(72), and
the last full-scale rehearsal at least seventy-two
-
s it
possibly ninety-six (96), hours before the test which follow
will occur.
RADIO-CONTROLLED AIRCRAFT
The reliability of remotely-cmtrolled aircraft as a means of
collecting samples of material made radioactive by an atomic explosion was thoroughly demonstrated in Operation SANDSTONE.
Twenty-
three of the twenty-four aircraft dispatched on cloud-sampling
‘missions obtained excellent results.
No other method of sample
recovery employed was productive of such a uniformly high degree of
SUCCOBE »
Consequently, it appears certain that remotely-controlled
aircraft will again be required in later large scale tests of atomic
weapons.
This probability points up the necessity for the maintenance
of a unit equipped and trained to perform the cloud-smapling mission.
The nucleus of experience now in the lst Experimental Guided Missiles
Group should be protected against the loss of identity which will inevitably follow disbandment of the unit or dispersion of the personnel.
In this connection, immediate steps should be taken to develop
ajroraft remote control equipment of improved design.
The equipment
used in Operation SANDSTONE was menufactured prior to the conduct of
Operation CROSSROADS---it has been subjected to much wear and tear
and no reliability can be placed in it for future operations.
Imme-
diate initiation of a project to develop improved equipment should
Section VIII
97