History of Operation Teapot Support Phase (Operation Teapot)

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This Document Consists of BEST AVAILABLE COPY 49J5TH AIR BASE SQUADRON vJbkdisn Springs Air Fores Boss H1STORT OF OPERATION TEAPOT 4935th Air Bess Squadron Typed by: Olga E Schwmates Secretary to the Commands PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED

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PRIVACY ACT MATERFW kEMOVED Operation TEAPOT vas the nickname given to the zneit extensive series of nuclear teats held within the continental limits of the United States. The operation period began on 15 February and ended on 20 May 1955. The air organisation for the tests was known as Field Test Croup No. 5 (Provisional). It was commanded by Col Harry L Denlcht of the Air Force Special Weapons Center at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, and made up mostly of personnel from the Special Weapons Center although many personnel from other centers of AEDC were a part of the Test Group. This history tells of the support operations carried on by tike 4935th Air Base Squadron at Indian Springs AFB, Ntvada, one of three organisations composing Field Test Croup No. 5. Many of the aircraft participating in the tests were staged out of Indian Springs AFB. This history does not intend to discuss any of the technical aspects of the tests, but only the part played by Indian Springs AFB in supporting ACT MATERIAL REMOVED

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PRIVAC !2 ACT MATERIAL RE BEST AVAILABLE CO X. Support Retirements for C. Visitors to Nevada Test Site During Operation TEAPOT 79 • 84 PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED

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PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY AFSWC Regulation 20-2, dated 29 July 1932. TfcU regulation la not included in thia hiatery aa It la being presently revised by'nr* DC3/Operationa at Air Force Special Weapons Center* Kirtland PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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Thm prvpar&tiooAl period for Operation TEAPOT waa uahorod in with a aorios of coaforoacoa at Kirtland ATB. On 10 Angnat 1954 a conference convened to assign the responsibilities for AFSWC participatioa in Operation TEAPOT. Cot of this conference grew the Operations Plan. At a conference on 17*19 August 1954 it was recommended that overruns be constructed on runways 8-26 and 3-31 at Indian Springs and an aircraft arresting barrier be installed on runway 8-26. On 20 October 1954, a meeting convened at Kirtland AFB to discuss Project S. 1, 5.2 and 6.4 requirements with representatives present from each of the projects. Personnel buildup began around 15 October 1954 when 14 officers and 263 airmen were present for duty, and continued until 15 February 1955. A Test Manning Document for the operation was used for the first time and provided the basis for securing personnel in the proper Archer as Base Commander on 12 October 1954. Major Hubbs set up a Ust of 200 projects for the sections of the base which when completed would put the base in adequate shape to effectively support Operation TEAPOT. The suspense date on the project list was set as 15 January 1955. This was followed by a rehabilitation program that affected practically every building and piece of equipment on the base. On

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PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED IS October 1954 a Field Teat Group No. 5 vac received which outllaed briefly the ■ upper! required of Indian > Syringe ATB. Thia wee eupplexcumted in the middle of December by Am Operation Plan I-54 for Operation TEAPOT. According to the Operation Plan the 4935th Air Baae Squadron would be required to: 1. Provide homing, meeting and certain adminiatrative and logistic support for aircraft and crewa operating or staging from Indian Springe AFB including: -A. Special and general purpose vehicles m. General housekeeping and administrative supplies 2. Conduct aerial security reconnaissance of the KFG area. 1. Establish a dispatching office and Are fighting facility at 4. Operate airlift between Indian Springs AFB and Yucca. f. Provide facilities for the maintenance of flying proficiency of approximately twenty (20) attached rated personnel. 4. Establish security control and identification procedures for Indian Springs AFB during the operation. PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED

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Oa 10 Morombor 1954 thoro wa* a two day operation* con£ar«nco •t Kirtland ATB, attended by Major Hubba, Captain Young and let 14 Tkomaa from the 4935th Air Base Squadron and repreaeatatlroa of all Other participating unite, which outlined the logistic requirements of the participating unite. On IS November the personnel buildup had reached 15 offlcere and 303 airmen. ,v Oa 2 December 1954 the Provost Marshal of Indian Springe ATB met with member* of the Field Teat Office to firm up the Security for the Operation Plan. The badge system for the base was approved. It was determined that the acceptable level of clearance required for entry to Indian Springs AFB would be a final secret clearance. This was later changed to interim secret. The require ment was made known to DCS/Personnel at AFSWC so that personnel arriving TDY at Indian Springs AFB either had a clearance or had their clearance papers in process. AECt Mercury and Desert Rock identification badges were to be honored on Indian Springe AFB. Also in December the aircraft parking plan for Indian Springe AFB during Operation TEAPOT was established. The plan was based on the maximum number id aircraft that would use Indian Springs AFB at any one time during the operation. As of 15 December there were PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED

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(There were two aircraft assigned to the 4935th Air Base Squadron • ie 1.-20A and one C-45G. As of the same date approximateir 75% required supplies and equipment was available. Project lists for the sections were progressing well. The extension to runway 8-26 was 70% complete with a target date of 1 January 1955. An inspection of the physical facilities was made by the Baee Commander to determine the readiness of all sections. Procsssing was begun oa security badges with completion expected by 15 January 1955. As part of the security training program a lecture and film were presented by AFSWC security personnel and AFSWC booklets oa security were distributed. On l January 1955 the extension to runway 8-26 had been completed and work was progressing on ths overrun to runway 13-31. fire and rescue crews finished intensive training, and an additional 0-11A fire truck was obtained from Edwards AFB to supplement the base fire fighting equipment. As of 15 January 1955 the personnel buildup was complete with 15 officers assigned out of 16 authorised and 382 airmen assigned out of 400 authorised. Fifteen additional personnel were requested on a TDY status for the operation. On 5 January Lt General Power, Commander of ARDC, was on the base accompanied by Col Stewart of AFSWC, Col Fackler of Field Test Group 5, and Col Omohundr© of DCS/Operations at AFSWC. General PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL, REMOVED

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PRIVACY ACT MA iqHrn^=iL'ii»rj=m BEST AVAILAB E COPY P«w«t wu briefed concerning Operation TEAPOT, with particular ^ attention to tho state of readiness of Indian Springs AFB facilities. Difficulty was eneovntered in obtaining transformers required for the base power distribution system, and many hours of overtime work were required to install the transformers by 1 February when participating units arrived. The 48 main telephone lines plus extensions requested by the Test Units were installed and put into operation. The new base telephone directory was completed and distributed oa 21 January. Security clearances and picture badges for all Indian Springs AFB per sonnel was completed by 15 January. Building T-65 was sst up to bouse 140 visitors by double decking the beds. Two additional aircraft were received, making a total of two JL-20*e and two C-45's assigned to the 4935th Air Base Squadron. On 15 January the Operation Plan became Operation Order 1-55. /. Erection of ten (10) tents to handle the overflow of personnel who could not be boused in barracks began on 1 February. Due to the limited maintenance facilities of the base it eras necessary to do vehicle maintenance totaling nearly $10,000 by contract in las Vegas, Nevada. Thia was completed on staff cars and buses by 10 February. Field type vehicles requiring servicing in Lae Vegas were in the shops at that time. Between 15 January and 15 February, the day scheduled for the first shot, all of the various test units moved into the living quarters PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED

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PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED for tho operation war* complete. PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED

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Onm of the Qrit cooceras to oToryoao wu protectir* meaauroa apdast radiation or radioactive fall oat from any of tha device* tested. At a lecture given on 20 February by the Radiation Safety Officer, it waa pointed out that Indian Springe AFB was approximately 40 mile* from the blast area at the Nevada Teet Site and therefore in little ' danger of receiving direct radiation. Film badges were given to all personnel who were required to work on the flight line where radiation from contaminated aircraft might be encountered. In addition, a film badge was placed in every building on the base to detect'radiation.. Aircraft Maintenance crewa were given special instructions. PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY Thm dispatching of aircraft was ssparatod so that tho Tost Aircraft Branch of Field Tost Croup 5 did all tho dispatching of operational air craft and only transient and base aircraft wore cleared through Base Operations. This procedure provided very satisfactory control and minimised confusion. In January the shuttle aircraft to carry passengers and freight between Kirtland ATB and Indian Springe ATB had been ape rating on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday schedule. On 10 February it began daily operation. Shuttle aircraft was furnished by Kirtland AFB, Ardmore AFB, Rome AFB, Edwards AFB and others. There were four (4) rated officers assigned to the 4935th Air Base Squadron during the eperational period; however, as many as 50, rather than the 20 estimated in Op'S Plan 1-55, officers of the Air Force and Navy used the 4935th Air Base Squadron aircraft for proficiency flying. The two L-20's and two C-45*s were also used for security sweeps over the Nevada Test Site, carrying passengers and cargo to Yucca strip, support of Projects 30.3 and 38, and other test support and official business. PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED

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PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY . DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY STATISTICS, BASE OPERATIONS, FLYING TIME (CONT.) At. No. Transient 2.9 5 12 » 5 PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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^ Bm« Supply waa on* of tha boalaat aactloaa on tha haaa. By tha Start of tha oparation all fornitura and offica aqtdpmant had baan obtained and placed in tha hrdldlnga for tha units to use. After the operation began, rash orders wars processed for VDP and AO CP situations. Purchasing mad contracting was handled through the Purchasing and Contracting Office at Kirtland AFB with representatives assigned to the 4935th Air Base Squadron who maintained an office in Las Vegas. These persons also accomplished local purchasing. Not having a Procurement Officer Os Indian Springs AFB with full contracting powers resulted in considerable delay in obtaining supplies needed for the conduct of the 'operation. The fuel and oil requirement* for the test aircraft were supplied by Indian

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PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED Participating units maintained and operated their own aircraft and brought all spares and auxiliary equipment required with them. Base maintenance serviced transient and the four aircraft assigned to the 4935th Air Base Squadron; however, the transient work load was considerable, with a high of 12 aircraft per day average in the month of March. Support was given to the test units in emergencies. This procedure worked exit very satisfactorily. PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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BEST AVAlJABLE COPY IS ATB from Kirtland AFB daring the period 1 November 1954 to 1 February I9$5« These vebidss vere dia patebed by the 4935th Motor Pool personnel during the operational period as directed by a field grade officer in the office of the Test Aircraft Commander, who served as Vehicle Control Officer for operational units. Base Motor Pool personnel were thus relieved from the responsibility of authorising these vehicles for the use of fim test units. PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY , MOTOR POOL STATISTICS Special Purpose Vehicles (Project) Special Purpose Vehicles (ISAFB) General Purpose Vehicles (Project) General Purpose Vehicles (ISAFB) Total Vehicles oa Band all on ■ of Gas Issued Quarts of Oil Issued reject Miles Per Day JAM FEB MAR APR MAY Total Average PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED BEST AVAILABLE COPY

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Th* Too4 S«rric« Section during the operation ran on a 24 hour haeis. Xa addition to the three regular meal* served a day, a hreakfft was served observer*. Breakfast for the crews returning from early morning flights was served continuously until noon. The Dining Hall was kept busy preparing flight lunches for the aircraft crewa as well. Official observers were fed the same rations as the airmen, although the service was on china dishes instead of trays. Both, sides of the Dining Hall were open during the operation. PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED

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TH* housing £acllltl«* of tho bose woro hard pressed to take cars of all tho TDY personnel who were scheduled to be on the base. To complicate matters, even more personnel showed up than were expected originally. It was necessary to put up ten (10) four man tents to take care of all the personnel. Bede in all barracks except T-44 and T >47 were double decked la order to accommodate more men in the buildings. Buildings T-47, T-13 and T-1S housed TDY officers and civilians. All officers stationed permanentaly on the baee were moved into T -44. The billeting chart shows in which buildings TDY personnel were housed. There were six large groups of official oh servers.housed at ■ Springe AFB as well as many who were not with a group. The largest number of VTP'i housed at one time was 104. They were billeted in Building T-65 which was completely utilized for visitors, being eet up to handle as many as 140 at one time. The observers were given privileges of the Officers' Club, which was located in the same building. Most of the visitors arrived on the shuttle aircraft from Kirtland ATB. As they passed through the Cperations Building, T-91, they were assigned sleeping space. In a small building adjacent to T*91 they were given official observer badges by liaison personnel from the AEG Visitor Control Bureau. During the rest of their stay they were guided by representatives of the Visitors' Bureau. From PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED

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PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED 0130 to 0230 hour* a pfhot^t «*Xved. Then the obserrere vere traaeported to and from the Nevada Test Site by buses. Many shots vere delayed by uafavorable weather, and the postponements caused many of the observers to stay at Indian Springs AFB …