The following Mission Statements for the Type I Plant Division were taken from the Historical Reports of the 3084th Aviation Depot Group, recently declassified by the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, and the United States Air Force.

PLANT 1 (I) - MISSION

            Plant 1 was dedicated primarily for the maintenance, inspection and assembly of "atomic" weapons as contrasted to the  "thermonuclear" weapons which were the primary duty of Plant 2 personnel.  The duties at Plant 1 were gradually changed over the years as the "atomic" weapons, such as the MK6, were being phased out of the stockpile and the new thermonuclear weapons, much lighter in weight and smaller in size, such as the MK28 and MK15, were being introduced. 

            The following Mission Statements for Plant 1 were taken from the Historical Reports of the 3084th Aviation Depot Group, recently declassified by the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, and the United States Air Force.  Notice that the title of the Plant 1 function changes slightly as the reports progress.  In early 1956, it was called the Type I Plant Division, this changed to the Assembly Division I in the last half of 1956.  The Mission Statements are presented as written and will contain some repetition, since the basic missions of the units remained essentially the same over the four year period of the declassified documents, 1956-1959.

(1 Jan - 30 June 1956)

             The mission of the Type I Plant Division is to receive weapons and components and prepare them to a configuration and at a rate prescribed by higher headquarters.  The Division also insures that weapons and components stored at this site are maintained to the highest possible standards.
            To accomplish this mission specific procedures and standards must be followed and closely adhered to. This requires a rigorous training program and constant review and screening of applicable directives and publications.  Quantity distance standards as outlined in AFR 86-6 must be adhered to during assembly and storage inspection and weapon dispersal around the plant area.
            General safety practices as well as those pertaining to handling high explosives are stressed and practiced at all times to insure safety of personnel and equipment.
            Weapon reliability is insured by following procedures as outlined in applicable publications pertaining to assembly and storage inspection.

            During this period the organizational strength of the Division was composed of the following:

                            Overhead          2 officers, 4 enlisted
                            Electrical           4 officers, 18 enlisted
                            Mechanical        6 officers, 26 enlisted

                            Total             12 officers, 48 enlisted

(1 July - 31 December 1956)

            The mission of Assembly Division I is to assemble weapons and components to a CAS (Completely Assembled for Strike) or CAF configuration at a rate prescribed by higher headquarters.  In addition, the Division assembles, inspects, and maintains war reserve weapons and spare components, war reserve weapons fusing assemblies with spare components, and war reserve power supplies.  Each branch is responsible for completing Special Weapons Inspection Reports, packing sheets, and other routine administrative procedures.
            In order to accomplish this mission, specific procedures and rigid standards must be adhered to.  Since 1 December 1956, a quality assurance program has been in effect which provides that Sandia Corporation accomplish an inspection on a percentage of these completed units.  This has been instituted to assure the quality of the product.  Extensive training and constant review of directives and publications make it possible for the mission to be accomplished with efficiency and dispatch.
            Standards as to quantity and distance between units are established and strictly adhered to during assembly, storage inspection and dispersal about the plant.  General safety practices and precautions, as well as those pertaining to high explosives, are a must at all times to prevent injury to personnel or damage to equipment.
            Strict adherence to applicable publications pertaining to assembly and storage inspection of weapons insures weapon reliability.

             During this period the organizational strength of the Division was composed of the following:

                        Overhead           2 officers
                        Electrical           3 officers, 19 enlisted
                        Mechanical        3 officers, 21 enlisted

                            Total             8 officers, 40 enlisted

(1 Jan - 30 June 1957)

MISSION

            The mission of Plant I is to assemble weapons and components at a rate prescribed by higher Headquarters.  In addition, the Plant assembles, tests, and maintains war reserve weapons and spare components, war reserve weapons fusing systems with spare components and war reserve power supplies.  Each branch of Plant I is responsible for completing Special Weapons Inspection Reports, packing sheets and other routine administrative procedures.

            The Maintenance and Calibration Section and the Nuclear Section are part of the Electrical Branch, but owing to the type of work performed, their mission is considered separately.

            The Maintenance and Calibration Section is responsible in an advisory and monitoring capacity to insure the maximum operating efficiency of Special Weapons Test and Handling equipment.  This section schedules periodic maintenance and calibration as due, maintains all records required by 11N Series Technical Orders, performs major repairs and modifications to equipment, and acts as a supply agency for ordering material required to repair or modify special weapons equipment.

            The Nuclear Section is responsible for insuring that all nuclear components in the stockpile are functional and maintained in accordance with approved specifications and procedures, and that all nuclear operational requirements are accomplished.

            To accomplish this mission, this Section periodically inspects components to insure that they meet the required standards and coordinates with other sections for convoy vehicles, officer couriers, drivers and guards when required to transport components to the Weapon Control Point.

            In order to accomplish the Plant mission, specific procedures and rigid standards must be strictly followed. To insure that high quality standards are maintained, a Quality Assurance program is in effect and is monitored by the Sandia Corporation.   (Ed. Note:  One sentence redacted by DOE.) ............. These inspections are in addition to those performed by the military Quality Control inspectors.  Extensive training and constant review of existing directives and publications make it possible for Plant I to fulfill their mission as required.

            Safety standards regulating the quantity and distance between units have been established and followed closely during assembly, test and storage inspection.  General safety practices and precautions, as well as those pertaining to high explosives, were a must at all times to prevent injury to personnel or damage to equipment.

            Strict adherence to applicable publications pertaining to assembly, test, and storage inspection of bombs and components insures weapon reliability.

ORGANIZATION

            The organization established to perform the mission of Plant I was as follows:

                                    POSITION                            AUTHORIZED                            ASSIGNED

                            Electrical Branch                          3 Officers                                    2 Officers
                                                                                8 Airmen                                   25 Airmen

                            Mechanical Branch                       2 Officers                                    2 Officers
                                                                              14 Airmen                                   14 Airmen


            During the period of this report, the following major personnel and organizational changes occurred:

            Captain Paul J. Sevigny was appointed Plant I Supervisor vice Captain James C. Fulton who was reassigned to the Assembly Division, which was created 1 February 1957.  Captain William G. Rogers was assigned as Supervisor of Electrical Branch vice 1st Lt. Jack Davis who was reassigned overseas.  1st Lt Elliott L. Feinberg was assigned to Mechanical Branch as a replacement for 1st Lt Edwin D. Thompson who was due to be separated from service in early July 1957.  1st Lt Frederick M. Miller was reassigned from Mechanical Branch to the Directorate of Quality Control early in 1957. 1st Lt William Schwartz was separated from the Service in June 1957.  CWO Ernest Hall was reassigned to Scheduling Section from Maintenance and Calibration Section in June 1957.

            The organization of Plant I was changed radically during the period covered by this report.  As of 1 January 1957, the Maintenance and Calibration Section was operating under the Deputy Director of Operations, and was manned by one Warrant Officer and two airmen.  On 1 March 1957, the Maintenance and Calibration Section was combined with the Nuclear Division and operated as a Division under the Deputy Director of Operations until 1 June 1957 when the functions of both Maintenance and Calibration and Nuclear were assigned to Plant I as sections of the Electrical Branch.

TRAINING

            During the Period of this report extensive training and re-qualification of personnel assigned was carried out in Plant I.

            In January, class training was held on the T-1 tester schematic and practical training on the calibration of this tester.  All plant personnel were in attendance at a one day training program on the MK 13 fuse.  A refresher course was also held for E-Bay personnel on the T-160 tester.

            In February airmen from Handling Division were given proficiency training on MK 6 MOD 6 mechanical assembly.  A series of lectures covering a three day period was given by Maintenance and Calibration Section to all Electrical and Mechanical Branch personnel.

            During the month of March, MK 7 MOD 4 proficiency training was conducted by Mechanical Branch personnel prior to shipping one of the two trainers from this Station.  Continued re-qualification and proficiency training was carried out in both the Electrical and Mechanical Branches, and also a six hour maintenance training course was held by Maintenance and Calibration Section.  During the third week of March, W-25 proficiency training and testing were given to 45 personnel from Plant I, Plant II and Handling Division, with all qualifying.  During the last week of March, MK 39 MOD 0 proficiency training was conducted by personnel from Plant II with both Electrical and Mechanical Branches participating.  Upon completion of the course, testing was accomplished and all personnel in attendance were qualified.

            In April, the results of the extensive training program began to be realized, with seven personnel from Plant I meeting the classification board and all seven being upgraded.  During this month, additional personnel were assigned temporarily to Mechanical Branch for augmentation training.  Continued re-qualification and proficiency training was held in Mechanical and Electrical Branches.

            In May, Captain William G. Rogers and CWO Ernest Hall were sent to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, to attend Explosive Ordnance Demolition School. This was part of an intensive Salvage Appraisal program set up by Captain Paul J. Sevigny who was designated the project officer for Salvage Appraisal. Captain Sevigny also wrote a Salvage Appraisal Manual containing all the necessary information for an officer to perform salvage appraisal and recovery duty.

            In June, owing to the increased work load in Handling, the personnel temporarily assigned to Plant I were returned to their section and a system utilizing E-Bay personnel as augmentation for M-Bay was started.

....................................(Ed. Note:  4 lines redacted by DOE.)....................................

            During this reporting period, no extensive Nuclear Training Program was conducted such as the program completed during the period of 1 June 1956 to 1 January 1957. Personnel of the former Nuclear Division were utilized in operational activities.  These personnel were able to maintain a high level of proficiency by performing the required inspections on components and by participating in all training operations.  The airmen (AFSC 33230) received on-the-job training in the Maintenance and Calibration Section and in the Electrical Branch of Plant I.  Re-qualification classes were conducted for Couriers and the Salvage Appraisal and Recovery Officers.

            In addition to the above mentioned training during each month of the tine period covered by this history the usual collateral training required for all personnel was held.  This included Character Guidance, Commander's Call, Arms Familiarization, Code of Conduct training and other individual courses conducted by this Station.

EDITOR'S NOTE:  THE PLANT 1 DIVISION WAS CONSOLIDATED INTO THE "ASSEMBLY DIVISION"-  ACCESS THE 1 JULY TO 31 DECEMBER 1957 MISSION, ETC. USING THE ASSEMBLY DIVISION LINKS ON THE HOME PAGE.