XIT
of satisfactory cloud samples during an in-cloud flight time of about one
hour between H+2 and H+6 hours after burst,
IE stated in this letter
that we required at least six samples on the assumption that each such
aircraft would furnish one sample "22
He also discussed the eight B-57B aircraft under procurement,
It
would not operate at an altitude of 60,000 feet, and could only under
the most exceptional conditions, and then only for a few minutes, reach
54,000 feet.
However, Dr. Grave's letter gave Air Force Special Weapons
Center officials a strong argument for B-57D aircraft instead of the "B®
models they had been waiting fors
here was an airplane which promised
satisfactory performance, But getting the B-57D aircraft approved as a
cloud sampling aircraft required as much time and as much paperwork and
persuasion as the original B-57,
Following the letter to Major General Stranathan, Harold F, Plank of
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory wrote his co-worker, Dr. R..W. Spence,
"Since, so far as SWC can now determine, this replacement would involve
the procurement of eight additional aircraft at additional expense to the
government over the presently planned aircraft inventory, Los Alamos
Scientific Laboratory cannot lend its support at this time to any action
which the Special Weapons Center may take to plan for the proposed
replacenent,®And he added: ", , . it might be desirable for us to decide
at this time to establish a requirement with Special Weapons Center for
two or three B-57D aircraft on a loan basis to be used if a large yield
_weapon test does take place after REDWING, such a requirement would enable
Special Weapons Center to explore with Aircraft Allocations the possibility
2h7
AFWL/HO
SWEH-2-003),
&
e
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