CLOUD TRACKING CréPaTIONS FOR BRAVO
& Kareh 1954
1.
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SUkMARY:
The BRAVO Air ned Sefe Operations were conducted
essentially as planned.
No hazardous air coatacinations were ene
countered by aircraft other than the samplers.
Several eircraft
and crews were exposed but the levels encountered appear accestable from both a health and a decontarination aspect. Com=unicaetion and control difficulties made it difficult if not irpossibdle
to forecast the fallout in the Rongerik/Rongelap ereas.
Steps
ee we
have been taken to remedy the defects which became arperent during
BRAVO operations.
2.
GENERAL:
:
Cloud tracking information for BRAVO was derived fram
five sources. The manner in vhich 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 reconnaissence flights.
AFO&T-1 flights.
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3.
SAMPLING ATRORAFT REPORTS:
These reports were monitored and recorded by Rad Safe
personnel eboard BOUNDARY TARE from plus two thru plus seven
bours. Information derived from these reports indicated the
Seazpling aircraft were working the South and Southeest edges
of the cloud and therefore stayed in the immediate vicinity of
Ground Zero. Because of the altitude of the sampling operatioas
(30,000 - 45,000 ft) there is little relation between the cpera~
tion of these aircraft and subsequent air or ground contacination.
This data; nowever, does assist the Air Rad Safe Officer kn ob-
seaining an overall picture of the dispersal of radioactive caterial.
NO reports‘of cloud wovement were received from tke control 2-36
aircraft.
4.
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SVEET“SOUR_REPORTS:
hese reports are subcitted by any aircraft encountering
radioactive contamination and <ot reporting by octner ROecs. 0
This is not sirpres.ag
such reports were received during B=aVvO.
since aircraft other than the samplers and trackers {report 7g oy
otner msans) seak to avoid arees in wrich contazinet.o2 is suse
pected.
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