eaineniitin Committee of the National Security Council for Atomic Energy Matters. Five days later Presidential approval was given, and preparations were made to activate the site which subsequently became Nevada Proving Grounds. Continental Test Operations The Nevada Proving Grounds was activated January 1, 1951, using temporary construction and the first nuclear test shot was detonated on January 27, 1951. During the current three-year period, four series of continental tests have been conducted: Winter 1951 Series (Operation Ranger)—five shots. All were experimental devices tested by the air drop technique. The tests were diagnostic in nature. Fall 1951 Series (Buster-Jangle)—seven shots. Five were primarily diagnostic for the benefit of LASL, and two were primarily of interest to DOD as weapons effects experiments, Shot 1 was a tower shot, the following four were air bursts, and the last two were respectively a surface and an undergroundburst.. Spring 1952 Series (Tumbler-Snapper)—eight shots. They were equally divided as to air bursts and tower shots; five were experimental devices of primary interest to LASL, and three were sponsored by DOD in connection with weapons effects phenomena, Spring 1953 Series (Upshot-Knothole)—eleven shots, including air, tower, and the 280mm nuclear projectile shot. Nine shots were diagnostic in nature, seven being of primary interest to LASL and two to UCRL; and two tests were of primary concern to DOD, including proof-testing of the 280mm nuclear projectile. The latter, however, was of particular interest to LASL, and justification for the shot was a joint AEC-DOD responsibility. During the last three series approximately 37,500 personnel of the Armed Forces, including Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps units, were indoctrinated in the principles of atomic warfare through simulated combat maneuvers conducted in conjunction with the tests. Armed Forces participation, "Exercise Desert Rock" I-V, was conducted by the Sixth Army from a headquarters at Camp Desert Rock nearby. Various groups of officer volunteers during several shots were stationed in advance of the main body of troops at the time of detonation. Also exposed to detonation for Armed Forces effects information were materiel and supplies, above- and below-ground structures, and items such as pine trees and railroad equipment. Air Force participation for crew indoctrination and experimental test purposes as well as for normal air support—such as cloud tracking and sampling—was equally heavy, particularly in the last series. During Shot 9 (1953 series) a maximum of 100 aircraft participated. Notable from a public relations viewpoint were the two "Open Shots" of April 22, 1952, and March 17, 1953, during which national news media representatives, public officials, and Federal Civil Defense Administration representatives were permitted, under security control conditions, to witness the detonations as uncleared observers. The re- sulting wide coverage through all media—press, periodical, radio, TV, and motion pic- ture—provided the public with opportunity to add to its understanding of Commission and of Armed Forcesactivities and objectives. Federal Civil Defense Administration parti- cipation in effects experiments was continued throughout the last series, and was reportedly of great value in the national defense effort. DOE/ALO. 88 qe, 93