel strength. On 17 January 1956, the advance element began to move out by echelons, one group by ship and three groups by air. These fonr groups, consisting of thirteen (13) officers and fifty-five (55) enlisted men, were combined and designated Detachment ABLE. The breakdown of rank against MDS struc ture is outlined as below. The Squadron, with the Commanding Officer remaining behind, becamo f the rear echelon and would embark at a later date. Notification of the , arrival of Detachment ABLE in the PPG was received by dispatch on 5 FebIn December, the Squadron received notification from Headquarters, Marine Corps that Squadron Personnel were stabilized until the completion ; of this operation. This was in answer to a request initiated by the Squad ron to the Commandant. The administrativ■; work lead and the time element involved in getting all personnel attached to the Squadron a secret security (, clearance necessitated this action. I The latter part of January orders were received to embark aboard the » main under its operational control for the entire operation. ; BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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BEST AVAILABLE COPY At this time, the Squadron had attained a strength of twenty-four (24) officer and one hundred and seventeen (117) enlisted men. From this strength two (2) enlisted personnel were assigned TAD to HScMS-36 to re main at MCAF Santa Ana, California to safeguard Squadron gear left behind. On 24 February 1956, the rear echelon consisting of twelve (12) off icers, sixty (60) enlisted men, and two (2) hospital corpsmen embarked on the USS BADOENG STRAIT (CVE-llS). The total personnel embarked for the operation including Detachment ABLE came to twenty-five officers, of which twenty-two (22) were naval aviators, and one hundred and fifteen (115) en After reporting aboard, officers were assigned staterooms, master sergeants to CPO quarters, and enlisted personnel c compartment. The compartment was poorly ventilated and crowded. It was realized the crowd ed conditions couldn’t be alleviated because of the number of transient personnel taken aboard. The men accepted this situation without an undue amount of complaining as the food was excellent and th-- laundry service very good. Khaki uniforms were starched and pressed, haircuts, shoe re pairing , and movies were all free of charge. In addition to the cooks and stewards, the Squadron furnished the Ship two (2) men to the laundry, four (4) messmen, three (3) compartment cleaners, and three (3) men as members of the security watch. The latter was necessary as the Squadron was responsible for the security of the heli copters on board. The total cumulative breakdown of the rank/MDS structure Is outlined for the Squadron below: BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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BEST AVAILABLE COPY The Squadron was alerted in June 1955, to prepare for participation ■ in Operetion Redwing. 19 Janunry 1956, thefirstechelon of Detachment ' ABLE, one (l) officer end eleven (11)enlisted men, departed Fort Hueneme, I California aboard the USttS MARINE FIDDLER (TAX-17). This was followed by : the movement of twelve (12) officers and forty-four (44) enlisted men by | Marine and MATS aircraft. On 24 February 1956, the rear echelon departed Marine Corps Air Facility, Santa Ana, California via government transpor- | tntion for San Diego, California for embfrkation on board the USS BADOENG [ STR/IT (CVE-116) to sail from there on 25 February 1956. The Squadron was alerted in sufficient time to prepare for the coming i maneuver. Due to the critical personnel situation and the operational I commitewat-s of MAG(HR)-36, that Headquarters was reluctant to assign per sonnel to the Squadron far enough in advance in order for the Squadron to i effectively work os e unit prior to embarkation. Quarters assignment for 1 officers end enlisted men on the ehip were not considered adequate for a I prolonged stay in a tropical climote. ► That direct liaison be carried on by the highest command in order to ' insure maximum cooperation of allpersonnel. [ That more consideration be given to the comfort and welfare of all ’ That Squadron personnel be stabilized eerly in the planning stages to ' insure proper coordination in planning and training. | That the Squadron be up to authorized strength in order to insure its ability to carry on squadron work and necessary details aboard ship. | That ell personnel assigned hove c thorough background and are fully qualified in their respective MOS. BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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BEST AVAILABLE COPY Durinp the period covered by this report, ell intelligence functions vere normal with the section's prirarry duty still remeining to keep this Squedron briefed on the world siturtion. Upon receiving cdvence infor mation that this Squadron would perticipate in o forth coining operation, "Redwing", a study wes began on the nrer in which we would be working. Studies of the island terrain and climate within the operating area were of prime interest, however, due to the lack of time and information avail able, these studies were never completed. The majority of preparation for the coming operation fell within the Security Section of this Squcdron. Intelligence briefings were held and logged in the daily intelligence log. L check of all files and information which would be needed during the operation was made and brought up to date. Upon receipt of the dispatch that this Squadron would participate in Operation Redwing, the Intelligence Section began its portion of the plan ping phase which was to include administrating of "Security of Clrssified Information Tests", requesting National Agency Checks on oil personnel not having a security clearance, and procurement of photographs to comply with the dispatch from CTG 7.3. Strong emphasis was placed on security within the Squadron and posters displayed in ell Squadron areas. Lectures were given to aquaint all p rsonnel with security regulations and security checks were made daily and results logged in the security log. On 3 January 1956, stencil cutting was underway for "Security of Class ified Information Tests". On 9 January 1956, this section began to administer these tests, results were recorded end ell tests put on file for further On 5 January 1956, a dispatch wes received from CTG 7.3 with instruc tions regarding size and type of photographs required for Operetion Redwing. Immediate ection was taken and orrengements were mode with the Photo Section of MQAF, Santa Ana, California to take end process these photographs. Neg atives and finished prints were returned to the Squadron Intelligence Sec On 26 January 1956, the advanced echelon deported El Toro Marine Air Station by oir for the PPG. The rear echelon continued to request inves tigations on equodron personnel and constant security \tis maintained in the Squadron. On 25 February 1956, the Roar Echelon began its move to the PPG. The Rear Echelon Intelligence Section forwarded a continuous access list to CTG 7.3 on squadron personnel who received final results of Notional Agency Checks. These results were also forwarded to the advance echelon's BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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BEST AVAILABLE COPY Intelligence Section at Enyu Island, Bikini *ltoll, Marshall Islands. On 8 March 1956, the final National Agency Check was returned and all per- ' sonnel were properly cleared. On 1 February 1956, the advanced echelon of the Intelligence Section, now at Eniwetok, …