122
the Air Farce Special Weapons Center Commander directed the 4950th Test
Group (Kuelear) to provide air support for Projeot 58 Nevada Test Site,
a series of one-point detonations to be held at the Nevada Test Site during December 1957.
Specifically, the requirements of this project called
(1) for the collection of particulate samples by sampling aircraft, and
(2) for the provision and operation of cloud tracking aircraft.
These
requirements were delineated in Operation Order 6-57, published by the 4950th
on 2 December 1957.
‘Two shots were planned for this series, EES
weil. 6 Decenber 1957 andMND on 9 Docenber 1957.
To accomplish the sampling phase of the opsration, the 4950th directed
the 4926th Test Squadron (Sampling) to provide two B-57B sampling aircraft,
one to be employed as the primary sampling aircraft and the other as an
airborne spare.
The two aircraft staged from Kirtland Air Force Base,
collected samples from each shot, and returned.
It was necessary for the
aircraft to land at Indian Springs Air Force Base, Nevada, for refueling
prior to the second shot because of a four-hour delay of the event.
difficulties were experienced in the sampling phase.
No
Samples collected
on each shot were returned to Kirtland, removed by the Nuclear Applications ©
Section of the 4926th, and-transferred to Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory
project personnel.
The 4935th Air Base Squadron at Indian Springs Air Force Ease was
given the task of providing cloud tracker aircraft and crews to support
the operation.
Headquarters 4950th Test Group (Nuclear) furnished an
is
AFWL/ HQ