Helicopter missions, after Shots Semincle and Mohawk, obtained data similar to the altitudeeorrection-calibration data collected by the survey aircraft. Because the helicopters could not

safely hover at low altitudes, complete information could not be obtained. it had been planned to

“obtain gamma-energy spectra at various altitudes above a contaminated surface. The Top Hat
dose-rate response was to be compared to the gamma-energy spectra to determine whether the
assumption of air-equipment response was valid. However, instrumentation difficulties and the
limitations in hovering altitudes resulted in fragmentary data. The survey using a scintameter
obtained dose-rate readings at altitudes between 25 and 1,000 feet.
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2.8 INSTRUMENTATION

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The major instrumentation consisted of aerial radiation detectors. Scintillation survey meters
and ship-mounted gamma monitors were used for measurements relating to altitude-correction
factors. A spectrometer was used to obtain the distribution of the gamma energies at survey
altitudes. The instruments are described in Appendix B.

2.8.1 Aerial Survey. Each of the project aircraft had the following equipment: 1) Top Hat

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aerialradiationdetcor, HASL TH-10-B (Appendix B); (2) detector control assembly, HASL

TC-14-A; (8) strip-chart recorder, Esterline Angus Co., AW; (4) telemeter assembly, HASL

TT-3-X; (5) power supply, HASL TB-6-A; and (6) radio transmitter, U.S. Navy ART-13. The
*

permanent components were installed by the Overhaul] and Repair Department, U.S. Naval Air

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Station, Alameda, California, at the air station prior to Operation Redwing. The removable
components were Installed by project personnel after the squadron deployed to the EPG.
' The location of the assemblies is indicated in Figure 2.3. The radiation detector was mounted
aft to avoid the major areas of aircraft contamination, namely, the engines, oil-cooler air in-

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takes, leading edges of the wings, propellers, and front of the radome. The cabin intake vents
were sealed to prevent contamination of the interlor ductwork. The control assembly and the
operator were placed forward, next to the navigator. This facilitated close correlation between

contamination, The angular response due to this shield is shown in Figure 2.6.

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. The aircraft's radio altimeter (U.S. Navy APN-1) supplies an altitude indication to the altitude
compensator, which modifies the radiation detector so that its output is a current that is propor-

tional to the radiation which would be measured at 3 feet above the surface. As the altitude

_ Changes, the compensator corrects the resulting radiation change and keeps the ground-level
Treading constant.

The telemetering system did not perform satisfactorily. The radiation readings on the
aircraft radiation-detector strip-chart recorder were, therefore, transmitted by voice over the

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Bavigational net. At the control center, the radiation readings were logged and immediately
plotted.
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drives a strip-chart recorder to provide a permanent, continuous record of the radiation intensities as measured in the aircraft. This detector Is nearly alr-equivalent from 80 to 1,400 kev,
Figure 2.5. An annular radiation shield is built into the detector to reduce the effect of aircraft

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The relationship of the various sections, both in the aircraftand in the Program 2 Control
Center, is sbown in Figure 2.4. The radiation detector and its associated control assembly

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the navigational and radiation reports. The remainder of the equipment was located on an

available-space basis.

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These data are examined for

the variation of radiation reading between different flight altitudes and given in Section 3.2.

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aivigational reference and made altitude passes in the vicinity.

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Survey aircraft made altitude-calibration passes over islands of the Eniwetok Atoll after Shot
Mohawk. After Shot Tewa, the P2V-5 dropped a smoke Light in the open sea to be used as a

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at higher altitudes.

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2.2.2 Altitude Absorption. Because considerations of flight safety limit the minimum altitude
at which aircraft can fly over water, automatic gamma monitors were mounted over the sides of
two ships of Project 2.10, to measure the gamma-radiation field at 35 feet above the sea surface.
This was to provide low-altitude readings simultaneous with aircraft passes in the same area

Select target paragraph3