VIT
aircraft and none could be expected before December,
Such delays in
delivery danperously shortened the time available for training.
Late
in November, Solonel John S, Samuel, Task Group Commander, personally
visited Warner-Robins and manared to get two of the aircraft released
immediately, a third was released that same month, and a fourth in
December,
Crew training continued through a successful conclusion
by applying round-the-clock schedules.
The remaining two B-57D aircraft
arrived at “irtland in January 1956,°
A major assignment for the 4926th Test Squadron during REDWING was
to determine the effects of high yield, nuclear clouds on various types
of aircraft, preferably from-30 to 150 minutes after detonation.
Previously ,data had been inconsistent, therefore, investigations of early
penetrations would be pursued cautiously
in face of unimown quantities
of radiation and turbulence. !
Strategic Air Command leaders requested data on blast and radiation
levels in nuclear clouds from 30,000 to 50,000-foot altitudes bt could
offer neither the airframes nor the crews.
Tactical Air Command was
requested to assist and initially agreed to accomplish the required
twenty penetrations, four for each major detonation. In September,
Yeadauarters, United States Air Force, tried to obtain a commitment from
the TacticalAir Command for six aircraft for three and one-half months,
with crews and maintenance personne]
readiness propram,
without hindrance to its combat
Tactical Air Command agreed, formally, to furnish
three such aircraft and crews, but only for three months,
REDWING leaders
could not accomplish the sampling mission on that basis so bargained for
Re
143
SEH -2 -003),