BIKINI OVERTURE 



Their photographic and air-sampling missions were 

 accomplished withont accident to any of the participat- 

 ing Fortresses.* 



Task Group 1.6, the Navy Air Group, was com- 

 manded by Rear Admiral C. A. F. Sprague. This group 

 added to aviation history by perfecting the radio-con- 

 trol of drone planes catapulted from an aircraft car- 

 rier.! Such planes were used for photography and for 

 collecting air samples. The Group also operated four 

 helicopters, fifteen PBM patrol planes, and several 

 TBM avengers for use in guiding drone boats. Activi- 

 ties were based principally on the carriers SHANGRI- 

 LA and SAIDOR. 



Task Group 1.7, the Surface Patrol Group, was 

 commanded by Captain E. N. Parker (Navy). It was 

 to play an especially large part in the radiological 

 safety operations immediately following the under- 

 water explosion. Test B. 



Task Group 1.8, commanded by Captain G. H. 

 Lyttle (Navy), was responsible for many services, in- 



* Closest approach to an accident occurred just after the B-Day 

 explosion, when one of the B-17 drones, returning to its Eniwetok 

 base overran the runway and came to rest on the heach. The plane 

 had been flying directly above the Zeropoint when the explosion 

 occurred, and its brakes had been damaged. Fortunately, over- 

 running the runway did no damage of any significance. 



t The drone planes, F6F Hellcats, were not landed on the carrier 

 but on an airfield at Roi, an island of Kwajalein Atoll. Shortly 

 before the A-Day explosion one of the drones went out of control 

 and crashed. 



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