7,
Report on Tewa Shot at Operation REDWING
General Starbird reported that, in response to the
Cemmission’s request at Meeting 1215, he and Doctor York had
been in touch with the Commander of the Joint Task Force
regarding the depth of water over which the Tewa shot should
be detonated and also whether Tewa could be made the last
shot of Operation REDWING, General Starbird said he had
just received a cable from the Task Force which stated that
Setting up the shot for detonation over water sixty to sixtyfive feet deep would result in only a one or two daydelay of
the shot, now scheduled for July 17. The cable reporteda
statement by Dr. Shelton that there is no conclusive evidence
that less fall-out would occur if the shot were set off in
shallow water, nor is there conclusive evidence that fall-out
would increase at distances beyond one thousand miles from
the point of detonation. It stated that since there would be 4
short delay in firing Huron it would not be desirable to fire
Tewa as the last shot in the series and Admiral Hanlon
therefore planned to proceed with a firing date of July 17
unless the Commission instructed etherwise. General
Starbird added that the Division of Biology and Medicine has
indicated that the danger area for Operation REDWING should
be maintained for two weeks after the tests are completed.
Mr. Libby requested that sufficient fall-out samples
from the Tewa shot be collected so that the percentage of
fall-out at various distances could be accurately determined.
General Starbird said he would hold a telecon conference with the Commanderof the Joint Task Force later in
the day to discuss the Tewa Shot, including the possibility of
detonating it over water less than sixty feet deep,
After further discussion, the Commissioners agreed to
delegate to the General Manager the authority to determine the
location and time of the Tewa Shot.
W.B. McCool
oecretary
Approved by the Commissicn: Meeting 1229, September 26, 1956
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