~12scientific construction for instruments and rockets had to be completed.
Final
operational plans to incorporate Task Unit 8.1.3 programs into the overall JTF
plans were necessary.
.»...
By 2 May 62 most of the scientific experiments
were in place and participated in the certification launch on the Thor missile."
Of primary concern to the DOD was the effects of high altitude nuclear
detonations of various yields and altitudes on communications and radar,
Some
data had been obtained on previous high altitude detonations but this data was
not sufficient.
The two DOD experiments to obtain additional data on the effects
at different altitudes and yields scheduled for this period were Bluegill and
Starfish, which were identified as the Fishbowl portion of Operation Dominic."
The failures of those events and the standby readiness of 8.1.3 is then discussed.
Additionally, 8.1.3 assisted the Navy in the Swordfish event by providing
scientific advisors and editing data reports and obtained data on the 23 airdrop
events from Christmas.
Note that in addition to the Task elements at the various geographical
locations under Col. Kiley, Test Division was headed by Kodis, now a full Colonel.
The following cover the latter half of calendar year 62.
In this time frame,
the WET authorized manning stayed the same (193) but the actual manning dropped
from about 400 at the peak of Dominic to 228, which included some personnel on
temporary duty, at the end of 1962.
In addition to the actual test activities, planning at Sandia went on to
support the proposed Roller Coaster and Ferris Wheel operations scheduled for late