IT
to control signals, It crash landed on deserted Bogallwa Island and
exploded; however, personnel removed usable magnetic tape data from
the wreckage.
The B-17 sampler drones carried out their mission without
incident. au
The third shot was GEORGE, fired on 9 May 1951.
Wet weather before
the shot caused drone crews to use heaters and fans in order to dry out
electronic equipment.
During operations, one of the B-17 drones did not
respond correctly to directions and was returned to base,
The other seven
drones completed sampling missions.
During the final shot, ITEM, on 25 May 1951, one of the B-17 drones
did not respond.
To each ‘Signal, the drone reduced power,
While both
the control and master control aircraft tried to remedy the situation,
the drone finally stalled and dived into the ocean,
The other seven
aircraft performed adequately.>®
The two WB-29 aircraft of the Air Weather Service which collected
samples received little attention,
Except during the first GREENHOUSE
event when one of the WB-29 aircraft aborted because of engine trouble, the
two manned samplers participated in each shot, 19 After Operation RANGER
there had been little or no time but Colonel Fackler and Colonel Cody
obtained two aircraft from Air Weather Service.
They operated from
Kwajalein and were considered a minor part of the test aircraft pattem
around the nuclear blasts,
The two repeated their experiences of
Operation RANGER, with the exception that the crew radiation dosages were
a bit higher.-°
37
AFWL/HO
SWEH-2~003),