II
The colonel concluded with a request that six F-9)C aircraft, less
radar equipment, be assigned permanently to the Special Weapons Command

as soon as possible,

If F-9lC aircraft could not be procured in time

for Operation TUMBLER/SNAPPER, he asked that six T-33 aircraft be
assigned temporarily, “°
At the same time, Dr. Graves wrote the Atomic Energy Commission
asking for intercession with the Chief of Staff for the Air Force in
favor of the request. for F-94,C aircraft!”

The military representatives

on the Commission staff passed the request on to Brigadier General
Howard G, Bunker, Assistant forAtomic Energy at Air Force headquarters,

pointing out the urgent need.” Late in January 1952, however, the
Special Weapons Command staff was told that no F-9),C aircraft were
available for sampling and probably would not be available for at least
a year,

Air Force headquarters planned to borrow T-33 aircraft for

Operation TUMBEER/SNAPPER, but in case six T-33 aircraft were not
available because of shortage B-29 bombers would be used again to back

up the jet samplers vt In turn, F-8lG aircraft had been approved for
sampling during Operation IVY, scheduled for the Pacific Test Site in
the fall of 1952,

The 925th Test Group (Atomic) requested that these

aircraft be obtained for TUMBLER/SNAPPER, but Air Force headquarters
replied there were not enough F-8lG aircraft available to support both
tests,

In the end, Air Proving Ground Command could loan- three T-33

aircraft and their crews to the 925th Test Group (Atomic), andthe
Air Research and Development Command would supply additimal aircrews,

50

SWEH-2-003)

UA

Le ots

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