~
operational organization,
XI
Normally decontamination
‘ requires approximately sixteen manhours on the F-8) and
twenty to twenty-two manhours on the B-57,
include manhours for support personnel,
This does not
Area decontamination
rates vary
from .009 manhours/sq ft. on the F-8 to .006
manhours/sq ft. on the B-57,
I wish to emphasize that although we are sending this
information, as requested, this should not be construed to
mean that we approve the decontamination of contaminated
aircraft as a part of operational activities.
The 950th
Test Group (Nuclear) decontaminates their sampler aircraft
primarily for the purpose of avoiding cross contamination
during sampling operations?
Then on 21 March 1957, Colonel Kieffer wrote to Mr. K, F, Hertford,
Manager of the Albuquerque Operations Office, Atomic Energy Commission,
which resulted in additional conferences and communications regarding
decontamination policy, 2? “Our experience in nuclear tests in developing
knowledge of the psychological effects of radiation on humans, indicates
that aircraft decontamination is not required for reasons of personnel
safety except in unusual circumstances where radiation intensities are
mich greater than any we have encountered in our test and sampling
aircraft to date. . . We believe it is imperative that we take the lead
in establishing a reasonable attitude toward decontamination requirements
and therefore desire that our peacetime test requirements for decontam-
ination and rad-safe crew protection be not more elaborate than actually
required for personnel safety considerations,
Futhermore, substantial
economics may result from a reduction in aircraft decontamination efforts."
Then he outlined his intentions during Operation PLUMBHOB, which called
for a considerably reduced expenditure of manhours in monitoring and
decontaminating aircraft,
He admitted, "It is possible that as a result
236
SWEH -2-003)
§
6
oo.