4/000 O SAC 2006 £ Kd / CRADnN tT: DISCINiia Tt This document consists of Copy No. 13 of 14 _3 _ Pages Series A etrelaaON 4 ENCLOSURE "A" UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. October 23, Dear Mr. 1951 LeBaron: In response to the suggestion made in your letter of 19 september 1951, the Commission will be happy to discuss with you at any time the factors which led to our conclusion that a thermonuclear device will not be veady for testing prior to the Winter of 1952-1953. We can, however, add little to the infor-=..° i: mation supplied py Dr. Bradbury when he addressed the Committee on September 13, 1951. To the extent that Fall is on to Winter, the present plan “A -speelal group. “has been established at Los. Alamos charged with the coordination of all the technical tacks essential to the preparation of a thermonuclear device for the test in the Fall of 1952. In addition, | the American Car and Foundry Company is undertaking the engineering design of the weapon and fabrication of the less unique parts of the actual device. It is our view that the proposal to design, fabricate and test a full seale model in one year's time is a truly ambitious undertaking and is indicative of the senseof urgency attached by the Commission and its contractors to the determination of the feasibility of a thermonuclear bomb. . The matter of a very high yield weapon was covered in a memorandum of 9 October from the Director of Military Application. While it is not possible at this time to set a date for testing this weapon, we would hope to include it in the next operation to be carried out in the Eniwetok arca. acca an veetacs : 2 G89 =e igeie 3s © [esa683; rz em \ : < Sincerely yours, 228E 5998) UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION Summer T. Pike Acting Chairman m™ Robert LeBaron Chairman, Military Liaison Committee to the Atomic Energy Commission REY] AUTHORITY: AR Honorable 3 SEGRE This document cantelne Restrict Dets ag dovined in tha Atomic Enerey A of 1854, Uneutherized dlecloeure subtle to Administrative end Crinlnsl Sanction Enelosure "A" x i IST BeverAanaty : fe ey