~ operational organization, XI Normally decontamination ‘ requires approximately sixteen manhours on the F-8) and twenty to twenty-two manhours on the B-57, include manhours for support personnel, This does not Area decontamination rates vary from .009 manhours/sq ft. on the F-8 to .006 manhours/sq ft. on the B-57, I wish to emphasize that although we are sending this information, as requested, this should not be construed to mean that we approve the decontamination of contaminated aircraft as a part of operational activities. The 950th Test Group (Nuclear) decontaminates their sampler aircraft primarily for the purpose of avoiding cross contamination during sampling operations? Then on 21 March 1957, Colonel Kieffer wrote to Mr. K, F, Hertford, Manager of the Albuquerque Operations Office, Atomic Energy Commission, which resulted in additional conferences and communications regarding decontamination policy, 2? “Our experience in nuclear tests in developing knowledge of the psychological effects of radiation on humans, indicates that aircraft decontamination is not required for reasons of personnel safety except in unusual circumstances where radiation intensities are mich greater than any we have encountered in our test and sampling aircraft to date. . . We believe it is imperative that we take the lead in establishing a reasonable attitude toward decontamination requirements and therefore desire that our peacetime test requirements for decontam- ination and rad-safe crew protection be not more elaborate than actually required for personnel safety considerations, Futhermore, substantial economics may result from a reduction in aircraft decontamination efforts." Then he outlined his intentions during Operation PLUMBHOB, which called for a considerably reduced expenditure of manhours in monitoring and decontaminating aircraft, He admitted, "It is possible that as a result 236 SWEH -2-003) § 6 oo.