◆ SpookStack

230 gallon tanks were in such short supply that if they were shipped to TIDE, they should not be dropped in- the course of the air operations except as a last resort. Not only was there a question about the availa- bility of the drop-tanks, but TIDE originated a request the day before (14 April 1961) the first air strike for an inflight test of the drop-tanks to see if their release damaged the aircraft. Moreover, TIDE's message said: "Request documentary film of test." Faith in Headquarters judgment seems to have been in short supply! A rather interesting response from Eglin pointed out that various of the Headquarters personnel were thoroughly experienced with the drop tanks, including dropping them from B-26's. Headquarters informed TIDE that there was only minor damage that might be expected to the flap areas of the wings, and that this was so minor that it didn't interfere with the flight charac- , teristics. In the cable reporting this, the comment was made "that no noise or anything occurs to frighten the pilots." 108/ At best these last minute questions about drop tanks for the B-26's appear to indicate a serious oversight of an issue that should have been