IT
Evaluating Jet Samplers
The Be29 bomber had a number of disadvantages as samplers,
First, the big aircraft required a larger crew, which resulted in a
larger number of people exposed to radiation during a mission,

The

T-33 jet aircraft, on the other hand, exposed only two individuals,
Farthermore, the B-29 bomber was slow, subject to extended radiation
while it went through the cloud.

The T-33 jet was much faster,

performing its mission more efficiently.

The T-33 being a smaller

aircraft, gathered radiological contaminations over a smaller area of

surface than the B-29, Finally, the jet aircraft returned to the ground
station faster after leaving the cloud.

When comparing the results of

these missions, officials found that the T-33 samples were far better
than the B-29 and six times as strong in many instances.
Colonel Fackler's final report of air participation concluded with
the recommendation that either F-89 or F-9); aircraft replace the T-33.
The latter, while presenting a number of advantages over bomber aircraft,
did not have the altitude capabilities desired for sampling.

In addition,

the report recommended that sampler aircraft be assigned to the Special
Weapons Command permanently in order to facilitate installation of
instruments , U7

_

Operation TUMBLER/SNAPPER

Within a few days the Special Weapons Command received word that
another continental test program would be conducted at the Nevada Test

Site in the spring of 1952.

Both the Atomic Energy Commission and the

47

SWEH-2-003h,

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