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BOX No, 127
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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
(NN3 - 22 6- 93- 207)
WASHINGTON
409582
Fotver 42/-6 (4-2 1-4)
Sandstene
Vol. |
December 10, 1947
MEMORANDUM for General Erereton
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
The purnese of this memorandum is to infcrm you of some
Commission views on organization for Operation Sandstone and scme
of the reasons underlying the Commissicnts decisicn to make a
broad delegation cf authority to the Test Director,
We considered initially the basic cuestion of the rela
tionship in the field between the Commissicn's Director and the
Militery Commander,
We felt that if the test was to be a seientific
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success it would be necessary for the Commission's Director to have
full freedom of acticn in technical matters, We also recognized
that we were dealing rith an overseas exyredition, with important
militery operational aspects, hence it would be necessary to vest
overall command authority in the Military Commander,
After discussing this question with General Hull, we
were convinced that the Commission's scientific and technical interests would not be prejudiced in any way by placing the Commission's Director under General Hull's over-all control, We accord=
ingly aprointed as Test Director Captain Russell, a militery officer
assigned to the Commissicn, and by agreement with the Joint Chief's
of Staff placed him under General Hull's operational command, You
are aware of the details of assignment of responsibility as agreed
upon in the joint operational plan.
The Les Alamos Labcratory, a contractor's organizaticn,
is charged with the conduct of the scientific test. <A group from
the Laboratory, under Dr. Froman, in direct charge of test activi-
ties, is authorized by the Laboratory Director te report on test
matters directly to Captain Russell as the Commission's representative.
The Commissior is satisfied with these arrangements for
fitting together for field service a joint military command, a
Commission organization, and an organization from one Commission
contractor which encompasses technical personnel from several govern—ment and private agencies.
It is the Comrission's intention that, with three excep-
tions, the test organization in the field shall make all technical
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