"Y" day with the following exceptions.
The simulated bomb run by
drone aircraft was made at 20,000 feet instead of 30,000 feet altitude.
An additional manned B-17 aircraft was operated on a course parallel to
and directly West of this drone at a minimum distance of 35,000 feet
slant range from Zero Point when the shock wave overtook the aircraft.
Three of the aircraft at 20,000 feet altitudes were specially equipped
to record photography and shock wave data.
The other main change in
operations was the placement of the photographic aircraft at a slant
range of eight instead of ten nautical miles from the point of detonation.
At the briefing held 1300 hours 12 May 1918 the Weather Staff
Officer and the Radiological Safety Staff Officer stated that the forecast indicated a satisfactory condition for the test on 15 May.
There
was some question about the wind direction at a high altitude, but
the staff decided to proceed with operations as planned.
At subsequent
briefings during the next two days, weather conditions continued to
improve and, as a result, the final decision was made to fire the
weapon at 060); hours 15 May 19),8 for the third test.
All aircraft arrived Sn’ station by 0530 and completed their
assigned missions successfully with the following exceptions.
The
Mother aircraft controlling the drone at 20,000 feet had difficulty
with the AN/APS-10 (radar used to give exact position) and was unable
to locate itself accurately with relation to the Zero Point.
Saction VIII
74
The