CLOUD TRACKING CFERaTIONS FOR BRAVO

‘> [plea

8 March 1954

@

1.

SUMMARY:
The BRAVO Air Rad Sefe Operations were conducted

essentially as planned.

No hazardous air coataninations were ene

countered by aircraft other than the samplers.

Several eircreft

and crevis were exposed but the levels encountered appear acceste

able from both a health and a decontarination aspect. Comsuniceae
tion and control difficulties made it difficult if not impossible

to forecast the fallout in the Rongerik/Rongelep ereas.

Steps

we we

have been taken to remedy the defects whick became arperent during

BRAVO operations.
2.

GENERAL:

:

Cloud tracking information for BRAVO was derived fran
five sources. The manner in which each of these functioned curing
BRAVO will be discussed individually in subsequent paragraphs.
These sources were as follows;
Sampling aircraft reports.

-

Sweet-sour reports.

Speciel Cloud tracking flights.

Weatner reconnaissance flights.
AFOAT-1

3.

flights e

SAMPLING ATRCRAFT REPORTS:
These reports were monitored and recorded by Pad Safe

personnel eboard BOUNDARY TARE frox plus two thru plus seven
hours. Information derived from these reports indicated the
sazpling aircraft were working the South and Southeest edge
of the cloud and therefore stayed in the immdiate viclaity of
Ground Zero. Because of the altitude of the sanpling operations
(30,000 - 45,000 ft) there is little relation between the Cperation of these aircraft and subsequent air o> ground contacination.

This data; nowever, does assist the sir Rad Safe Officer &n ob-

taining an overall picture of the dispersal of radioactive materiel.

No reports'of cloud cuovement were received from the control B-3

aircraft.
4e

oY/
/
S.EET@SOUR_ REPORTS:

"hese reports are subcitted by any eizrcrast encounce ring

radioactive contamination and =ot reporting by otner Eeens. no
such reports were received during B=avo.

Tris is not Surprising

since aircraft other than the samplers and trackers [reporting oy

otner means) seak to avoid arees in which contacinet.o2 is suse

pected.

- a ee

Select target paragraph3