A 3 Nov. 1961 memorandum from Harold brown (UUagun,
Defense discusses the incremental emergency funds
required to the Dept. of
the Army for the DASA nuclear weapons test in FY-62
.
Whereas DASA requested
$40, 500, 000 additional to the budget released on 4
Oct., DDR&E recommends
certain cuts in these requests and asks for $24,0
00,000 to be put in the
Army RDT&E budget to cover such things as Nougat
, Ivanhoe, Sunbeam, and
preparation for Fishbowl.
CY
It is not clear from this letter whether this
covers all of the DASA programs including JTF-8 expens
es or is for the Arny
support only.
Further details of the BLUE STRAW Oper
ation are contained ina 3 November
rere en a
TWX from CINCPACFLT toa num
ber of Naval Units in the Pacific
Area in
which it is noted what the Task Organiza
tion for the Operation will be.
The
Az
responsibilities of the various naval unit
s to patrol and clear the surface area
in the drop zone which is designated as
a 200 mile Square centered 350 nautical
miles southeast of Hilo and the series
will go for approximately 30 days beginnin
g
on 15 November.
The Navy Aircraft required to support
as wellas base
support of Barbers Point are detailed
.
From the same 4 Nov TWX Betts makes the following comments about the
underground test situation.
He requests the Labs and Sandia to provide
hing with up-dated details on the revised Nougat series.
Furthermore,
Betts states that the “"“ Shot, part of the Plowshare progran, will con-
L
tinue as scheduled.
Betts then goes on to discuss the atmospheric test
program and notes that negotiations are presently going on with the UK, as
to the use of Christmas Island as an island base.
If Christmas, the first
choice, js not available then verhaps Eniwetok and Bikini mav be reconsidered.
Meanwhile, parallel planning to conduct developmental tests by employment of
an air task force based in the Haweiian Isleads with detonations to the south ©
and use of Johnston Island is continuing.
Betts asks the Labs and Sandia to
reexamine the proposed atmespheric program in light of the current decisions
and possible developments for test bases and to meet with him on 13 Nov in
Albq.
He notes that while he favors no linitetions to be placed on the number
of shots to be fired or the yield to be released to the atmosphere that the
National Security Council tossed around the idea of a 10 megaton release iinitation.
Betts further notes the military's interest in the availability of
hardware for high altitude effects shots and asks Sandia to sce what they feel
can be done in this area duc to their development and study of the Oats systen.