Operation CASTLE's sampling program resulted in the decision to ask

for B-57 jet bombers as permanent sampling vehicles,

Following the

operation, General Estes recommended that the B-57 aircraft be used on
all future sampling missions,

He believed the aircraft would require

a removable bomb bay fuel tank for additional range, reserve oil
capability to take care of the rate of use of oil, "featherweighting"
to increase the maximum altitude, and, finally, devices for collecting
particulate and gas gamples.

Nine B-57B aircraft could replace fifteen

F-8) aircraft, two B-36H samplers and one RB-36H sampler control aircraft,
In addition, the nine B-S7 aircraft could bring back’ better samples than

could all these aircraft and would, of course, be mich less expensive to
operate,

"Each aircraft would have a ‘sampler director! aboard thus

eliminating the need for a control aircraft."

When more powerful engines

were available, the B-57 aircraft would meet ", , . all future requirements
in both continental and overseas tests in an effective, economical manner
without the loan of aircraft from other USAF agencies," General Estes

*39

concluded,

+

.

Central coordination of the efforts of the sampling aircraft is still

necessary and a control plane has continued to be used with B-57 operations
with a seientific director in the back seat. A B-57 is used, however,
and can sample last as a back up in case of aborts. An exception to this
took place during one of the ROVER sampling operations when the entire
sampling runs were easily observed from the control trailer in the forward
area, This was done because of the attempt to employ KDB-l drones and
control them from the ground, On this occasion the B-57 operations
proceeded smoothly from the ground control, but this was a highly special

case,

117

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