CONFIDENTI+ Briefing on DOD Radiation Effects Program at Operation REDWING After a brief introduction by General Luedecke, Colonel Maxwell of the Armed Forces Special ‘Weapons Project briefed the Commissioners on the objectives and results of the radiation effects program at Operation REDWING. lie said that the primary purpose of the program was to obtain as complete documentation as possible of fallout from high-yield thermonuclear detonations and that the program had been undertaken with the following objectives: (1) studying the distribution of radioactivity in the cloud; (2) collecting and characterizing fallout; (3) correlating data and extrapolating it to land surfaces. Colonel Maxwell pointed out that although the data which he would present were preliminary, they could be used at this point for planning purposes. With the use of slides depicting charts and maps, Colonel Maxwell then reviewed the results of the program and commented on their significance. With regard to the cloud model, Colonel Maxwell said that the major percentage of radioactivity had been observed in the lower part of the cloud and that less than three percent of the radioactivity had been found in the stem of the cloud. Also, he commented on the relatively large size of the particles which were responsible for the major part of the radioactivity. Militarily, he observed, the 100 micron size particle had been found to be the most significant, because areas in which this size particle were concentrated would be so radioactive that evasive action would have to be taken. Colonel IWaxwell showed idealized, surface radioactivity contour charts and idealized charts of the distribution of radioactivity at various distances. He then showed charts of two test shots and compared them with the se idealized charts. He said it had been concluded that the areas of high intensity had been predicted to be too high and areas of low intensity had been predicted to be too low. Colonel Maxwell concluded that the general areas of radiation his presentation by remarking intensity and the variation of - 638-