DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON 

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MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL SCHRIEVER 

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SUBJECT: Report by Panel on Optical Instrumentation Advisory 

Committee to the AFSC National Academy of Sciences, 

Robert E. Hopkins, Panel Chairman 

In this report the recommendation was made that the Air 

Force fund Corning's proposal for $1,995,000 to provide an 

inventory and "Production Capability for a Domestic Source of 

Supply for High Quality Optical Glass." I am aware of the 

importance of this matter. All of our major camera suppliers, 

including Eastman Kodak, purchase their high quality refractive 

glass for their lenses from Schott of Germany and O'Hara in 

Japan. An inventory of high quality blanks and more particularly 

a production facility capable of producing them in this country 

would be most desirable now and most probably essential in the 

event of a protracted hot war. 

I recommend support of this effort with Corning. If you 

agree, I will prepare a memorandum for your signature to Dr. Flax. 

HARRY EVANS 

Brigadier General, USAF 

Vice Director, MOL Program 

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MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL SCHEXEVER 

SUBJECT: Report by Panel on Optical Instrumentation Advisory 

Committee to the AFSC National Academy of Sciences, 

Robert E. Hopkins, Panel Chairman 

In this report the recommendation was made that the Air 

Force fund Corning•s proposal for $1,995,000 to provide an 

inventory and "Production Capability for a Domestic Source of 

Supply for High Quality Optical Glass." I am aware of the 

importance of this matter. All of our major camera suppliers, 

including Eastman Kodak, purchase their high quality refractive 

glass for their lenses from Schott of Germany and O'Hara in 

Japan. An inventory of high quality blanks and more particularly 

a production facility capable of precluding them in this country 

would be most desirable now and most probably essential in the 

event of a protracted hot war. 

I recommend support of this effort with Corning. If you 

agree, I will prepare a memorandum for your signature to Dr. Flax. 

HARRY L. EVANS 

Brigadier General, USAF 

Vice Director, MOL Program 

1610.1■111■11100 

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SAES& ;I:szytrol eize.A11.ao- 66 . 
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t: 

Panel on Optical Instrumentation. 

Advisory Committee to the Air Force Systems Command. 

National Academy of Sciences 

Robert E. Hopkins, Panel Chairman 

(1) Panel membership. 

The Optical Instrumentation panel full time membership has 'Jean o'llqnged. It was found that the industrial med)ers were reluctant to discuss problems freely. 

The new panel will be made up as follows: Robert E. 

Hopkins, Chairman; Dr. A. B. Meinel and Mr. D. S. Grey. 

If needed we will call upon the industrial people for 

special problems. 

(2) Optical Glass. 

(a) Corning has been making substantial progress 

in melting large blanks of glass in their Danville, Va., 

plant. In this work they have obtained platinum thru 

an Air Force Contract AF(33)(657)-14092. 

(b) Corning has proposed a "Production Capability 

for a Domestic Source of Supply for High Quality Optical 

Glass." The proposal calls for the following items. 

Glass inventory $1,400,000 

Equipment 540,000 

Facility 55,000 

Total $1,995,000 
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They have suggested a list of 23 glasses for the 

inventory. The inventory would be in large blanks 24" 

in diAmeter and 5" thick. Corning would maintain the 

inventory but would fill orders for smaller sizes pertaining to National defense. 

In their proposal they have provided for precision 

measurement of index, and other optical parameters. 

This type of data would make the inventory of long range 

value. It is our impression that measurements of this 

nature are extremely important and that the Corning 

proposal is perhaps not recommending enough attention 

to it. 

Our understanding is that this proposal is bogged 

down "top sides" over some uncertainty about the choice 

of glass types. This, of course, is a minor point that 

can be settled later. Corning's enthusiasm is running 

high now. We strongly recommend that this proposal be 

funded. 

(3) Holograms. 

We are all intensely interested in interferograms 

made with two holograms. This technique probably will 

greatly extend our techniques for testing mechanical 

and optical surfaces. A sample of this technique is 

being demonstrated. 
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(4) The panel reviewed the optical problems involved in 

two competing systems submitted by Aerospace Corp. and 

/titre. A report was sent to Or. Brian O'Brien. 

(5) Contract letting at Wright Field. 

There are serious delays in finalizing contracts 

which come out of Wright Field. There have been several 

cases where the difficulty seems to occur in the communication problems in the contracting office. These 

delays are causing serious loss of continuity in programming research and development. Our panel could 

supply detailed evidence of serious delays if the Air 

Force would care for such a study. 

Recommendations 

(A) It is recommended that the Air Force fund the 

Corning proposal for a glass inventory. 

(B) It is recommended that a study be made of contracting 

delays at Wright Field. The Optics panel would be willing 

to prepare a report on some of these delays as pertaining 

to Optical Instruments.