IT
the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and the Strategic Air Command,

The controller followed the atomic cloud and directed the aircraft
into it when the radiological director believed conditions were
optimum,

Through this method the sampler pilots could be told exactly

what portion of the cloud to penetrate,

The system worked very well

and became a regular technique for future sampling.

In all, the

Operation TUMERER/SNAPPER sampling mission involved six aircraft:
four T-33 jet samplers » one B-29 sampler, and one B-29 sampler control
aircraft,

In addition, there were crews which received on-the-job

training.

7

Since the Air Force was scheduled to use F-8)G jet aircraft for
collecting samples during Operation IVY, the Department of Defense

required that sampling techniques with these aircraft be tested during
this operation,

The Air Force organization for IVY, Task Group 132.h,

was being formed at Kirtland Air Force Base and, hence, their sampler

aircraft and crews took part in the TUMELER/SNAPPER,

Five F-8)G jet

aircraft were sent to Kirtland by the Strategic Air Command 's 12th
Fighter Wing, at Bergstrom Air Force Base » Texas,

On 10 March 1952,

the first group of 16 officers arrived to begin training for cloud

sampling and terrain surveys under the direction of the 925th Test
Group.

Altogether, 27 jet pilots received training in radiological

safety and fundamentals of cloud sampling,

Later, during the shots, the

F-8 pilots received experience in sampling clouds after the B-29 and
TH33 aircraft completed their missions.””

52

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