xt

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based also upon the augmentation which may be required
for HARDTACK, so that at the end of TRUMPET you would
have a fully trained complement for that sampling mission,

If we observe prudent limits of exposure during 1957, I

believe that we would be justified in requesting the
'ten roentgens permissible --twenty roentgens emergency!

exposure ordinarily required by a series of high field
detonations at the Pacific Proving Ground,

But somewhat later, on 21 March 1957, Colonel Kieffer, then Deputy
Commander for the Special Weapons Center, took exception to the guide

lines laid down by Dr, -Plank:
Studies conducted on Operation TEAPOT and REDWING,
however indicate that the benefits obtained from
decontamination are not worth the effort and material

expended,

Over 95 per cent of the pilot dosage is

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accumulated while sampling and during the return flight,

As far as total pilot exposure is concerned, the radiation
intensity in the cockpit as a result of contamination

accumulated on previous events is negligible.

Moreover,

SO per cent or more of the cockpit intensity is contributed from the contaminated engines inthe F-8)G and 25
per cent or more from the engines on the B-57,.
engines cannot be decontaminated in the field,

Jet

Since a minor portion of the maintenance is on or
near the engine -- which cannot be decontaminated -- it

would appear that the effectiveness of decontamination in
reducing exposure to maintenance personnel is limited,

At TEAPOT the average accumulated dose to maintenance

personnel was less than 1] r, The maximum individual dose
was approximately 1500 mr. If a reduced decontamination
effort doubled this average dosage, the 300 n/r or 3.0r

test limit would still be met.

The figures shown on the

Aircraft Decayand Decontamination Chart indicate that
aircrews would receive an incremental dose of less than

5S per cent if decontamination were not performed.

The above average was not the first, nor the last, concerning reduction

of safety measures,

On 29 July 195), Colonel Karl H. Houghton, Acting

Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development, suggested that the

232

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