jsaee meas HS Document consist Sapna ae A- 9l- 048 UNIVERSITY OF canirontasaazecrgsy2 at Ercé %- lo | LOS ALAMOS SCIENTIFIC LABORATORY (ConTRACT W-7405-BNG-36) P. O. Box 1663 LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO “EN REPLY REFER TO: pra-806 , 3. Fielis Brig. Generel KE. Loo 20 February 1953 | : | SY REVIEWOATES V1991) ly h pr ANS AMINAT and caton CMCLE Cisjatun aaa, SCONTAINS NO DOE CLASWEL WHO | ry Application tn Of Milita P 8. or 1 CACADINATEWITH: 2N0 feview-care: Energy Commission Atemic VU. Washingten 25, BD. 6. Nae Boe SERSro GRACKETED Vier © ££. Tyler, Memger, Sents Te Operations Office Dear General Fields: Sanitized by NN-523 on a]3/4f 2. Reference te mée to THX 8-125 dated 17 February from Euston to Tyler quoting Bethe on the question of the advisability ef substituting en air érop for a surface shot ef Runt or Jughesd im Operation CASTIZ. We find curselves in strong disagreement with this suggestion for Operation CASTLE eithough we heave, of course, a0 objection to a DO effects progrem at a later éate under asppropriste sircumstances if this seems necessary to them. Our reasons for preferring the present eperational pien follov. 2. In spite of the fact that the devices to be tested im Operation CASTLE are being designed with “emergency capadility” ia mind, the operation is primarily an experinentel test program in the field ef weapon development. Accordingly, the diagnostic experiments are still ef the highest importance for it is not expected thet the design of radiation implosion weapons or their further improvement vill stop with this test program. Therefore, we strongly believethat no step should be taken which diminishes the szount of appropriate and relevant experimental informtion which can be obtained. Every effort is being made to simplify the experimental progres and to include only those experiments whieh are essential and have «@ proper balance between their eost and the isformtion whieh they give. Kovever, ell ehots presently ere expected to sarry ainimm sous rinental observations including the behavior of the primry bond (slphe), radiation transit time to the cvconiary|bomb, end tthe the pastographte > behavior of the ease. 3. Le The Jughead is presently planned sot es BaORves walle shot anti it is hele het tee'moct extensive fustewmental sheervetions12 be carried ont an this experinent. The reusiader of the Los Alamos shots ere planneé es barge abots located pear atoll islands se that photographic ani other observations can be mde on them. We would regard it as edeclutely impossible, vere it othervise desireable, to drop the Jughead 411434