On 20 November, AFSWC sent a message to AFSC with info to all people with
interest in the air sampling program and sampler aircraft capabilities. .
Since it includes numerous pertinent details from this time | will quote it
In tts entirety:
"This message outlines proposals for overseas atmospheric C
nuclear testing in the spring 1962 time period, and stated requirement to
‘
be able to provide aetal sampling of two shots per day on two successive
days.
Representatives of the LASL met with ECS/00, AFSWC on 16 November
to discuss capability to support this requirement.
It was agreed that in order
to prevent cross-contamination of samples and to preclude unacceptable
radiation exposure to air crews and maintenance personnel, aircraft must not
be reused within 72 hours to allow for decay of short half-size fission
products and for physical decontamination of the aircraft.
Therefore, six
aircraft per shot, for a total of 24 aircraft wilf be required.
supposes a 100% incommission rate.
This pre-
Because of expected yields, rigkt of
burst, and MSos cloud in the most likely shot site, the fleet should
consist of 14 B57B type samplers and
!0 B57D type aircraft.
In event this
number of B57B aircraft are not available, the total number Sreebe kept
at 24 by increasing the number of B5/7D type samplers.
AEC is proceeding to
procure sampling tanks to equip a Pacific test sampling fleet of this size,
resulting in an expenditure of approximately $500,000.
Request you take
action through Air Force channels to augment the B57B/D sampler aircraft
capability,
including modifications, air crews, maintenance personnel, and
AGE in time to make good an overseas ready date of
| March 1962.
To insure
crew training and overseas movement, the increased sampling capability should
be teady no tater than 15 January 62.
In formal discussions with the 12-11
Test Squadron indicates that they have a total of 19 B57B type aircraft and
3 serviceable B57D aircraft on hand.
committed to crew cut operations.
and 7 B57D.
Six to eight of the B5/7B types are
This could require | to 3 additional B57B
In case of resumption of testing by other nations, additional
samplers would be required if those detonations were to be monitored."
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