CLOUD TRACKING PLAN
le
JTF SEVEN Operation Order No. 3-53 indicated in general terns
the radsafe serial survey responsibilities assigned to T 7.4.
were 98 follows:
These
a. Provide cloud tracking aircraft for posteshot radiological
safety situation data up to a radius of §00 miles in the significant quade
rent for « pertod of 48 hours, starting at approximately 4 plus 6 hours
(Note:
Later changed to stast at H hour);
bs During the Bueind phase provide for air-to-ground reporting
of approximate radiation (air) intensities encountered by all aircraft
operating between Eniwetok amd Bikirt from H hour to @ plus 24 hours,
2.
The three general types of aerial survey coverage were:
ae Spcctal 8-29 missions were scheduled specifically for
cloud tracicing purposes using in-flight airetoegroumd reporting procedures,
These missions started at H hour and ran for 48 hours, with a requirement
for a maxiaum of one aircraft to be on station at any one time. Flignts
#. and #3 as defined in Incl 1 also satisfied the requirement for one of
the two weather reconnaissance fliighte’sequibed cn each day of the poriod
involved. Normal woather roconmnaissance metecrological reports were
required on ell cloud tracicing flights performed with WB=29 cquipaont.
In a similar manner it was rcquircd that all WE-29 flights scheduled
during the 48-hour poericd for specific weather rocormmaissance missions
include reports on radiation encountered.
be
In-flight air-toeground reports wore requircd from all
aircraft (other than the cloud sampling team) operating between Eniwetck
and Bicini from H to H plus 24 hours on other than specific radsafe
missions. The requirement was designed to use existing aircraft operas=
tional schodules and was not to involve schoduling of aircraft for the
radsafo aission alone, (Incl 5)
Ge
Radio interceaption of sequence reports from and dctwoen thc
cloud sampling afreraft, cantrol aircraft and the Air Operation Centcr
was mado at the Radsafe OFFICE from H to H plus 6 hours, {Incl 6)
3e The clowi tracking plan was designed around a considcration of
econcarical uso of the available aircraft to survey only the critical arcas
rather than to follow tho drift of all scgmonts of the cloud, The primary
consideration leading to a requirement for cloud tracking was the safcty
of task fores eloments, contiguous populated areas and the users of the
air and surface routes in tho general srca,
- ga It was considerod that the areas of most concern, in
sequenee of priority intcrost were as follows: