xTT
of combining it with a requirement from some other Air Force activity."
Then he encouraged Dr, Spence to take action, ", . . we should
personally explore with Al Graves the possibility of submitting the above
proposed requirements as soon as possible ">
On 13 December 195), Major Harry H. Elmendorf, after a trip to Wright
Air Development Center and Headquarters, Air Research and Development
Command, listed findings concerning the performance data of the B-S7D and
recommended that procurement action be initiated inmediately,
Time lag
after procurement was authorized usually amounted to 18 to 2) months,
"This appears to be an ideal aircraft for high altitude sampling and should
be procured if sufficient justification can be obtained," he wrote,“
Dr. Spence apparently heeded the advice of Dr. Plank, for on 27
January 1955, Dr. Graves wrote to Brigadier General William M, Canterbury,
Air Force Special Weapons Center, ", . . I believe that it is timely for
me to indicate to you the extent of our need for the altitude capability
which is presumably represented by the B-57D aircraft."
the reasons for lending his aid,-?
He then listed
General Canterbury was apparently quite
optimistic about obtaining B-57D aircraft which was reflected in his answer
to Dr. Graves on 2 February 1955.
In that letter he mentioned that he had
a team at Air Force headquarters presenting the need,
26
ee eae
The success of the procurement team appeared secured for on 17 February,1955, a formal request for the B-57D aircraft was submitted,* ‘General
Canterbury received a notification of the placement of an approval request
for three B-57D aircraft on 29 March 1955,-
"The completeness of the
information submitted by your center in justification of this requirement
should aid materially in provoking a favorable decision by Headquarters
28
AfwadRO
SWEH-2-003),
oe