= HEADQUARTERS wh TASK GROUP 7.1 JOINT TASK FORCE SEVEN RG BZ d1i2 3260S "STOASHO- ENPROYASTER “\ ‘ r ‘\ A “* at ~ a 34 fou XY IAI MO 4 4949 ‘otLAN ~ COAITSSRGRCO: CALIFORNIA Collection /iec as 2 , ZL “Ud -2 D-9F Folder_SAM PL A/G Brigedior General-Hovell_M.Estes, Conuznder, Task Group 7et Joint Task Foree Seven ATO 187, c/o Postmaster Sun Franciseo, California Dear General Estes: Thenk you for your letter of 3 March 1954 requesting comzents on the EnAVO sanplinz mission and suggestions as to the missions to come, For the record, you mey be interested in the data in Apnendix I which represent the sample material collected by the: élreraft in BRAVO, You will note that only two airereft returned with less than 10/6 ftestons. by This achievexent is emphesized — the fact thet on MIKE Shot. only four 9% the twelve sanpling — FONG aircraft returned with more than 10*° fissions, while in KIN Shot, none of them collected this amount. I wish to reply to your specific questions as follows: &e The RB=-36 wes in position at 60 nautical miles at 130° szimuth from zaro point on initial position as requested by Project 11.2 and agreed to by Froject 9.1. The pressure altitude waS 37,500 feet rather then the 40,000 feet requestede be Apart from mitiple layers of intervening cirrus cloud lying in banks in the southeast quadrant, this position sctisfied the directing capability requiretent. Om approach to initiel position at a pressure altitude of 37,500 feet, we were flying in and out of the top of the middle cirrus layer. After completing the photo mission maneuver, we made a 180° turn (to the right) end elimbed to 42,000 feet pressure altitude. We CLASSIFICATION CANCELLED cleared the top of the cirrus by esproximately 1,000 feet during return to a position south of zero point and rendezvous with the reconnaissance aircraft (Sniffers). Throughout the timo rejuired to go to this southerly position, our view of the dete1ls of the cloud below 60,000 feet was obscured by the consolidation of the upper and middle layers of oirrus in its vicinity. These circux> stences caused us initially to evaluate the probable success of the sazplinz mission as very poor. The mission would have been eo fatlure if the RB-36 hed not been able finclly to find a position uniter the overhenzing cloud from which a relatively Clecr view of its lower portions could be meintained. If the Sniffers had epprosched over the cirrus, rather than climbing throuzh the cloud dec, they might heve assisted in finding a fcvorable position earlier after shot time. . f COPIED/DOE emmern Eeg .