page 120 



FLIGHT-DECK BRIEFING ON SAIDOR. Grouped 

 in front of an F6F-5P photographic plane, pilots 

 of the "Saidor" planes receive final briefing from 

 Captain J. H. McElroy, Photographic Operations 

 Officer, shown kneeling, center. Looking on are 

 Captain A. P. Sforrs, skipper of "Saidor," and 

 Commander J. H. McCurtin, Air Officer. Mission 

 of these photographic pilots was to make an accu- 

 rate photomosaic of the target array the hour be- 

 fore detonation of the Test Able bomb. Careful 



timing and spacing of the planes was required in 

 order to cover the entire target array in one 

 sweep. Four planes at high altitude took vertical 

 pictures for an "uncontrolled" mosaic, or mosaic 

 arranged by eye. Supplemental trimetrogon photo- 

 graphs were taken by two other planes in order 

 that a "controlled" or highly accurate mosaic 

 could be made. Other planes made before-and- 

 after runs at low altitude, taking stereoscopic pic- 

 tures of the target ships. 



