IX them that their samples were of little value, You see, a radio-chemist is continuously fighting to gain time-~ fighting the half-life of radioactive particles, Unless we can analyze a sample promptly, we cannot determine the many things we mst know, In nuclear testing, unlike testing of other devices, we must determine the maximm from each test in order to avoid atmospheric and aircrew contamination as mich as possible. In testing other devices, there is no contami~ nation, only financial cost to consider, Therefore, radio-~ chemists must obtain samples which will allow us to recreate the chain of events which took place in a few milliseconds, Obtaining these samples through use of manned sampling aircraft has been by far the best controlled and reliable method, Virtually all members of the 926th Test Squadron had experience in sampling procedures, fortunately, or had received preliminary training by April 1958, The B-57B transition training program suffered some early delays while aircraft underwent modifications; however, by February 1958, the program had intensified to such a degree that crew members acquired sufficient training in long-range navigation and link trainer flights, the latter simlating all instrument approaches likely to be encountered during the operations, The program also included shakedown flights on each aircraft to determine exact fuel consumption rates,-? Crew members of the 926th also received radiological safety courses, Because of the lack of qualified aircrew observers, other qualified personnel of-Task Group 7.) underwent this radiological safety training to provide adequate supply of trainer observers and to allow an equable radiation exposure among the several observers, The 926th supervised a Similar over-all training program at Laughlin Air Force Base during February 1958 for the Strategic Air Command crews, Both the B-57B and the B-57D training programs were completed by the end of March 1958. 181 SWEH-2 -0034, xe MFWL/HO . e es