ber and the preliminary
An NTS Planning Board mecting was held on 27 Septem

l Betts to address
report of this mecting on the same date went to Genera
the operations
various questions that he had asked the laboratories and
ration of
acccle
r
offices. Among other things the group addressed whethe
not only is
that
the present short term program was possible and determined
stic.
optimi
is
accelcration not possible but that the present schedule
of atmospheric
tion
resump
by
Furthermore, acccleration which might come to pass
events could
LASL
5
about
testing at the NTS was studied and it was felt that
since they
be accclerated but that the LRL events could not be accelerated
concluded that
was
it
ons
are device limited. Also in regard to Pacific operati
term air drop
short
a
t
and.tha
two air drops could be accomplished in two weeks
to 3 months
program with ground based diagnostics could be ready in 2-1/2

A test

whereas a continuing program would require 6 to 9 months to be ready.

6 months
of the Nik’ Zeus warhead with the Thor vehicle could be ready in about

ty must
from Johnston Island. A decision as to whether support facility activi
ments
Attach
d.
resolve
not
was
n
decisio
ion
resumpt
await an atmospheric test
to the conclusions of this meeting contain a great number of details of the
and
status of the various organizations to meet the different test schedules
atmosthe
test programs in the various areas be they underground or at NTS in
ately
phere. For instance the "quick and dirty" air drop program requires immedi
test
the
ishing
establishing a USAF priority to obtain the air support establ
organization and calling on Kirtland who has two B-S2 drop planes available
immediately. Lengthy and detailed schedules including device types, sponsor,
method of detonation, diagnostic capabilities, etc for the various types of
operations are included also as attachments including the NTS underground
:
program, the Pacific operations for the various types of programs; ‘'quick
on
and dirty", short term, and overseas operation; and finally for the Johnst

Island program which at this time included only a Niki Zeus: system test.
27 September

Agnew informed hWG that Betts (DMA) had authorized
Nougat as a series of 15 shots through February 1962
LASL list of devices and availability dates for atmos-

B

V

pheric tests presented.

ce

—_—

wine eee ee eee

TWG4oO CZE.aa &Ld) onbhava.

EEALG
leing

Pl

Af

.

__

Zp

This is just some notes, and not a piece of correspondence, in regard
- toa discussion between Ogle and Col. Keith Byrneg of AFSWC on 29 Sept.
1961. The subject was Air Force participation and LASL requirements
for a "quick and dirty" air test operation. The 3 possible locations
for this hypothetical operation are:
1) Open seas, 2) Johnston Island

and 3) Eniwetok.

ZA-

£)

Ed ming

About 2 planes would be needed to give bhangmeter and
measurements, another plane for documentary photography, another plane
for the actual air drop, and another plane for radiochemistry. EG&G
would operate the bhangmeters, whereas J-16 would operate the tar humen
;
equipment. George Cowan of J-11 said that for such a‘nuick
y
and dirty'operation only one good sample would be required and he would
hope two would be available.

The notes state that Gen. McCorkle of AFSWC

Bob Watt and Ogle will try to get together sometime during the week of
Oct. 1 to discuss more specific and any further information available
at that time.

These notes seem to me the first indication of the air

drop capability which is better documented in the folder entitled
Dominic Operation Planning".

‘

~

i

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