, 

DNA 6019F 

OPERATION 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

1952 

United States Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Tests 

Nuclear Test Personnel Review 

Prepared by the Defense Nuclear Agency as Executive Agency 

for the Department of Defense 
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REPORTDOCUMENTATIONPAGE READ INSTRUCTIONS 

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I, REPORT NUMBER 2. GOVT ACCESSION NO. 3. RECIPIENT’S CATALOG NUMBER 

DNA 6019F I 

1. TITLE (and Subtftle) 5. TYPE OF REPORT 8 PERIOD COVERED 

OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

1952 

1. AUTHOR(O) 

Technical Report 

6. PERFORMING ORG. REPORT NUMBER 

1 JRB 2-816-03-423-00 

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Jean Ponton, Carl Maag, Mary Francis Barrett, 

Robert Shepanek DNA 001-79-C-0473 

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AREA % WORK UNIT NUMBERS 

8400 Westpark Drive 

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1. CONTROLLING OFFICE NAME AND ADDRESS 

Director 

Defense Nuclear Agency 

12. REPORT DATE 

14 June 1982 

13. NUMBER OF PAGES 

Washington, DC 20305 218 

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10. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 

This work was sponsored by the Defense Nuclear Agency under RDT&E RMSS Code 

B350079464 LJ99QAEME50608 H2590D. For sale by the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161. 

IS. KEY WORDS (Conffnu~ on I~Y~I.S mIdm if necesay ad ldentlfy by block number) 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER Nevada Proving Ground 

Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Tests AFSWC 

Atomic Energy Commission Radiation Exposure 

AFSWP Exercise Desert Rock IV 

10. AmTRACT (.chfha* m CIFW” &Mm I v mad fdentify by block numbor) 

This report describes the activities of an estimated 10,600 DOD personnel, 

both military and civilian, in Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, the third nuclear 

weapons testing series conducted at the Nevada Proving Ground. TDMBLER-SNAPPER 

consisted of eight nuclear tests conducted from 1 April to 5 June 1952. 

Activitltes engaging DOD personnel included Exercise Desert Rock IV programs, 

scientific experiments, and DOD support activities. Radiological safety 

criteria and procedures were established and implemented during Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER to minimize participants' exposure to radioactivity. 

DD ,‘,“,““73 1473 EDITION OF 1 NOV 65 IS OBSOLETE 

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20. ABSTRACT (Continued) 

The Defense Nuclear Agency Action Officer, Lt. Col. H. L. Reese, USAF, 

under whom this work was done, wishes to acknowledge the research and 

editing contributions of numerous reviewers in the military services and 

other organizations, in addition to those writers listed in block 7. 

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Washington, D C 20305 

Subject: Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, a series of atmospheric nuclear 

weapons tests, was conducted by the Atomic Energy Commission 

(AEC) at the Nevada Proving Ground (NPG) from 1 April to 5 June 

1952. The operation consisted of eight nuclear detonations in 

two phases. The TUMBLER phase, of primary concern to the 

&p,;;tment of Defense (DOD), consisted of four weapons effects 

Shots ABLE BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG. These airdropped 

devices were detonated to collect information on the effect of 

the height of burst on overpressure. Shots CHARLIE and DOG were 

also part of the SNAPPER phase, of primary concern to the AEC and 

the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. The other weapons 

development tests in the SNAPPER phase were Shots EASY, FOX, 

GEORGE, and HOW. The primary purpose of these four tower shots 

was to gather information on nuclear phenomena to improve the 

design of nuclear weapons. 

Department of Defense Involvement 

About 7,350 of the estimated 10,600 DOD participants in Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER took part in Exercise Desert Rock IV. The 

remaining DOD personnel assisted in scientific experiments, air 

support activities, or administration and support activities at 

the NPG. 

Exercise Desert Rock IV, an Army training program involving 

personnel from the armed services, included observer programs and 

tactical maneuvers. Observer programs, conducted at Shots 

CHARLIE, DOG, FOX, and GEORGE, generally involved briefings on 

the effects of nuclear weapons, observation of a nuclear detonation, and a subsequent tour of a display of military equipment 

exposed to the detonation. Tactical maneuvers, conducted after 

Shots CHARLIE, DOG, and GEORGE, were designed both to train 

troops and to test military tactics. Psychological tests were 

conducted at Shots CHARLIE, FOX, and GEORGE to determine the 

troops' reactions to witnessing a nuclear detonation. 

Soldiers from various Sixth Army units provided support for the 

Exercise Desert Rock IV programs. They maintained and operated 

Camp Desert Rock, a Sixth Army installation located three 

kilometers south of the NPG. These soldiers provided essential 

services such as food, housing, transportation, communications, 

construction, and security. Some of the Desert Rock support 

troops worked in the forward areas of the NPG to construct 
observer trenches, lay communication lines, provide transportation, and assist with other preparations for Desert Rock IV 

activities. Many of the Camp Desert Rock support personnel 

observed at least one detonation during Operation TUMBLERSNAPPER, and some were called upon to perform support or staff 

duties in the test areas during nuclear detonations. 

DOD personnel also participated in scientific experiments 

conducted by two test groups at Operation TUMBLER:SNAPPER: the 

Military Effects Test Group and the Weapons Development Test 

Group. The Military Effects Test Group was sponsored by Test 

Command, Armed Forces Special Weapons Project (AFSWP), and 

involved more DOD participants than did the AEC Weapons 

Development Test Group. The Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory 

conducted most of the Weapons Development Test Group activities, 

but DOD personnel were sometimes involved. Test group participants placed instruments and equipment around ground zero in the 

days and weeks before the scheduled nuclear test. At shot-time, 

these personnel were generally positioned at designated observer 

locations or were working at substantial distances from ground 

zero. After each detonation, when it was determined that the 

area was radiologically safe for limited access, these 

participants returned to the test area to recover equipment and 

gather data. 

DOD personnel also provided air support to Operation TUMBLERSNAPPER. The Air Force Special Weapons Center (AFSWC), from 

Kirtland Air Force Base, had primary responsibility for cloud 

sampling, courier missions, cloud tracking, aerial surveys of the 

terrain, and other air support as requested. AFSWC consisted of 

units of the 4925th Test Group and 4901st Support Wing, which 

staged out of Indian Springs Air Force Base. 

Although the AEC Test Manager was responsible for planning, 

coordinating, and executing Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER programs 

and activities, DOD personnel assisted in these duties. They 

were responsible for overseeing the DOD technical and military 

operations at the tests. 

Summaries of TUMBLER-SNAPPER Nuclear Events 

The eight TUMBLER-SNAPPER events are summarized in the accompanying table. The accompanying map shows the ground zeros of these 

shots. 

Shot ABLE, an airdropped nuclear device, was detonated at 0900 

hours on 1 April 1952, 793 feet over Area 5 of Frenchman Flat. 

ABLE had a yield of one kiloton. The event was a weapons effects 

test and involved DOD personnel from the Military Effects Test 

Group and the Weapons Development Test Group in about 30 

scientific and diagnostic experiments. AFSWC activities included 

the airdrop, cloud sampling, courier service, cloud tracking, and 

aerial surveys. In addition, over 150 personnel from the 

2 
Strategic Air Command observed the detonation from B-50 aircraft 

flying over the test area. No formal military training exercises 

were conducted at this shot, although 15 members of the Camp 

Desert Rock support staff witnessed the shot. Onsite radiation 

intensities were characterized by small areas of low-level 

radioactivity surrounding ground zero. Six hours after the shot, 

the 0.01 R/h* radiation intensity line was at a radius of about 

600 meters from ground zero. 

Shot BAKER, an airdropped nuclear device, was detonated at 0930 

hours on 15 April 1952, 1,109 feet over Area 7 of Yucca Flat. 

The BAKER device had a yield of one kiloton. BAKER was also a 

weapons effects test and involved DOD personnel from the test 

groups in 45 experiments. AFSWC activities included the airdrop, 

cloud sampling, courier service, cloud tracking, and aerial 

surveys. About 170 Strategic Air Command observers flying in 

B-50 aircraft witnessed the detonation. No formal military 

training exercises were conducted, but ten members of the Camp 

Desert Rock staff did witness the shot. Onsite radioactivity was 

characterized by small areas of radiation around ground zero. 

About one hour after the shot, the initial radiological survey 

team found a radiation intensity of 1.2 R/h at ground zero, 

decreasing to 0.01 R/h 750 meters south of ground zero. 

Shot CHARLIE, an airdropped nuclear device, was detonated with a 

yield of 31 kilotons at 0930 hours on 22 April 1952 about 3,500 

feet over Area 7 of Yucca Flat. About one hour after the shot, 

the initial survey showed that radiation intensities of 

0.01 R/h or more were confined within 1,000 meters of ground 

zero. 

As part of Exercise Desert Rock IV, the armed services fielded a 

troop observer program with 535 participants and a tactical troop 

maneuver with about 1,675 participants. The tactical maneuver at 

Shot CHARLIE was conducted by the following units: 

Army A 

0 2nd Battalion, 504th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 

82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina 

0 Company B, 167th Infantry Regiment, 31st Infantry 

Division, Camp Atterbury, Indiana 

0 Company C, 135th Infantry Regiment, 47th Infantry 

Division, Fort Rucker, Alabama 

*Roentgens per hour 
0 Tank Platoon, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Camp 

Carson, Colorado 

a Engineer Platoon, 369th Engineer Amphibious Support 

Regiment, Fort Worden, Washington 

0 Medical Detachment (augmented), Sixth Army, numerous 

Sixth Army posts. 

Air Force 

l 140th Fighter-Bomber Group (Provisional) 

- 140th Fighter-Bomber Wing, Clovis Air Force Base, 

New Mexico 

The CHARLIE tactical maneuver consisted of five activities: 

0 Observation of the shot 

0 Psychological testing 

0 Movement to objective 

0 Inspection of an equipment display 

0 Airborne exercise. 

After observing the shot from trenches approximately 6,400 meters 

south of ground zero, the troops were tested by the Human 

Resources Research Office and the Operations Research Office to 

determine their reactions to the detonation. The troops then 

toured the display area and approached as close as 160 meters to 

ground zero, where they encountered radiation intensities of up 

to 0.01 R/h. While ground troops were taking part in these 

activities, Army paratroopers landed in a drop zone north of 

ground zero. Some of the paratroopers, however, jumped 

prematurely and missed the drop zone by as much as 13 kilometers. 

Five paratroopers were slightly injured on landing. Despite this 

problem, the exercise was completed as planned. 

In addition to Exercise Desert Rock activities, DOD personnel 

participated in about 50 scientific projects, approximately 190 

Strategic Air Command observers witnessed the shot from aircraft 

flying in the vicinity of the NPG, and AFSWC personnel provided 

air support, including the bomb drop. 

Shot DOG, another airdropped nuclear device, was detonated with a 

yield of 19 kilotons at 0830 hours on 1 May 1952. Ground zero 

for DOG, which was detonated more than 1,000 feet above Area 7, 

was the same as that for Shots BAKER and CHARLIE. The initial 

radiation survey, taken about one hour after the shot, showed 

that radiation intensities of 0.01 R/h extended approximately 

1,600 meters from ground zero. 

4 
The Navy and Marine Corps conducted a troop observer program and 

a tactical troop maneuver at Shot DOG as part of Exercise Desert 

Rock IV. The observer program involved approximately 350 Navy 

and Marine participants. Desert Rock participants observed the 

shot from trenches 6,400 meters south of ground zero. The 

tactical maneuver was conducted by about 1,950 Marines from the 

Marine Corps Provisional Atomic Exercise Unit. This unit 

consisted of officers and enlisted men from the 1st Provisional 

Marine Battalion of Camp Pendleton and the 2d Provisional Marine 

Battalion of Camp Lejeune. The DOG tactical maneuver was the 

first maneuver conducted by the Marine Corps during continental 

nuclear weapons testing. As at Shot CHARLIE, troops observed the 

shot, took psychological tests, and toured display areas. In 

addition, some participants accompanied AFSWP and Desert Rock 

monitoring teams on their initial survey of the ground zero area 

in order to learn radiological monitoring techniques. At Shot 

DOG, three display areas were established between 270 and 1,600 

meters from ground zero. The Marines stopped their tour of the 

displays at 820 meters from ground zero because of the radiation 

intensities they encountered. 

In addition to Desert Rock activities, DOD personnel participated 

in about 50 of the scientific experiments conducted by the test 

groups, about 180 observers from the Strategic Air Command 

watched the detonation from aircraft flying in the vicinity of 

the NPG, and AFSWC personnel provided air support, including the 

bomb drop. 

Shot EASY was detonated from a 300-foot tower at 0415 hours on 7 

May 1952 in Area 1 of Yucca Flat. The device had a yield of 12 

kilotons. DOD participants were involved in approximately 30 of 

the test group experiments, and AFSWC personnel provided air 

support. No formal Desert Rock IV training exercises were 

conducted. However, 1,000 personnel from Camp Desert Rock 

support units witnessed the shot from the Control Point at Yucca 

Pass. Onsite residual radioactivity was heaviest around and to 

the north of ground zero. The initial radiological survey team 

was unable to complete the survey on shot-day because of the 

large radiation area and rough terrain. On the day after the 

shot, the 0.01 R/h line was 900 to 1,000 meters east, south, and 

west of ground zero but extended about six kilometers north of 

the shot-tower. 

Shot FOX, a 300-foot tower detonation, was fired in Area 4 of 

Yucca Flat with a yield of 11 kilotons at 0400 hours on 25 May 

1952. Most onsite fallout occurred to the northeast of ground 

zero, overlapping residual radiation from Shot EASY. Ninety 

minutes after the shot, the 0.01 R/h line extended farther than 

6.5 kilometers to the east. High radiation levels to the northeast prevented completion of the initial radiological survey on 

shot-day. Three days after the shot, the 1.0 R/h line extended 

less than 500 meters from ground zero, except to the northeast 

where it reached nearly two kilometers. 

5 
During Shot FOX, the largest single activity was the Army troop 

observer program, part of Exercise Desert Rock IV. Approximately 

950 exercise troops from the 701st Armored Infantry Battalion, 

1st Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas, witnessed the shot from 

trenches 6,400 meters southeast of ground zero. An additional 

500 observers from the six continental armies and the service 

schools also witnessed the shot. The observer program included 

psychological testing before and after the shot and a tour of the 

equipment display area. 

In addition, DOD personnel were involved in 27 test group 

experiments. AFSWC personnel provided air support, and about 100 

observers from the Strategic Air Command witnessed the shot from 

aircraft flying in the vicinity of the NPG. 

Shot GEORGE, a 300-foot tower detonation, was fired with a yield 

of 15 kilotons at 0355 hours on 1 June 1952. GEORGE was 

detonated in Area 3. The initial radiation survey established 

the 0.01 R/h line at about 1,300 meters to the west, south, and 

east of ground zero. The area north of the shot-tower could not 

be surveyed on shot-day because of radiation levels in excess of 

10.0 R/h. 

The Desert Rock troop observer program and tactical troop 

maneuver at Shot GEORGE involved approximately 1,800 Army troops. 

Immediately after they observed the shot from trenches about 

6,400 meters south of ground zero, about 500 soldiers toured the 

equipment display area, located about 500 to 2,500 meters 

southwest of ground zero. The remaining 1,300 soldiers took part 

in the tactical troop maneuver, a ground assault on an objective 

south of ground zero. Immediately after the shot, the troops, 

accompanied by five tanks, advanced from the trench area toward 

the objective. When Army monitors preceding the assault detected 

radiation intensities of 0.5 R/h at about 460 meters from ground 

zero, the attack was halted. Troops then proceeded to the 

equipment display areas. The following Army units took part in 

this maneuver: 

a 23rd Transportation Truck Company, Camp Roberts, 

California 

0 31st Transportation Truck Company, Fort Ord, California 

l Tank Platoon of the 1st Armored Division, Fort Hood, 

Texas 

0 369th Engineer Amphibious Support Regiment, Fort Worden, 

Washington. 

In addition to these Desert Rock activities, DOD personnel 

participated in 25 of the test group experiments, AFSWC personnel 

performed air support missions, and 24 observers from the 

Strategic Air Command watched the detonation from two B-50s 

flying in the vicinity of the NPG. 

6 
Shot HOW was detonated from a 300-foot tower, located in Area 2 

of Yucca Flat, on 5 June 1952 at 0355 hours. Shot HOW, the last 

weapons test of Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, had a yield of 14 

kilotons. No Exercise Desert Rock programs were conducted, but 

DOD personnel did participate in about 30 of the test group 

projects. The onsite fallout pattern extended to the north and 

northwest of ground zero, but the initial radiological survey 

team did not monitor that area because no recovery operations 

were necessary there. The survey team did measure intensities of 

0.01 R/h as far as two kilometers to the west of ground zero. 

Safety Standards and Procedures 

The Atomic Energy Commission established safety criteria to 

minimize the exposure of participants to ionizing radiation while 

allowing them to accomplish their missions. The AEC established 

a limit of 3.0 roentgens of gamma exposure per 13-week period for 

Exercise Desert Rock, the joint AEC-DOD organization, and most of 

AFSWC. AFSWC sampling pilots were authorized to receive up to 

3.9 roentgens during the TUMBLER-SNAPPER operation because their 

mission required them to penetrate the clouds formed by the 

detonations. 

The Test Manager was ultimately responsible for the safety of 

participants in Exercise Desert Rock IV, of the personnel in the 

joint AEC-DOD organization, and of individuals residing within 

320 kilometers of the NPG. Most onsite and offsite radiological 

safety procedures were performed by the AFSWP Radiological Safety 

Group, composed of personnel from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. 

An officer appointed by Test Command, AFSWP, headed the group. 

The Desert Rock Exercise Director was responsible for conducting 

Exercise Desert Rock IV in compliance with the AEC radiological 

safety policies. The Desert Rock Radiological Safety Group was 

usually supervised and assisted by the AFSWP Radiological Safety 

Group. The AFSWP group was also responsible for processing the 

film badges worn by Desert Rock participants. 

The 4925th Test Group (Atomic) implemented radiological safety 

procedures for AFSWC personnel at Indian Springs Air Force Base. 

For AFSWC personnel at Kirtland Air Force Base, the 4901st 

Support Wing (Atomic) carried out these procedures. 

Although the missions and activities of each organization were 

different, the general radiological safety procedures followed by 

all groups were similar: 

a Orientation and training - preparing radiological 

monitors for their work and familiarizing participants 

with radiological safety procedures 

a Personnel dosimetry - issuing and developing film badges 

and evaluating gamma radiation exposures recorded on 

film badges 

7 
0 Use of protective equipment - providing clothing, 

respirators, and other protective equipment 

l Monitoring - performing radiological surveys and 

controlling access to radiation areas 

0 Briefing - informing observers and project personnel of 

radiological hazards and the radiological conditions in 

the test area 

0 Decontamination - detecting and removing contamination 

from personnel and equipment. 

Radiation Exposures at TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

As of June 1982, the military services had identified by name 

5,064 participants in TUMBLER-SNAPPER. Film badge data are 

available for 1,803 of these participants, as shown in the 

"Summary of Dosimetry for Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER" table. 

Forty-two DOD participants who were subject to the joint AEC-DOD 

organization limit of 3.0 roentgens exceeded it, and eight 

individuals subject to the 3.9 roentgen AFSWC limit received 

exposures in excess of the stipulated level. 
SUMMARY OF OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER EVENTS (1952) 

Shot 

Sponsor 

Planned Date 

Actual Date 

Time* 

NPG Location 

w 

K 3 : 

9 z K 

2 1Q 5 is 3 

s 0 lu ii P 

DOD-LASL DOD-LASL DOD-IASL DOD-IASL LASL LASL LASL IASL 

1 April 15 April 22 April 29 April 6 May 13 May 20 May 27 May 

1 April 15 April 22 April 1 May 7 May 25 May 1 June 5 June 

0900 0930 0930 0630 0415 0400 0355 0355 

Frenchman Area 7 Area 7 Area 7 Area 1 Area 4 Area 3 Area 2 

Lake 

(Area 5) 

Type of Detonation 

Height of Burst (Feet) 

Yield (Kilotons) 

l Pacific Standard Time 

Airdrop Airdrop Airdrop Airdrop Tower Tower Tower Tower 

c 

793 1,109 3.447 1,040 3M) 300 300 300 

1 1 31 19 12 11 15 14 

9 
v--- 

I 

HOW -@ 

12 

I 

_---- 

FOX ~(8 

14 

r 

___- 

EASY T@ 

I 

I 

11__kEL EL__2 

I I 

ABLE 

0 

I 

Kilometers 

Camp Desert Rock 

Camp Mer 

GROUND ZEROS FOR OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

AT THE NEVADA PROVING GROUND 
SUMMARY OF DOSIMETRY FOR OPERATION 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER AS OF JUNE 1982 

Service 

Army 

Navy 

Marine Corps 

Air Force 

Scientific Personnel, 

Contractors, and 

Affiliates 

Personnel 

Identified 

by Name 

1786 

493 

1980 

416 

389 

Personnel 

Identified 

by Name and 

by Film Badge 

843 

130 

25 

416 

389 

Number of 

Personnel Average Maximum 

Gamma Exposure (Roentgens) with Gamma Gamma 

Zero Gamma Exposure Exposure 

<.l .l-1.0 1 g-3.0 3.95.0 5.0+ Exposure* (Roentgens) (Aoentgensl 

295 463 61 17 7 216 ,396 10.8 

51 51 26 2 0 13 ,594 4.2 

22 2 1 0 0 21 ,070 1.5 

177 184 36 17 2 59 .497 7.6 

206 98 72 12 1 118 .575 6.1 

TOTAL 5064 1803 751 798 196 48 10 427 

.468 

y 

l The number of personnel in this column is also represented in the c.1 Gamma Exposure column. 
PREFACE 

Between 1945 and 1962, the U.S. Government, through the 

Manhattan Engineer District and its successor agency, the Atomic 

Energy Commission (AEC), conducted 235 atmospheric nuclear 

weapons tests in the United States and in the Atlantic and 

Pacific Oceans. In all, an estimated 220,000 Department of 

Defense (DOD) participants, both military and civilian, were 

present at the tests. Of these, approximately 90,000 were 

present at the atmospheric nuclear weapons tests conducted at the 

Nevada Proving Ground (NPG), * northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. 

In 1977, 15 years after the last above-ground nuclear 

weapons test, the Center for Disease Control+ noted a possible 

leukemia cluster among a small group of soldiers present at Shot 

SMOKY, a test at Operation PLUMBBOB, the series of atmospheric 

nuclear weapons tests conducted in 1957. Since that initial 

report by the Center for Disease Control, the Veterans 

Administration has received a number of claims for medical benefits from former military personnel who believe their health may 

have been affected by their participation in the weapons testing 

program. 

In late 1977, the Department of Defense began a study to 

provide data to both the Center for Disease Control and the 

Veterans Administration on potential exposures to ionizing radiation among the military and civilian participants in atmospheric 

nuclear weapons testing. The DOD organized an effort to: 

0 Identify DOD personnel who had taken part in the 

atmospheric nuclear weapons tests 

*Renamed the Nevada Test Site in 1955. 

+The Center for Disease Control is part of the U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services (formerly the U.S. Department of 

Health, Education, and Welfare). 
0 Determine the extent of the participants' exposure to 

ionizing radiation 

0 Provide public disclosure of information concerning 

participation by DOD personnel in the atmospheric nuclear 

weapons tests. 

METHODS AND SOURCES USED TO PREPARE THIS VOLUME 

This report on Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER is based on the 

military and technical documents associated with these 

atmospheric nuclear weapons tests. Many of the documents 

pertaining specifically to DOD involvement in TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

were found in the Modern Military Branch of the National 

Archives, the Defense Nuclear Agency Technical Library, and the 

Office of Air Force History. 

In certain cases, the surviving historical documentation of 

activities conducted during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER addresses 

test specifications and technical information, rather than the 

personnel data critical to the study undertaken by the Department 

of Defense. Moreover, these documents sometimes have inconsistencies in vital facts. Efforts have been made to resolve these 

inconsistencies wherever possible or to bring them to the 

attention of the reader. 

In addition to these inconsistencies in information, the 

documents describing projects of the Armed Forces Special Weapons 

Project (AFSWP) do not always present project titles and agencies 

consistently. To make this information as uniform as possible, 

the reports on TUMBLER-SNAPPER use weapons test report titles for 

each project. Information concerning the planned and actual 

dates and yields of the test detonations is taken from the 

Department of Energy, Announced United States Nuclear Tests, July 

1945 through 1979 (NVO-209). Other facts, such as meteorological 

conditions and dimensions of the clouds formed by the detonations, 

are taken from DNA 1251-1, Compilation of Local Fallout Data from 

13 
Test Detonations 1945-1962, Volume 1, except in instances where 

more specific information is available elsewhere. 

For several of the Exercise Desert Rock and test organization projects discussed in these volumes, the only available 

documents are the Sixth Army Desert Rock IV operation orders and 

the Test Director's schedule of events from "Operation Order 

l-52." These sources detail the plans developed by DOD and AEC 

personnel during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER; they do notknecessarily describe the projects as they were actually conducted. 

Although some of the after-action documents summarize the 

projects performed during the TUMBLER-SNAPPER Series, they do not 

always supply shot-specific information. In the absence of 

shot-specific after-action reports, projects are described 

according to the way they were planned. The references indicate 

whether the description of activities is based on the schedule of 

events, operation orders, or after-action reports. 

ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT OF OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER REPORTS 

This volume details participation by DOD personnel in Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, the third atmospheric nuclear weapons testing series conducted at the Nevada Proving Ground. Two other 

publications address DOD activities during Operation TUMBLERSNAPPER: 

0 Multi-shot volume: Shots ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, and 

DOG, the First Tests of the 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER Series 

0 Multi-shot volume: Shots EASY, FOX, GEORGE, and 

HOW, the Final Tests of the 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER Series. 

The volumes addressing the test events of Operation TUMBLERSNAPPER have been designed for use with one another. The series 

volume provides general information on Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

that applies to the series as a whole, such as historical background, organizational relationships, and radiological safety 

14 
procedures. The two multi-shot volumes combine shot-specific 

descriptions for the eight TUMBLER-SNAPPER nuclear events. 

Descriptions of activities concerning any particular shot in 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER may be supplemented by the general 

organizational and radiological safety information contained in 

this volume. In addition, this volume contains a bibliography of 

works consulted in the preparation of all three Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER reports, while the multi-shot volumes contain a 

bibliography only of the sources referenced in each of those 

texts. 

This volume is divided into six chapters. Chapter 1 gives 

the background of Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, including the 

historical context of the series, the layout of the Nevada 

Proving Ground, the eight events in the series, and the activities of DOD participants. Chapter 2 describes the joint AEC-DOD 

organization and Exercise Desert Rock, the two groups with major 

DOD participation at Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. This chapter 

defines the responsibilities of each group in planning, administering, and supporting the various nuclear test events and in 

conducting other activities in conjunction with those tests. 

Chapter 3 discusses the Exercise Desert Rock IV military 

maneuvers conducted during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, and chapter 

4 describes the scientific experiments and support activities 

engaging DOD personnel and coordinated by the joint AEC-DOD 

organization. These chapters define the objectives of the activities, describe the planned and actual procedures, and indicate 

at which shots the programs occurred. Chapter 5 describes the 

radiological criteria and procedures in effect during Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER for each of the DOD groups with significant 

participation. Chapter 6 presents the results of the radiation 

protection program during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, including an 

analysis of film badge readings for DOD personnel. 

15 
The information in this report is supplemented by the 

Reference Manual: Background Materials for the CONLJS Volumes. 

It summarizes information on radiation physics, radiation health 

concepts, exposure criteria, and measurement techniques. It also 

has a list of acronyms and a glossary of terms used in the DOD 

reports addressing test events in the continental United States. 

16 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PAGE 

FACTSHEET......................... 1 

PREFACE.......................... 12 

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

LIST OF TABLES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 

CHAPTER 

1 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

1.1 International and Domestic Conditions 

Influencing Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER . . . . . . 24 

1.2 Origins of Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. . . . . . . 26 

1.3 The Nevada Proving Ground . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

1.4 Summary of Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Events...................... 35 

1.5 Department of Defense Participants and 

Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 

2 FUNCTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATIONS 

DURING OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER . . . . . . . . . . . 39 

2.1 The Joint AEC-DOD Organization. . . . . . . . . . 40 

2.1.1 Test Manager's Organization. ....... 44 

2.1.2 Test Director's Organization ....... 47 

2.1.3 Field Manager's Organization ....... 51 

2.2 The Organization of Exercise Desert 

RockIV..................... 53 

3 EXERCISE DESERT ROCK IV PROGRAMS AT OPERATION 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 

3.1 Troop Observer Program at Exercise 

Desert Rock IV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 

3.2 Tactical Troop Maneuvers Program at 

Exercise Desert Rock IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 

17 
TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) 

CHAPTER PAGE 

4 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PARTICIPATION IN JOINT 

AEC-DOD ORGANIZATION PROGRAMS AT OPERATION 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.1 Military Effects Test Group Programs. . . . . . . 

4.1.1 Program 1: Blast Measurements . . . . . . 

4.1.2 Program 2: Nuclear Measurements 

and Effects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.1.3 Program 3: Structures . . . . . . . . . . 

4.1.4 Program 4: Biomedical . . . . . . . . . . 

4.1.5 Program 5: Desert Rock. . . . . . . . . . 

4.1.6 Program 6: Test of Equipment and 

Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.1.7 Program 7: Long-range Detection . . . . . 

4.1.8 Program 8: Thermal Measurements 

and Effects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.1.9 Program 9: Supporting 

Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

73 

75 

77 

84 

86 

90 

93 

93 

97 

100 

105 

4.2 Department of Defense Involvement in 

Programs of the AEC Weapons Development 

Test Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.3 Air Force Support Missions at Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

109 

117 

5 RADIATION PROTECTION AT OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER. . . 127 

5.1 

5.2 

Radiation Protection for Exercise 

Desert Rock IV. ................. 

5.1.1 Orientation and Briefing ......... 

5.1.2 Personnel Dosimetry. ........... 

5.1.3 Protective Equipment ........... 

5.1.4 Monitoring ................ 

5.1.5 Decontamination. ............. 

Radiation Protection for the Joint AEC-DOD 

Organization. .................. 

5.2.1 Onsite Operations. ............ 

5.2.2 Offsite Operations ............ 

5.2.3 Logistics and Materiel .......... 

5.2.4 Indian Springs Operations. ........ 

128 

128 

129 

129 

129 

131 

132 

135 

142 

143 

144 

18 
TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) 

CHAPTER PAGE 

5.3 Radiation Protection for Air Force 

Special Weapons Center Personnel. ........ 144 

5.3.1 Briefing ................. 146 

5.3.2 Protective Equipment ........... 146 

5.3.3 Monitoring and Decontamination ...... 147 

6 DOSIMETRY FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

PERSONNEL AT OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER . . . . . . . . 155 

6.1 Participation Data. ............... 155 

6.2 Sources of Dosimetry Data ............ 156 

6.3 Dosimetry Data for Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER Participants. .......... 157 

6.3.1 Format of Dosimetry Data . . . . . . . . . 158 

6.3.2 Instances of Gamma Exposure Exceeding 

Established Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

FIGURE 

l-l 

l-2 

l-3 

2-l 

2-2 

2-3 

2-4 

2-5 

3-l 

Location of Nevada Proving Ground. . . . . . .-. . . . 

Ground Zeros for Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

at the Nevada Proving Ground . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Camp Mercury as It Appeared during the 1950s . . . . . 

Joint AK-DOD Organization/Exercise Desert Rock IV 

Structure within Federal Government. . . . . . . . . . 

Test Manager's Organization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Test Director's Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Field Manager's Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Camp Desert Rock Organization, Exercise Desert 

Rock IV, 1952. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Exercise Desert Rock IV Trench and Display Areas, 

Nevada Proving Ground, Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER . . . 

PAGE 

31 

32 

34 

42 

45 

48 

52 

55 

68 

19 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS (CONTINUED) 

FIGURE PAGE 

3-2 

3-3 

4-l 

4-2 

4-3 

4-4 

4-5 

5-1 

5-2 

5-3 

5-4 

5-5 

5-6 

5-7 

Observers Filing into Trenches before the Detonation 

of Shot CHARLIE, 22 April 1952 . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Maneuver Troops Leaving Foxholes and Trenches 

and Beginning the Advance toward Their Objective . . . 

Military Effects Test Group Organization . . . . . . . 

Project 1.6 Personnel Remove Accelerometers Used to 

Measure Ground Shock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Project 3.3 Personnel Install Trees along the 

Forest Service Blast Line in Area 7. . . . . . . . . . 

Project 8.5 Personnel Examine Roofing Materials to 

Determine the Thermal Effects Produced by a Nuclear 

Detonation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

A Member of the Air Weather Service Takes Meteorological Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Marines Rehearse Use of Protective Masks before 

Their Maneuver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AFSWP Radiological Safety Organization . . . . . . . . 

Monitors Survey Personnel Returning from the 

Forward Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Monitors Rehearse Aircraft Survey Techniques . . . . . 

Member of the Decontamination Crew Practices Aircraft 

Washing Technique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Member of the Sample Removal Team Rehearses Technique 

Used in Removing Wing-tip Cloud Samples. . . . . . . . 

69 

71 

76 

82 

89 

104 

108 

130 

133 

141 

149 

151 

152 

AFSWC Radiological Safety Coordinator and Other Members 

of the AFSWC Radiological Safety Group Demonstrate the 

Technique Used to Monitor the Radiation Intensity of 

Cloud Samples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 

20 
TABLE PAGE 

LIST OF TABLES 

l-l 

3-1 

4-1 

4-2 

4-3 

4-4 

4-5 

4-6 

4-7 

4-8 

4-9 

4-10 

4-11 

6-1 

6-2 

6-2a 

Summary of Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER Events (1952) . . 30 

Exercise Desert Rock IV, Estimated Number of 

Participants at Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, 

byprogram...................... 65 

Military Effects Test Group Programs Indicating 

Participation by Shot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 

Military Effects Test Group Projects of Program 1 

Conducted during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER . . . . . . 80 

Military Effects Test Group Projects of Program 2 

Conducted during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER . . . . . . 85 

Military Effects Test Group Projects of Program 3 

Conducted during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER . . . . . . 87 

Military Effects Test Group Projects of Program 4 

Conducted during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER . . . . . . 90 

Military Effects Test Group Projects of Program 6 

Conducted during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER . . . . . . 94 

Military Effects Test Group Pro,jects of Program 7 

Conducted during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER . . . . . . 97 

Military Effects Test Group Projects of Program 8 

Conducted during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER . . . . . . 101 

Military Effects Test Group Projects of Program 9 

Conducted during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER . . . . . . 106 

Weapons Development Test Group Projects with DOD 

Participation, Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER . . . . . . . 110 

AFSWC Mission Support at Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER . . 118 

Distribution of Gamma Radiation Exposures 

for Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER Participants 

by Affiliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Distribution of Gamma Radiation Exposures for Army 

Personnel and Affiliates, Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. . 

Detailed Listing of "Other" Category, Army 

Participants, Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. . . . . . . . 

161 

162 

163 

21 
LIST OF TABLES (CONTINUED) 

TABLE PAGE 

6-3 

6-3a 

6-4 

6-4a 

6-5 

6-5a 

6-6 

6-6a 

6-7 

Distribution of Gamma Radiation Exposures for Navy 

Personnel and Affiliates, Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. 

Detailed Listing of "Other" Category, Navy 

Participants, Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. . . . . . . 

Distribution of Gamma Radiation Exposures for 

Marine Corps Personnel and Affiliates, Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Detailed Listing of "Other" Category, Marine Corps 

Participants, Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. . . . . . . 

Distribution of Gamma Radiation Exposures 

for Air Force Personnel and Affiliates, Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Detailed Listing of "Other" Category, Air Force 

Participants, Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. . . . . . . 

Distribution of Gamma Radiation Exposures for 

Scientific Personnel, Contractors, and Affiliates, 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Detailed Listing of "Other" Category, Scientific 

Personnel, Contractors, and Affiliates, 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Film Badge Readings Exceeding Established Limits 

for Participants at TUMBLER-SNAPPER. . . . . . . . . 

. 170 

. 171 

. 172 

. 173 

. ,174 

. 175 

. 176 

. 177 

. 178 

22 
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 

The following abbreviations and acronyms are used in this 

volume: 

AEC 

AFB 

AFSWC 

AFSWP 

BCT 

BJY 

DOD 

EGLG 

HumRRO 

IBDA 

LASL 

NPG 

OR0 

R/h 

SAC 

UCLA 

UTM 

Atomic Energy Commission 

Air Force Base 

Air Force Special Weapons Center 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project 

Battalion Combat Team 

BUSTER-JANGLE Y 

Department of Defense 

Edgerton, Germeshausen, and Grier, Inc. 

Human Resources Research Office 

Indirect Bomb Damage Assessment 

Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory 

Nevada Proving Ground 

Operations Research Office 

Roentgens per hour 

Strategic Air Command 

University of California at Los Angeles 

Universal Transverse Mercator 

23 
CHAPTER 1 

INTRODUCTION 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, the series of atmospheric nuclear 

weapons tests conducted in the continental United States from 

1 April to 5 June 1952, consisted of eight nuclear detonations. 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER involved about 10,600 DOD personnel participating 

in observer programs, tactical maneuvers, and scientific and 

diagnostic studies. The series was intended to test nuclear 

weapons for possible inclusion in the defense arsenal and to 

improve military tactics, equipment, and training. 

The purpose of this volume is to summarize information on 

organizations, procedures, and activities of DOD personnel in 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. This chapter introduces the series 

with background information on: 

a The international and domestic situation that 

existed in 1952 when the TUMBLER-SNAPPER tests were 

conducted 

0 The origin of Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

0 The Nevada Proving Ground facilities 

0 The eight individual nuclear events 

0 DOD participation in this test series. 

This information provides a basis for understanding the nature 

and extent of DOD participation discussed in more detail in this 

volume and in the TUMBLER-SNAPPER multi-shot reports. 

1.1 INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC CONDITIONS INFLUENCING OPERATION 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER was planned and conducted to 

diversify and thus strengthen the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The 

24 
continuing development of nuclear technology was important 

because the postwar defense policy of the United States rested 

largely upon its ability to deter attack and general war by 

threatening a major aggressor with nuclear retaliation. The 

reliance on nuclear weapons increased in 1949 when the Soviet 

Union detonated its first nuclear device and the United States 

lost its monopoly on nuclear firepower. As a new defense policy 

evolved in the early 195Os, two additional factors challenged the 

ability of the U.S. Armed Forces to defend American interests and 

to protect its allies during limited hostilities: 

l The commitment of U.S. ground forces to the Korean 

peninsula 

0 The inability of the United States' European allies 

to develop effective military capabilities. 

In both cases, the United States experienced difficulties because 

of limitations in military manpower, which emphasized the need 

for a U.S. defense policy based not on large standing armies, but 

on new technologica"l advances, particularly in nuclear weapons. 

The Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission strongly advocated the development of nuclear devices for tactical purposes. 

Describing prospects for new types of nuclear weapons, the AEC 

Chairman stated in 1951: 

What we are working toward here is a situation where we 

will have atomic weapons in almost as complete a variety 

as conventional ones . . ..This would include artillery 

shells, guided missiles, torpedoes, rockets and bombs 

for ground-support aircraft....We could use an atomic 

bomb today in a tactical way against enemy troops in the 

field, against military concentrations near battle areas 

and against other vital military targets without risk to 

our own troops. We are steadily increasing, through our 

technological and production progress, the number of 

situations in which atomic weapons can be effectively 

employed in battle areas (163).* 

*Al-l sources cited in the text are listed alphabetically in the 

Bibliography at the end of this volume. The number given in the 

text is the number of the source document in the Bibliography. 

25 
While developing nuclear weapons for tactical purposes, government officials attempted to inform the American public about 

the potential use of nuclear devices to halt aggression without 

simultaneously destroying large urban centers and populations. 

Consequently, reporters were present during the first tactical 

maneuver of Exercise Desert Rock IV, which occurred after the 

detonation of CHARLIE, the third TUMBLER-SNAPPER shot. Reporters 

had also witnessed Desert Rock operations in earlier nuclear 

weapons testing series. 

The armed services participated in nuclear testing to 

determine the military value of weapon effects. The tests 

indicated that two elements were essential to a defense policy 

based on nuclear weapons. First, as a deterrent to general war I 

or overt aggression, the Air Force Strategic Air Command had to 

be armed with effective nuclear weapons. Second, if a limited 

aggression threatened a U.S. ally and ground intervention was 

called for, military forces needed to be trained in the tactical 

use of nuclear weapons. The best way for troops to become 

familiar with the new weapons was through field exercises (141; 

161). The TUMBLER-SNAPPER testing addressed both aspects of 

defense policy -- effective nuclear weapons and troop training in 

tactical nuclear warfare. 

1.2 ORIGINS OF OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER, conducted in the spring of 1952, was 

planned as two separate weapons testing programs: Operation 

TUMBLER and Operation SNAPPER. In August 1951, the Armed Forces 

Special Weapons Project advised the Departments of the Army, 

Navy, and Air Force that the AEC would probably conduct one or 

more nuclear weapons tests during the spring of 1952. Although 

the scope of the contemplated tests had not yet been determined, 

AFSWP requested that, by 5 October 1951, the military recommend 

projects for inclusion at the detonations. The Armed Forces 

26 
submitted recommendations in October, at which time the AEC 

formally advised the DOD that it intended to conduct a nuclear 

weapons testing series at the Nevada Proving Ground beginning on 

1 May 1952. The AEC also indicated that most of the shots in the 

series, which it designated Operation SNAPPER, would be tower 

detonations (8; 88; 138; 155). 

During September and October 1951, AFSWP formulated a military effects test program for Operation SNAPPER, integrating the 

proposals furnished by the Armed Forces. In early November 1951, 

AFSWP proposed its military effects program, consisting of about 

32 projects, to the Research and Development Board of DOD for 

approval. The Research and Development Board approved the 

program, recommending several modifications in the plans. On 19 

January 1952, the Joint Chiefs of Staff approved the revised 

plans for the AFSWP test program (8; 16; 138). 

Before DOD gave final approval to Operation SNAPPER, data 

were obtained from the 1951 Operation BUSTER-JANGLE indicating 

the need for an additional nuclear weapons testing series. Some 

of the projects performed at BUSTER-JANGLE revealed significant 

discrepancies between the predicted and actual overpressure 

resulting from airbursts. Consequently, on 14 December 1951, 

AFSWP recommended to the Joint Chiefs of Staff that a series of 

nuclear tests be conducted, primarily to measure the overpressure 

caused by airbursts. On 10 January 1952, the Joint Chiefs of 

Staff approved the recommendation and requested that the AEC 

assume responsibility for administering the additional nuclear 

events. First referred to as the "Quickie" Operation, these 

events were renamed TUMBLER and scheduled to be conducted before 

1 May 1952, the beginning date for Operation SNAPPER (8; 138; 

148). 

Operation TUMBLER, designed by AFSWP, incorporated several 

of the original SNAPPER experiments devoted to basic thermal and 

27 
blast measurements. Because the concerns of the two series sometimes overlapped, they were combined into one operation, TUMBLERSNAPPER. Although plans for the combined operation were occasionally revised, the test programs had been formulated by 

February 1952 (8; 88; 138; 148; 155). 

According to the plans, Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER consisted 

of two parts. The TUMBLER phase, essentially weapons effects 

tests, was designed to obtain additional information on the 

effect of the height of burst on the overpressure caused by a 

nuclear detonation. Shots ABLE and BAKER, fired solely to gain 

overpressure data, were part of TUMBLER. The SNAPPER phase, 

basically weapons development events of primary concern to the 

AEC and the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL), tested 

weapons for inclusion in the defense arsenal and studied 

techniques to be used during Operation IVY, scheduled for the 

fall of 1952. Shots EASY, FOX, GEORGE, and HOW, as weapons 

development tests, were part of SNAPPER. CHARLIE and DOG, 

involving both weapons effects and weapons development studies, 

were part of both the TUMBLER and SNAPPER phases (8; 138; 148). 

In a 24 January 1952 letter, the Chief of AFSWP presented 

Air Force Headquarters with a schedule for TUMBLER-SNAPPER. The 

first four shots were to be airdrops, and the remaining events 

were to be detonated on 300-foqt towers. The first airdrop was 

scheduled for 1 April 1952. With the exception of the second 

airdrop, planned for 15 April, the remaining shots were scheduled 

for consecutive weeks, one shot per week. The AEC later canceled 

a ninth detonation, a tower shot which had been scheduled for 

4 June, because the first eight tests yielded sufficient data (8; 

20; 88; 138; 148; 155). 

Although the schedule for Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER was 

revised several times, the planned and actual test dates 

28 
generally corresponded, as indicated in table l-l.* Schedule 

changes in the later part of the series resulted primarily from 

adverse weather conditions (73; 74; 87). 

1.3 THE NEVADA PROVING GROUND 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, like Operations RANGER and 

BUSTER-JANGLE, was conducted at the Nevada Proving Ground. 

Originally established by the Atomic Energy Commission in December 1950, the NPG, now known as the Nevada Test Site, is located 

in the southeastern part of Nevada, 100 kilometers + northwest of 

Las Vegas, as shown in figure l-l. 

The Nevada Proving Ground, depicted in figure 1-2, is an 

area of high desert and mountain terrain encompassing approximately 1,600 square kilometers in Nye County. On its eastern, 

northern, and western boundaries, the NPG adjoins the Las Vegas 

Bombing and Gunnery Range (later designated the Nellis Air Force 

Range), of which it was originally a part. This area has been 

the location for the atmospheric nuclear weapons tests conducted 

within the continental United States from 1951 to the present. 

The nuclear weapons tests of Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER were 

conducted in two distinct geographical areas: Yucca Flat and 

Frenchman Flat. Yucca Flat is a 320-square-kilometer desert valley surrounded by mountains. Situated in the north-central part 

of the Nevada Proving Ground, Yucca Flat was the location of 

*Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates are used in this 

report, as seen in table l-l. The first three digits refer to a 

point on an east-west axis, and the second three digits refer to 

a point on a north-south axis. The point so designated is the 

southwest corner of an area 100 meters square. 

+Throughout this report, surface distances are given in metric 

units. The metric conversion factors include: 1 meter = 3.28 

feet; 1 meter = 1.09 yards; and 1 kilometer = 0.62 miles. 

29 
Table l-l: SUMMARY OF OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER EVENTS (1952) 

. . 

Sponsor 1 DOD-LASL 

Planned Date I 1 April 

Actual Date 

Time* 

1 April 

0996 

NPG Location Frenchman 

Lake 

(Area 5) 

UTM Coordinates I 945729 

Type of Detonation I Airdrop 

B 

1 DOD-IASL 

i 29 April 

1 May 

1 0830 

Area 7 1 Area7 ( Area7 1 Area1 1 Area4 I Area3 I Area2 

872644 

Airdrop 

871645 

Airdrop 

871644 

Airdrop 

798669 

Tower 

795656 

Tower 

871964 

Tower 

784164 

Tower 

1,109 1 3.447 1 1,040 1 306 1 300 1 300 I 300 

l Pacific Standard Time 
-- 

OREGON 

-7 I IDAHO 

--_ 

---7 

Winnemucca 1 

-/--- I 

0 100 

L I I 

Kilometers 

Nevada Proving Ground 

x 

1 

Las Vegas \*’ 

Indian ‘x, 

Springs \ 

AFB 

UTAH 

- _-_- 

ARIZONA 

P 

North 

Figure l-l: LOCATION OF NEVADA PROVING GROUND 

31 
HOW 

FOX 

EASY 

14 

r ---- 

-@ 

0 II,, 

Kilometers 

i 

I6 \ 

Camp Desert 

i 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I5 

-- 

Rock 

I af c3 

Frenchma: Lake 

I 

I 

Camp Mercury 

Figure 1-2: GROUND ZEROS FOR OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

AT THE NEVADA PROVING GROUND 

32 
seven TUMBLER-SNAPPER tests. The area boundaries outlined in 

figure l-2 approximate the testing areas. Frenchman Flat, which 

includes a 22-square-kilometer dry-lake basin, is located in the 

southeastern part of the NPG. Only one TUMBLER-SNAPPER event, 

Shot ABLE, was conducted in this area. Yucca Flat and Frenchman 

Flat are linked by Mercury Highway, which runs north and south 

through Yucca Pass. Yucca Pass is the site of News Nob, a major 

observation area, and the Control Point. The Control Point, 

consisting of several permanent buildings, was situated on the 

west side of Yucca Pass. Power, timing, and firing cables led 

from Control Point Building 1 to each test area in Yucca Flat and 

Frenchman Flat. All tower shots were detonated from Building 1, 

since that location allowed observation of the forward areas of 

Yucca Flat to the north and Frenchman Flat to the southeast. 

Decontamination facilities for personnel and vehicles returning 

from some of the testing areas were also at the Control Point 

(133). 

Camp Mercury, at the southern boundary of the Nevada Proving 

Ground, was the base of TUMBLER-SNAPPER management operations for 

the joint AEC-DOD organization. Camp Mercury, shown in figure 

l-3, provided office and living quarters, as well as laboratory 

facilities and warehouses, for the temporary and permanent 

personnel participating in various AEC test activities. 

Indian Springs Air Force Base (AFB), 30 kilometers east of 

Camp Mercury, was the principal staging base for Air Force 

Special Weapons Center * (AFSWC) aircraft taking part in 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER. 

Camp Desert Rock, headquarters of the Desert Rock exercises, 

was located just off the Nevada Proving Ground, three kilometers 

southwest of Camp Mercury. Camp Desert Rock consisted of quonset 

*Before 1 April 1952, the Air Force Special Weapons Center was 

called the Air Force Special Weapons Command (8). 

33 

huts and semi-permanent structures augmented by trailers and 

tents as necessary. The camp population varied considerably, 

depending on the schedule of weapons tests and associated troop 

maneuvers. When tests were not being conducted, fewer than 100 

people maintained the camp. During test periods, however, Camp 

Desert Rock often housed several thousand DOD personnel 

temporarily assigned to participate in the nuclear weapons tests 

(98; 133; 138). 

1.4 SUMMARY OF OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER EVENTS 

During the planning for Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, the AEC 

directed the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, an AEC weapons 

development laboratory, and the Department of Defense to indicate 

experimental areas that could be addressed during the 1952 test 

series. Their responses, when analyzed and evaluated, resulted 

in the scheduling of events listed in table l-l. Beginning on 16 

March, rain and snow in the test areas caused difficulties for 

workers constructing experiment stations and installing equipment. Despite these unfavorable weather conditions, the first 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER detonation, Shot ABLE, occurred on 1 April as 

scheduled. 

Shot ABLE, an airdrop, was detonated over Frenchman Lake in 

Area 5. The other seven shots were detonated in five of the 

seven Yucca Flat shot areas. BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG, also 

airdrops, had the same ground zero in Area 7. The height of 

detonation for the airdrops ranged from 793 feet* (Shot ABLE) to 

3,447 feet (Shot CHARLIE). The other four devices were detonated 

on 300-foot towers in other shot areas. The detonations ranged 

in yield from two shots of one kiloton each, ABLE and BAKER, to 

the 31-kiloton Shot CHARLIE. Shots CHARLIE, DOG, FOX, and 

*In this report, vertical distances are expressed in feet. 

Altitudes are usually stated from mean sea level, while heights 

are usually measured from the surface. 

35 
GEORGE, which involved Desert Rock activities, engaged the 

largest numbers of DOD participants (8; 73; 87; 138). 

1.5 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PARTICIPANTS AND ACTIVITIES 

An estimated 10,600 DOD personnel, both military and 

civilian, from the armed services and the Armed Forces Special 

Weapons Project, participated at Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. They 

took part in the following activities: 

0 Joint AEC-DOD organization administration and 

support 

0 Test group scientific and diagnostic activities, 

including those of the Armed Forces Special Weapons 

Project 

0 Exercise Desert Rock IV troop activities and support 

a Air support. 

Although the AEC was responsible for planning, coordinating, 

and executing the programs and activities associated with Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, DOD personnel assisted the AEC.Test Manager 

in these duties. The DOD personnel attached to the joint AEC-DOD 

organization were responsible for overseeing DOD's technical and 

military planning objectives. 

DOD personnel also participated in the scientific and 

diagnostic projects conducted by two test groups at Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER. The Military Effects Test Group, directed by 

Test Command, AFSWP, involved more DOD participants than the 

Weapons Development Test Group, which was directed by the AEC. 

Drawn from various DOD laboratories, these participants conducted 

experiments to learn more about weapons effects. Activities of 

the AEC Weapons Development Test Group were conducted primarily 

by the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, but DOD personnel were 

sometimes involved. 

36 
Participants in test group projects generally placed 

instruments and experimental material around the intended ground 

zero in the days and weeks before the scheduled detonation. 

After the detonation, when the Test Manager had determined that 

the radiological environment in the shot area would permit 

access, they returned to recover the equipment. During a 

detonation, project personnel were generally positioned at 

designated observer locations or were operating equipment or 

aircraft at substantial distances from ground zero. 

Observation programs involving DOD personnel were conducted 

through the Exercise Desert Rock IV programs at Shots CHARLIE, 

DOG, FOX, and GEORGE. The Desert Rock IV programs usually 

involved the greatest number of DOD participants at any one shot. 

These activities generally included orientation and indoctrination programs, highlighted by the observation of a nuclear 

burst. At Shots CHARLIE, DOG, and GEORGE, Exercise Desert Rock 

IV also included tactical troop maneuvers after the detonations. 

Approximately 1,500 soldiers from various Army units 

provided support for the Exercise Desert Rock programs. They 

maintained and operated Camp Desert Rock, an installation of the 

Sixth Army. Some of the Desert Rock support troops worked in the 

forward areas of the NPG to construct observer trenches, lay 

communication lines, provide transportation, and assist in other 

preparations for Desert Rock IV activities. Many of the Camp 

Desert Rock support personnel observed at least one nuclear test 

during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, and some were called upon to 

perform support or staff duties in the test areas during 

detonations. 

37 
Finally, DOD personnel provided air support for the Test 

Manager and the test groups. Personnel of the Air Force Special 

Weapons Center conducted cloud sampling, sample courier missions, 

cloud tracking, aerial surveys of the terrain, and other air 

support as requested. AFSWC consisted of units of the 4925th 

Test Group (Atomic) and the 4901st Support Wing (Atomic). 

Although these units were based at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, they 

staged out of Indian Springs AFB during the testing. 

38 
CHAPTER 2 

FUNCTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATIONS 

DURING OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Two groups, the joint AEC-DOD organization and Exercise 

Desert Rock IV, conducted major activities during Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER. These groups were established to plan, manage, 

and coordinate the eight weapons tests, the scientific and diagnostic experiments, and the military training maneuvers (138; 148). 

Representatives from both the Atomic Energy Commission and 

the Department of Defense staffed and administered the joint 

AEC-DOD organization. The primary responsibilities of this 

organization were to schedule and detonate the nuclear devices 

and to evaluate the results of each detonation. The Test Manager 

and his staff performed the first function, while the Test 

Director and his staff were responsible for the second. Section 

2.1 of this chapter describes the roles and responsibilities of 

both the Test Manager and the Test Director (8; 25; 138). 

Exercise Desert Rock IV was staffed and administered by the 

Army and included personnel from the Department of Defense and 

the armed services. Exercise Desert Rock IV functioned 

separately from the joint organization, but liaison was 

established between the two groups to ensure that Desert Rock 

training programs did not interfere with the scientific programs 

of the joint organization. Throughout Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, 

Army support troops resided at Camp Desert Rock, just south of 

the Nevada Proving Ground. These troops provided such support as 

security and law enforcement, radiological safety, medical care, 

transportation, construction, food, and laundry. Exercise troops 

from the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps were assigned to Camp 

Desert Rock for periods of a few days to participate in a 

particular training program (98; 108). 

39 
In addition to DOD personnel, participants in Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER included employees of other Federal agencies, 

research laboratories, and private firms under contract to the 

Government. Department of Defense personnel participated in the 

activities of many of these organizations (119; 138; 148). 

2.1 THE JOINT AEC-DOD ORGANIZATION 

The Atomic Energy Commission and the Department of Defense 

shared responsibility for planning and implementing the U.S. 

atmospheric nuclear weapons test program. The AEC was responsible for exploring and developing new areas of nuclear weapons 

technology, while the DOD was to incorporate the weapons into the 

military defense program (12; 131). 

Congress established the Atomic Energy Commission in 1946 

with the passage of the Atomic Energy Act. In addition to 

stipulating the purposes of the AEC, which included exploring the 

uses of atomic energy as well as developing nuclear weapons 

technology, the Act provided for the President to appoint five 

commissioners and a general manager as the chief administrators 

of the Commission. The Atomic Energy Act also established four 

divisions within the AEC (1; 12): 

0 Research 

0 Production 

0 Engineering 

0 Military Application. 

The Director of the Division of Military Application, who was a 

member of the armed services, delegated his onsite responsibility 

for test preparations at the Nevada Proving Ground to the manager 

of the AEC Santa Fe Operations Office. This responsibility 

included overseeing the preparations for Operation TUMBLERSNAPPER at the NPG. The Director of Military Application coordinated tasks with the various divisions of the AEC Santa Fe 

40 
Operations Office, as well as with AEC Field Managers, nuclear 

weapons development laboratories, the Department of Defense Armed 

Forces Special Weapons Project, and other Government agencies. 

Before Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, the Director of the Division of 

Military Application appointed the manager of the Santa Fe 

Operations Office to be the Test Manager of the joint AEC-DOD 

organization at the Nevada Proving Ground. Figure 2-1 shows the 

structure of the joint organization and Exercise Desert Rock IV 

and their relationship to each other within the Federal 

Government (8; 15; 23; 25). 

During the planning phase of TUMBLER-SNAPPER, the President 

relied on the Secretary of Defense to coordinate the activities 

of the various armed services through the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 

The Armed Forces Special Weapons Project was the principal agency 

within the Department of Defense for developing nuclear weapons. 

AFSWP had been created in January 1947 by a Memorandum Order 

signed by the Secretaries of War and the Navy (8; 15; 16). 

The Chief of AFSWP ordered the establishment of Test 

Command, AFSWP, effective on 29 January 1952. Within the 

continental United States, the unit was to exercise technical 

direction of weapons effects tests of primary concern to the 

Armed Forces and coordinate military activities supporting the 

AEC in conducting the tests (8; 21; 23; 25). 

The commander and the first personnel assigned to the Test 

Command were from the Air Force Special Weapons Command (which 

became the Air Force Special Weapons Center in April 1952) at 

Kirtland AFB. Additional personnel were assigned by the armed 

services. During TUMBLER-SNAPPER, the Test Command consisted of 

53 Army, 16 Navy, and 18 Air Force personnel. 

The commander of Test Command, who reported directly to the 

Chief of AFSWP, was responsible for technical direction of 

41 
I 

I 

I 

I 
weapons effects tests of primary concern to the Armed Forces. In 

addition, he was to coordinate all military participation and 

assist the AEC in meeting its schedule for the weapons testing 

series. To this end, he established direct liaison with the 

manager of the Santa Fe Operations Office, as shown in figure 2-1 

(8; 23; 25). 

The Test Command commander and his staff arrived at Sandia 

Base on 4 March. They immediately began working out details of 

the Operation Plan, which they issued on 17 March. On 20 March, 

the commander met with the Desert Rock IV Exercise Director to 

discuss military operations before the Exercise Director issued a 

detailed plan for the shots. This meeting was followed by 

further discussions about the operational phases of the shots (8; 

23; 36; 42). 

The Test Command commander was the Deputy for Military 

Participation and Support on the Test Manager's staff. As such, 

he coordinated DOD activities at the Nevada Proving Ground. 

These activities included the scientific and diagnostic programs 

conducted by the AFSWP Military Effects Test Group, the training 

programs and troop maneuvers comprising Exercise Desert Rock IV, 

and the support activities of the Air Force Special Weapons 

Center. AFSWC was responsible for the operational control of all 

aircraft participating in Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. AFSWC also 

coordinated air support (8; 17; 19; 23; 25; 75). 

As shown in figure 2-1, liaison between the AEC and the DOD 

existed at several points. The Atomic Energy Act provided for a 

Military Liaison Committee consisting of representatives from the 

Department of Defense to consult with the AEC on "the development, manufacture, use, and storage of bombs, the allocation of 

fissionable material for military research, and the control of 

information relating to the manufacture or utilization of atomic 

weapons." This committee was the primary liaison between the AEC 

and the DOD (1). 

43 
During the planning and implementation phases of Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER, the Joint Chiefs of Staff coordinated the 

activities of Exercise Desert Rock IV through liaison with the 

Office, Chief of Army Field Forces, and the Commanding General of 

the Sixth U.S. Army, who served as the Exercise Supervisor for 

Exercise Desert Rock IV. The Exercise Director was appointed by 

the Commanding General, Sixth U.S. Army. At the operational 

level, the Test Manager's Deputy for Military Participation and 

Support coordinated Exercise Desert Rock IV activities with those 

of the joint organization (58; 108). 

Personnel to staff the various elements of the joint organization were drawn from the AEC Santa Fe Operations Office, AEC 

contractors, and various DOD agencies. Excluding AFSWP and AEC 

personnel, 278 personnel participated in the activities of the 

organization. Of these personnel, 64 were from LASL (23; 119). 

2.1.1 Test Manager's Organization 

The Test Manager was responsible for the overall direction 

of Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. This responsibility included 

deciding whether or not to proceed with a shot as planned, coordinating the agencies involved in the weapons development and 

weapons effects projects, and supervising the staff units that 

performed support functions for the test participants. The Test 

Manager's staff is shown in figure 2-2 (8; 47; 158). 

The Advisory Panel consisted of representatives from AFSWP 

Test Command and AFSWC and scientists from LASL. This panel 

briefed the Test Manager on weather conditions and their potential effects on the scheduled tests (8). 

The Deputy for Scientific Programs provided technical supervision of all scientific projects conducted by the Military 

44 
I J 

I-- Test 

Director 

- Command 

I I Liaison 

Figure 2-2: TEST MANAGER’S ORGANIZATION 
Effects Test Group and the Weapons Development Test Group. This 

individual also served as the Test Director and had his own staff 

and duties, as described in the next section (8; 23). 

The Deputy for Nevada Proving Ground Management provided for 

and supervised all auxiliary services required for operating the 

NPG during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. He was also the Field 

Manager and, like the Test Director, had his own staff (8). 

The Deputy for Military Participation and Support was the 

Test Manager's chief military advisor. He coordinated projects 

conducted by the Military Effects Test Group and military support 

provided by the radiological safety unit. In addition, he served 

as liaison between the Test Manager and the Exercise Director for 

Desert Rock activities. He was responsible for ensuring that 

Desert Rock activities did not interfere with test group 

pro.jects (8; 23). 

Among the other administrative offices included within the 

Test Manager's staff were the Information Office and the 

Classification Office. The Information Office was the first 

public relations office established for a continental nuclear 

weapons testing series. With offices at Camp Mercury and Las 

Vegas, Nevada, it was the central point for releasing information 

to the public about the nuclear detonations. The Special 

Assistant and Information Director managed the Information 

Office. The staff included information officers from the AEC, 

LASL, and the armed services. The Classification Office was 

administered by the AEC Security Chief. He was responsible for 

security matters at the Nevada Proving Ground, including 

personnel security. This responsibility involved the processing 

of security clearances for personnel at the NPG (8; 119). 

46 
2.1.2 Test Director's Organization 

While the Test Manager and his staff provided the technical 

and administrative guidance necessary to conduct Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER and its related activities, the day-to-day 

responsibility for preparing the nuclear devices and planning and 

implementing the scientific and diagnostic experiments was 

delegated to the Test Director, who was a scientist from LASL. 

The daily planning and implementation of the many test programs performed by agencies and contractors of the AEC and DOD 

required close liaison between those agencies involved and the 

units within the Test Director's organization. The two main 

positions on the Test Director's staff were the Deputy for 

Military Effects Tests and the Deputy for Weapons Development 

Tests. The Deputy for Military Effects Tests directed eight 

programs designed to measure the weapons effects characteristics 

of each nuclear device detonated. The Deputy for Weapons 

Development Tests conducted scientific and diagnostic experiments 

to evaluate the nuclear devices (8). 

As shown in figure 2-3, the Test Director's organization 

included several subsections responsible for technical 

information, classification, engineering and construction, plans 

and operations, administration and personnel, and logistics and 

suPPlY* Consisting of representatives from various DOD and AEC 

agencies, the subsections provided services to both the Military 

Effects Test Group and the Weapons Development Test Group (S). 

Other units provided support services to the Test Director. 

These subsections, shown in figure 2-3, included: 

a Weather 

l Timing and Firing 

0 Weapons Assembly 

0 Radiological Safety 

0 Documentary Photography 

47 
Test Director 

I 

Deputy for 

Military 

Effects 

Tests 

l 

I I 

Military 

Effects 

Program 

r--l r--l r--l 

Technical 

Liaison 

Classification 

Engineering 

and 

Construction 

Weather 

Deputy for 

t 

Weapons 

Development 

Tests 

I I 1 

i---l I I---- 

Plans 

and 

Operations 

Administration 

and 

Personnel 

Logistics 

and 

- - - 

SUPPlY 1 

I 

Timing 

and 

Firing 

I 

Weapons 

Assembly 

Radiological 

Safety 

I 

Documentary 

Photography 

Test 

Aircraft 

I 

Air 

Support 

Figure 2-3: TEST DIRECTOR’S ORGANIZATION 
0 Test Aircraft 

0 Air Support. 

The Air Force Air Weather Service provided the Test Director 

with meteorological information important in scheduling the detonations, such as specific data on wind and cloud conditions. The 

6th Weather Squadron (Mobile) of the 2059th Air Weather Wing, 

Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, directed the meteorological analysis from 

the Control Point Weather Station and stations in the surrounding 

area. Eight forecasters, 13 observers, and 14 other Air Force 

personnel operated special equipment at the Control Point. An 

additional 11 Air Force personnel operated a station at Tonopah, 

Nevada, as did three Air Force personnel at each of the following 

locations: Beatty, Caliente, Crystal Springs, Currant, and Warm 

Springs, Nevada, and St. George, Utah. The 6th Weather Squadron 

was assisted by a consultant from Andrews AFB, Maryland, who 

aided the forecasters in their meteorological analysis at the 

beginning of TUMBLER-SNAPPER. The activities of the Air Force 

Air Weather Service are described in chapter 4 (8; 112). 

The Timing and Firing Unit, which included personnel from 

Edgerton, Germeshausen, and Crier, Inc. (EG&G), provided 

instruments and apparatus for setting the timing of the 

detonations and for firing the nuclear devices detonated on the 

300-foot towers (8; 119). The four airdropped devices were 

detonated by their own internal fusing and firing systems. 

The Weapons Assembly Unit, which included personnel from the 

AEC, LASL, and AEC contractors, assembled the nuclear components 

of the TUMBLER-SNAPPER devices. The devices for the tower 

detonations were assembled at the NPG, while the airdropped 

devices were assembled at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico (8). 

The Radiological Safety Group supervised onsite and offsite 

radiological safety activities at TUMBLER-SNAPPER. The Onsite 

49 
Operations Officer was responsible for the area within a 

32-kilometer radius of the shot site. He and his staff issued 

film badges, directed monitoring activities, and briefed recovery 

and decontamination personnel before their postshot entry into 

the shot area. The Offsite Operations Officer was responsible 

for radiological safety activities within a 320-kilometer radius 

of the onsite area. He and his staff supervised ground surveys, 

collated cloud-tracker data, maintained liaison with the Air 

Weather Service and the Civil Aeronautics Administration, and 

managed an information center. The offsite operations staff 

included a representative from the Civil Aeronautics Administration whose office was in the Air Operations Center. This representative determined the airways to be closed or opened to 

commercial aircraft on shot-days. The Radiological Safety Group, 

consisting of 30 officers and 167 enlisted men from the Army, 

Navy, and Air Force, is discussed in further detail in section 

5.2 of this volume, Radiation Protection for the Joint AEC-DOD 

Organization (8; 91,). 

The Air Force 1352nd Motion Picture Squadron, Air Photographic and Charting Service, from Lookout Mountain Laboratory in 

Hollywood, California, provided motion picture and still photography coverage of the scientific and technical programs. It also 

supplied photographs to the Test Information Office (8). 

The Test Aircraft Unit was responsible for coordinating and 

supervising the air operations directly related to the TUMBLERSNAPPER nuclear tests. This unit directed the 4925th Test Group 

(Atomic) from AFSWC in such activities as cloud sampling, cloud 

tracking, aerial radiation surveys of the terrain, aerial 

photography missions, and other air operations designed to 

collect experimental data. The 4925th Test Group (Atomic) had 

operational control over all aircraft participating in Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER (8; 25; 82; 119). 

50 
The Air Support Unit was responsible for coordinating and 

supervising the air operations that were not a direct part of the 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER tests but were of a support nature. The 4901st 

Support Wing of AFSWC, based at Kirtland AFB, and other Air Force 

units provided air support. These activities included flying air 

transport and courier missions between Kirtland AFB and Indian 

Springs AFB, furnishing aircraft and crews for certain Test 

Aircraft Unit operations, maintaining airbase facilities at 

Kirtland and Indian Springs, and providing other support as 

requested (8; 25; 82; 109; 119). AFSWC activities are described 

in more detail in chapter 4. 

The Test Director's technical advisors and support personnel 

planned and conducted the day-to-day test activities. The 

technical advisors reviewed the proposed activities for each 

program and project of the different laboratories and agencies. 

Working with the representatives of the support group and the 

technical advisors, the Test Director and his staff revised the 

proposed plans to include scheduling, construction locations, 

supplies, transportation, radiological safety, air support, and 

postshot recovery operations. The Test Director and his staff 

presented these revised plans to the Test Manager, who had final 

authority to review and approve activities associated with 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. 

2.1.3 Field Manager's Organization 

The Field Manager, who was an AEC employee, and his organization, shown in figure 2-4, were responsible for auxiliary 

services required for construction and maintenance of the Nevada 

Proving Ground and Camp Mercury. These services included 

administration; operations, which included construction and camp 

maintenance and transportation; communications; and security (8). 

51 
.- s 

E 

rY .- 

.G 

E 

% 
2.2 THE ORGANIZATION OF EXERCISE DESERT ROCK IV 

Exercise Desert Rock troops were at Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

through an agreement between the AEC and DOD. Although Exercise 

Desert Rock IV had its own administrative structure, described 

below, the Test Manager influenced Exercise Desert Rock activities 

in several ways. The Test Manager reviewed and approved all 

program activities associated with the nuclear tests at the NPG, 

including Desert Rock activities. At the time of Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER, he was also responsible for the radiological 

safety of Exercise Desert Rock participants (8; 14; 36; 63). 

Exercise Desert Rock IV, which was sponsored by the Department of the Army, involved an estimated 7,350 DOD participants in 

observation activities and tactical troop maneuvers. About 1,500 

military personnel were needed to support the exercises and 

coordinate Desert Rock activities with the activities and 

programs of the joint AEC-DOD organization. 

Headquarters for Exercise Desert Rock IV was formally 

established in the spring and summer of 1952. The Commanding 

General of the Sixth U.S. Army was appointed Exercise Supervisor. 

In planning and conducting Exercise Desert Rock IV operations, 

the Exercise Supervisor was responsible for Army, Navy, Marine 

Corps, and Air Force personnel and for providing administrative 

and logistical support to the exercise troops. During the 

planning phases, the Exercise Supervisor conferred with representatives from the AEC Santa Fe Operations Office and from the 

AFSWP Test Command to ensure that Exercise Desert Rock activities 

did not conflict with test group projects (8; 63; 106; 108; 

120; 160). 

Throughout both the planning and operational phases of 

Exercise Desert Rock IV, the Exercise Supervisor maintained his 

offices at the Sixth U.S. Army headquarters, located at the 

Presidio in San Francisco. At the Nevada Proving Ground, the 

53 
Exercise Supervisor was represented by his deputy, who was 

designated Exercise Director and Commander of Camp Desert Rock. 

The Exercise Director was at Camp Desert Rock during the operational phase of the exercises (98; 106; 108). 

The Exercise Director's staff had the standard organization, 

with S-l, S-Z, S-3, S-4, and special staff sections. Two 

additional special staff sections, the Radiological Safety Group 

and the Instructor Group, were added to the standard organization 

to provide services not performed by the regular staff (97; 106; 

108). Figure 2-5 depicts the probable organization of the 

Exercise Director's staff. 

The Chief of Staff was responsible for directing the Desert 

Rock staff, while the Executive Officer for Operations 

coordinated Desert Rock IV activities. The Executive Officer for 

Administration provided the Exercise Director with clerical and 

administrative support and also supervised the Camp Desert Rock 

Visitors' Bureau. The Inspector General reviewed both support 

and exercise troop activities to ensure compliance with 

established military procedures. The Public Information Officer 

distributed press releases concerning Desert Rock activities to 

national news organizations and to the hometown newspapers of 

participating troops. The Judge Advocate provided legal services 

for Exercise Desert Rock IV. The Headquarters Commandant was 

responsible for maintaining and operating Camp Desert Rock (106; 

108). 

Staff units for administration, security and intelligence, 

operations, and logistics and Special Staff Officers provided 

services necessary for operating the camp and for conducting the 

Desert Rock exercises (106-108). 

The S-l Section, Administration, established personnel 

management and other administrative policies for Camp Desert Rock 

(106; 108). 

54 
Exercise Supervisor 

I 

Public Information 

Officer 

r 1 

Inspector 

General 

- Exercise Director - 

I - Judge Advocate 

* 

Chief of Staff 

Provost 

Marshal Chaplain 

PX - 

Special 

Services 

- 

Adjutant 

General 

k 

I I I I 

7 

Ordnance Chemical Quartermaster Medical: 

Tactical Troop 

Maneuvers 

Figure 2-5: CAMP DESERT ROCK ORGANIZATION, EXERCISE DESERT ROCK IV, ‘I952 
The Adjutant General provided mail service to all troops 

through the Postal Branch, maintained a headquarters message 

center, and furnished messenger service to the headquarters staff 

sections. The Adjutant General's office also kept personnel 

records and maintained personnel strength at the camp by requisitioning through its Personnel Branch to the Sixth Army. Throughout Exercise Desert Rock IV, however, there was a shortage of 

administrative and clerical personnel (105; 106; 108). 

The Provost Marshal's Office provided law enforcement and 

traffic control at Camp Desert Rock. The Provost Marshal was 

assigned from Headquarters, Sixth Army. The Provost Marshal 

exercised staff supervision of Company A, 505th Military Police 

Battalion, which was assigned to Camp Desert Rock. This unit 

operated the main gate to the camp, provided law enforcement 

within the camp, conducted patrols in downtown Las Vegas, and 

provided traffic control in the forward area on shot-days in 

conjunction with Desert Rock maneuvers. The Chaplain provided 

counseling and religious services at the camp. Special Services 

provided the entertainment and recreation program for Desert Rock 

personnel and operated the Post Exchange (106; 108). 

The S-2 Section, Security and Intelligence, was responsible 

for security safeguards for all classified material connected 

with Exercise Desert Rock IV and for ensuring that all personnel 

had proper security clearances. The S-2 Section maintained close 

liaison with the Security Branch of the joint AEC-DOD organization (8; 106-108). 

The S-3 Section, Operations, was responsible for planning, 

coordinating, and conducting Camp Desert Rock operations and 

exercise activities. The Radiological Safety Group and the 

Instructor Group provided the S-3 section with special services 

required for Exercise Desert Rock IV. 

56 
The Radiological Safety Group established the radiological 

safety procedures used to limit the exposure of Desert Rock 

exercise troops entering the forward area. The Desert Rock 

Radiological Safety Group was independent of the AFSWP radiological safety group but conducted some activities under the direction of the AFSWP group with the assistance of the 216th Chemical 

Service Company which was attached to AFSWP. After each shot, 

Desert Rock radiological safety monitors accompanied troops into 

the forward area; conducted ground radiological surveys; 

monitored trenches, equipment displays, and troop maneuver areas; 

and decontaminated Desert Rock personnel leaving the forward 

area. Chapter 5 of this volume describes Desert Rock radiological safety activities in more detail (8; 14; 42; 91; 106; 108; 

160). 

The Instructor Group conducted the orientation program for 

incoming troops and observers and briefed personnel on the objectives of Exercise Desert Rock IV, the capabilities of nuclear 

weapons, and the protective measures to take against the blast, 

thermal, and radiation effects of a nuclear detonation. The 

instructors were from the Sixth Army and AFSWP (8; 106; 108; 

160). 

The S-4 Section, Logistics, was responsible for providing 

logistical services to Camp Desert Rock and the exercise troops 

(106; 108; 160). 

Special staff sections were responsible for the technical 

areas indicated in figure 2-5 (8; 108; 160). 

The Signal Section was responsible for advising the Exercise 

Director on all signal activities at Camp Desert Rock and for 

supervising the Camp Desert Rock Signal Corps Detachment. This 

detachment, composed of personnel from the 314th Signal Construction Battalion and the 504th Signal Base Maintenance Company, 

57 
established wire and radio communications within the test areas 

and at Camp Desert Rock. The Signal Section was also responsible 

for issuing and collecting film badges (8; 105; 106; 108). 

The Engineer Section supervised elements of the 369th 

Engineer Amphibious Support Regiment, which constructed trenches, 

equipment displays, and other projects in the forward area of the 

NPG and at Camp Desert Rock (106; 108). 

The Ordnance Section supervised personnel from an ordnance 

detachment attached to the 369th Engineer Amphibious Support 

Regiment. This section procured, distributed, and maintained 

weapons and vehicles for the exercise troops and equipment 

displays (8; 106; 108). 

The Quartermaster procured food, clothing, and other 

supplies for Camp Desert Rock (106; 108). 

The Transportation Section was responsible for transporting 

test equipment, supplies, observers, and Desert Rock exercise 

troops to and from the forward area. This section supervised the 

23rd and 31st Transportation Truck Companies and the 562nd 

Transportation Staging Area Company (105; 106; 108). 

The Chemical Section was responsible for coordinating radiological sa,fety operations in Camp Desert Rock during and after.a 

nuclear detonation. This was accomplished through Sixth Army 

Chemical, Biological, and Radiological teams, which were part of 

the Desert Rock Radiological Safety Group (8; 106; 108). 

The Medical Section, staffed by a medical detachment from 

the Sixth Army, provided medical aid for Camp Desert Rock and 

established temporary medical aid stations at trench and forward 

parking areas. Medical personnel from the 1st Armored Division 

assisted during portions of the exercise (8; 105; 106; 108). . 

58 
Recause Exercise Desert Rock IV involved many more DOD 

participants than did the joint AEC-DOD organization, the 

activities of the Exercise Desert Rock troops are described 

first, in chapter 3. A description of DOD participation in the 

joint organization activities follows in chapter 4. 

59 
CHAPTER 3 

EXERCISE DESERT ROCK IV PROGRAMS AT OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

According to estimates compiled by the armed services, 

approximately 10,600 DOD civilian and military personnel took 

part in Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. Of these, an estimated 7,350 

individuals participated in Exercise Desert Rock IV activities 

conducted by the Sixth Army. 

Exercise Desert Rock IV was designed to train maneuver units 

in the effects of nuclear weapons. The objectives were to (108): 

0 Provide training in the tactical use of nuclear weapons 

0 Observe psychological responses to nuclear detonations. 

0 Provide information on radiological safety measures 

l Provide training in the effects of a nuclear detonation 

on ordnance materiel and military equipment. 

While its objectives were similar to those of previous 

Desert Rock exercises, Desert Rock IV differed in certain 

respects. For example, the AEC gave the Army greater responsibility for radiological safety. In addition, the AEC and DOD 

authorized troops to be positioned closer to ground zero to 

observe the shot and to conduct postshot activities; observers 

were allowed to witness the nuclear detonations from positions 

6,400 meters from ground zero (71; 108; 120). 

Department of Defense personnel involved in Exercise Desert 

Rock IV were assigned to Camp Desert Rock. DOD personnel at Camp 

Desert Rock were divided into two groups: Camp Desert Rock 

support troops and Desert Rock IV exercise troops (98; 108). 

60 
Camp Desert Rock Support Troops 

Camp Desert Rock support troops numbered about 1,500 at 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. These troops were drawn primarily 

from the Sixth Army units listed below: 

0 Headquarters and Headquarters and Service Company, 

369th Engineer Amphibious Support Regiment 

l Shore Battalion, 369th Engineer Amphibious Support 

Regiment 

-- Company D 

-- Company E 

-- Company F 

0 562nd Transportation Staging Area Company (minus one 

platoon) 

0 23rd Transportation Truck Company 

l 31st Transportation Truck Company 

0 Company A, 505th Military Police Battalion 

0 Detachment, 314th Signal Construction Battalion 

0 Detachment, 504th Signal Base Maintenance Company 

0 Detachment, 3623rd Ordnance Medium Company 

a Medical Detachment, Sixth Army 

0 360th Army Band. 

These units were generally stationed at the camp throughout the 

test series. They provided support services to the exercise 

troops, as described in chapter 2 (2-7; 98; 108). 

In addition to their duties at Camp Desert Rock, some 

support units entered the forward testing areas of Yucca Flat and 

Frenchman Flat to help prepare for specific Desert Rock 

activities, assist in operations during test events, and help 

ensure safe recovery operations following a nuclear detonation. 

The Desert Rock Radiological Safety Group and the Instructor 

Group were two of these elements. The tasks of the Radiological 

61 
Safety Group are discussed generally in chapter 2 and specifically in chapter 5 of this volume. 

The Instructor Group prepared and conducted orientation 

programs for observers and maneuver troops. Before shot-day, 

this group presented a basic orientation course on nuclear 

weapons effects, personal protection, and shot-day procedures. 

During the rehearsal of shot-day exercises, instructors took 

personnel on tours of the equipment display areas. On shot-day, 

participants arrived at the trenches about 90 minutes before the 

detonation. Instructors then began their orientation over the 

loudspeakers. After the shot, the instructors led maneuver 

troops and observers through the display area and discussed the 

effects of the detonation (101; 102; 108). 

Other support personnel entering the forward area were from 

the following units: 

0 Camp Desert Rock Signal Detachment 

0 Medical Detachment, Sixth Army 

l 23rd Transportation Truck Company 

0 31st Transportation Truck Company 

0 Company A, 505th Military Police Battalion 

0 Shore Battalion, 369th Engineer Amphibious Support Regiment. 

These units usually entered the forward area only when large 

numbers of exercise troops were present, as at Shots CHARLIE, 

DOG, FOX, and GEORGE (101-103; 108). 

The Camp Desert Rock Signal Detachment installed radio and 

wire communications systems, including a public address system, 

in each main trench area. On shot-day, participants operated two 

mobile public address systems consisting of trucks with loudspeakers. After the shot, they moved the system into the display 

area, where the Instructor Group used the loudspeakers to make 

presentations (101-103; 108). 

62 
Medical personnel present at Camp Desert Rock for Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER were from the Sixth Army. Operations orders 

specified that, during the events, a medical detachment would 

move to the forward area and establish an aid station in a 

parking area. In addition to these medical personnel, the Camp 

Desert Rock Surgeon was in the forward area on shot-day and 

remained at the forward command post throughout the exercise. 

The units that participated in the maneuvers sometimes provided 

their own medical support (101-103; 108). 

The 23rd Transportation Truck Company and the 31st Transportation Truck Company transported exercise troops from Camp 

Desert Rock to the trench area. They then moved the vehicles to 

a parking area farther to the rear. After the detonation and 

postshot activities, the vehicles were returned to the troop 

loading areas to transport the exercise troops back to Camp 

Desert Rock (101; 102; 108). 

Company A, 505th Military Police Battalion, controlled the 

movement of Exercise Desert Rock vehicles in the forward area. 

Some of the military police were posted at entrances to the shot 

area, while others accompanied the units moving from Camp Desert 

Rock to the trench area. After the exercise troops had been 

taken to the trench location, the military police went to the 

parking area. After the detonation, they returned to posts at 

the road junctions to direct traffic from the trench area along 

the return route to Camp Desert Rock (101; 102; 108). 

Another support element participating in the forward area 

was the 369th Engineer Amphibious Support Regiment. Members of 

this regiment customarily entered the forward area before a shot 

to construct trenches and equipment displays and after a shot to 

inspect and retrieve display items. Regiment personnel also 

participated as maneuver troops at Shot GEORGE (101; 102; 108). 

63 
Desert Rock IV Exercise Troops 

About 7,350 Department of Defense personnel participated in 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER as Desert Rock IV exercise troops. These 

exercise troops represented each of the armed services. Unlike 

the support troops, the exercise troops were stationed at Camp 

Desert Rock for short periods ranging from several days to about 

two weeks (108). 

Exercise Desert Rock IV consisted of two programs: 

0 Troop observation and indoctrination to 

acquaint military and civilian DOD personnel 

with the effects of nuclear detonations 

0 Tactical troop maneuvers to train participants 

in the use of nuclear weapons and to 

demonstrate the effects of nuclear detonations. 

Table 3-1 indicates the estimated number of DOD participants in 

each activity at each shot. 

The remainder of this chapter summarizes the Desert Rock IV 

programs as they were conducted during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. 

Detailed descriptions of specific projects performed at each test 

of the series are presented in the TUMBLER-SNAPPER multi-shot 

volumes. 

3.1 TROOP OBSERVER PROGRAM AT EXERCISE DESERT ROCK IV 

The purpose of the observer program was to familiarize 

members of the armed services with the characteristic effects of 

nuclear detonations. Participants witnessed a nuclear event in 

the forward area of the Nevada Proving Ground and toured a 

display of ordnance materiel and military equipment arrayed in 

the vicinity of ground zero before and after the nuclear 

detonation. 

64 
Table 3-l: EXERCISE DESERT ROCK IV, ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 

AT OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER, BY PROGRAM 

Lu K g 

2 

2 

3 i 

9 5; x 

s 

Program Participating Service 

B 

m 0 2 9 : I 

Observers Army 0 0 300 0 0 950 509 0 

Army (Camp Desert Rock) 15 10 * )c 1,000 * * 0 

Navy 0 0 0 3007 0 0 0 0 

USMC 0 0 0 507 0 0 0 0 

Air Force 0 0 235 0 0 0 0 0 

Unknown 0 0 0 0 0 500”” 0 0 

Tactical Army 0 0 1,300 0 0 0 0 0 

Troop 

Maneuvers Army (Camp Desert Rock) 0 0 * 0 0 0 1,300 0 

USMC 0 0 0 1.950 0 0 0 0 

Air Force 0 0 375 0 0 0 0 0 

Navy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

+ Unknown 

t A combined total of 350 Marine Corps and Navy personnel has been documented; the breakdown by individual 

service is an estimate. 

** 

These observers were from the continental armies and service schools. 
A formal troop observer program was conducted at four of the 

eight TUMBLER-SNAPPER tests: Shots CHARLIE, DOG, FOX, and 

GEORGE. A few members of the Exercise Director's staff observed 

Shots ABLE and BAKER. The observers at Shot EASY were support 

personnel assigned to Camp Desert Rock. 

The observer activities involved two groups, official 

observers and Camp Desert Rock observers. Official observers 

were usually military personnel selected from all services and 

from military bases throughout the United States. These personnel participated solely as observers and received the routine 

preshot briefings and orientation presented by the Camp Desert 

Rock staff. Most of the Camp Desert Rock observers were assigned 

to Desert Rock support units. They went to the forward area 

either to see a shot or to support the exercises. The size of 

this group of observers at any nuclear event varied with the 

participation of other observers and with troop maneuver 

activities. Some Camp Desert Rock support troops may have 

observed more than one nuclear test (18; 101-103; 108). 

Throughout Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, observer activities 

were similar from one shot to the next. The armed services were 

invited to send observers to the nuclear tests. Each service was 

informed of the dates when observers should report for the shot, 

as well as the records and equipment they should bring to Camp 

Desert Rock. After arrival at Camp Desert Rock, both official 

and Camp Desert Rock observers participated in a standard set of 

activities, beginning with preshot classroom instruction 

conducted by the Instructor Group. Topics included basic nuclear 

theory, the characteristics and effects of nuclear weapons, 

protective measures to take during a nuclear attack, the medical 

effects of radiation, results of past exercises, and a plan of 

operations for the upcoming shot. The preshot orientation 

lectures were given over a period of several days. For those 

observers unable to arrive at Camp Desert Rock in time for this 

66 
instruction, a one-hour orientation was conducted the evening 

before the shot (101-103; 108). 

In addition to the preshot classroom instruction, the 

Instructor Group conducted a rehearsal of shot-day activities. 

This rehearsal involved a visit to the trenches that the 

observers would occupy on shot-day, a practice of'the countdown 

and activities scheduled for the detonation, and a tour of the 

display area. In some instances, the observers toured the 

display area of a previous nuclear test to see the postshot 

effects. Figure 3-l shows the TUMBLER-SNAPPER trench and 

equipment display areas (101; 102; 108; 138). 

About 90 minutes before the scheduled shot, observers 

arrived at the trench area by truck or bus convoy. The two 

observer groups were generally kept together and occupied the 

same trenches. In the trench area, observers were told what to 

expect and were briefed on safety procedures. They then entered 

the trenches, where they crouched for the final countdown and the 

shot (101; 102; 108). Figure 3-2 shows observers filing into the 

trenches before the detonation of CHARLIE, on 22 April 1952 (9). 

After the shot, the Desert Rock Control Group escorted the 

observers on a tour of the equipment display area to examine the 

effects of the detonation on equipment, fortifications, and shelters. Upon completing their tour, the observers returned to Camp 

Desert Rock by convoy (61; 101; 102; 108). 

3.2 TACTICAL TROOP MANEUVERS PROGRAM AT EXERCISE DESERT ROCK IV 

The troop maneuvers program at Exercise Desert Rock IV was 

designed to train participants in the tactical use of nuclear 

weapons and to teach participants about the effects of nuclear 

weapons on equipment, fortifications, and shelters. An important 

aspect of the program was to determine whether standard ground 

tactical movements could be employed under the radiological 

conditions resulting from the use of nuclear weapons. 

67 
AREA 2 

,f \ \SHOTCHARLlE 

Z” EOUlPMENT DISPLAY 

//AREAS SHOTS CHARLIt 

AREA 1 

0 

I 

2 4 

1 I 

Kilometers 

DOG 

AREA 3 

SHOT GEORGE 

EQUIPMENT DISPLAY 

SHOTGEORGE 

TRENCH AREA 

SHOTGEORGE 

YUCCA LAKE 

Figure 3-1: EXERCISE DESERT ROCK IV TRENCH AND DISPLAY AREAS, 

NEVADA PROVING GROUND, OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

68 

The troop maneuvers were conducted according to the 

following scenario. An aggressor with overwhelming forces had 

invaded the western United States, pushing friendly forces into 

retreat. The aggressor then established a line of strong defensive positions that resisted breakthrough by friendly forces. In 

order to gain the offensive and penetrate enemy lines, friendly 

forces planned a counterattack with nuclear weapons. A series of 

nuclear shots would be directed behind enemy lines in preparation 

for the attack. The actual nuclear detonation was to represent 

one of these shots, and the maneuver troops represented one 

element of the attacking friendly forces (58; 106; 108). 

Units from the Army, the Marine Corps, and the Air Force 

traveled to the NPG specifically to participate in the maneuvers. 

At Camp Desert Rock, members of the military units were organized 

into composite Battalion Combat Teams (BCTs). BCT activities 

involved three phases: 

l Observation of the nuclear blast 

0 Conduct of the tactical maneuver 

0 Tour of the display area. 

Several hours before the shot, the BCTs traveled to the 

forward area by truck and bus convoy with participants in the 

troop observer program. After the preshot orientation, they 

entered trenches and foxholes, located as close as 6,400 meters 

to ground zero, to watch the detonation (101; 102; 108). 

Following the detonation, the BCTs left the trenches to 

attack the exercise objective. Figure 3-3 shows maneuver troops 

leaving the trench area and beginning their advance. Radiological survey teams preceded the troops to determine the limits of 

safe advance. Radiological safety monitors also accompanied the 

troops as they moved toward their objective. After reaching 

their objective, or approaching as close as radiological safety 

standards would permit, the maneuver troops toured the equipment 

70 

display area under the direction of the Desert Rock Instructor 

Group. They then boarded trucks and returned to Camp Desert Rock 

(101-103; 108). 

Associated with the troop maneuvers at TUMBLER-SNAPPER was a 

study of the psychological reactions of troops participating in 

the maneuvers. The Human Resources Research Office (HumRRO), a 

civilian agency under contract to the Department of the Army, and 

the Operations Research Office (ORO) performed the study at Shots 

CHARLIE, FOX, and GEORGE. A similar study had been performed 

during Desert Rock I at Operation BUSTER-JANGLE in 1951. The 

agencies were particularly interested in observing troop behavior 

in the trench area immediately before and after the detonation 

and measuring the changes in troop attitudes about nuclear weapons before and after participation in the indoctrination exercises and the Desert Rock maneuvers. The data collected by 

HumRRO and OR0 assisted the Army in determining the expected 

performances of troops involved in nuclear warfare (44; 61; 

101-103; 108; 110; 162). 

72 
CHAPTER 4 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PARTICIPATION IN 

JOINT AEC-DOD ORGANIZATION PROGRAMS AT OPERATION 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

During Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, the joint AEC-DOD organization coordinated separate programs of scientific research, 

including scientific and diagnostic tests of the nuclear devices 

and tests of military effects of the nuclear detonations. Air 

support, also coordinated by the joint organization, was provided 

to these programs as needed. In most cases, the individual 

projects conducted under each program required relatively few 

personnel. Only about 750 of the DOD participants in TUMBLERSNAPPER were part of the joint organization. Although their 

numbers were small compared to the number of Desert Rock 

personnel, the joint organization participants often repeated 

their tasks throughout the entire operation. The Desert Rock IV 

exercise troops, on the other hand, usually participated in only 

one or two nuclear test events. 

This chapter describes the joint AEC-DOD activities, 

beginning with the scientific and diagnostic experiments conducted by two test groups: 

0 AFSWP Test Command Military Effects Test Group 

0 Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Weapons Development Test Group. 

Composed of scientists and technicians from various military and 

civilian laboratories, support contractors, and the armed services, the test groups developed and conducted field experiments 

to gather data before, during, and after the nuclear detonations. 

Of the two test groups at Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, the 

Military Effects Test Group involved more DOD participants. A 

73 
part of the Department of Defense, this test group was from Test 

Command, Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, in Albuquerque, 

New Mexico. The group consisted of personnel from the Army, 

Navy, and Air Force. The mission of the Military Effects Test 

Group was to measure weapons effects characteristics. The 

findings were used to improve the U.S. nuclear arsenal and expand 

the techniques and strategies for using that arsenal. During 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, the Military Effects Test Group 

sponsored eight programs that included 44 separate projects (8; 

119; 133; 138; 148). 

The Weapons Development Test Group, from the Los Alamos 

Scientific Laboratory, performed diagnostic tests to characterize 

the phenomena produced by nuclear devices. The data from these 

experiments were used to improve nuclear devices, to develop new 

types of devices, and to test weapons before they entered the 

nuclear stockpile (8; 119; 133; 134; 138; 148). 

Throughout Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, numbers were used to 

identify the sponsors of the technical programs and experiments 

performed by the test groups (8; 134; 138): 

0 Programs 1 through 9 were conducted by the 

Military Effects Test Group 

0 Programs 10 through 20 were conducted by the 

Weapons Development Test Group. 

The final section of this chapter describes the air support 

and services provided by the Air Force Special Weapons Center. 

Based at Kirtland AFB, AFSWC supported the Test Manager and the 

test groups by supplying crews and aircraft for airdrop delivery 

missions, cloud-sampling and cloud-tracking missions, aerial 

surveys of the terrain, and other air missions as requested. The 

Air Operations Center, located at the AEC Control Point in Yucca 

Pass, exercised operational control over all aircraft flying over 

and near the Nevada Proving Ground (8; 10; 17; 82; 88). 

74 
4.1 MILITARY EFFECTS TEST GROUP PROGRAMS 

The AFSWP Military Effects Test Group was responsible for 

conducting the weapons effects experiments for each detonation. 

Data from these experiments were used to provide a better 

understanding of the effects of nuclear weapons for both 

offensive and defensive military uses (8; 119; 134; 138; 148). 

As figure 4-1 indicates, the Military Effects Test Group 

conducted eight programs during TUMBLER-SNAPPER (138). The 

Director of the Military Effects Test Group coordinated program 

activities. Each program was managed by a program director, who 

was responsible to the Director of the Military Effects Test 

Group. The programs were divided into several projects, each 

headed by a project officer (134; 138). 

The Military Effects Test Group experiments were designed to 

attain the following DOD objectives (134; 138; 148): 

0 To develop the vehicles for deploying the 

nuclear devices 

0 To design military equipment able to withstand 

the effects of a nuclear detonation 

0 TO develop procedures for the use of nuclear 

weapons 

0 To determine the military requirements for 

future nuclear weapons designs. 

The Military Effects Test Group experiments were divided 

into three categories (138; 148): 

0 Basic measurements of the output characteristics of 

nuclear devices, such as blast, thermal, and radiation 

measurements 

0 Tests to determine blast, thermal, and radiation effects 

on experimental animals, structures, equipment, and 

material 

l Operational tests to develop and evaluate techniques and 

equipment unique to nuclear warfare. 

75 
DIRECTOR 

MILITARY EFFECTS TEST GROUP 

ASSISTANT DIRECTORS 

MILITARY EFFECTS TEST GROUP 

r I 

I DIRECTOR I I I 

DIRECTOR 

Program 7 

Long-range Detection x Project 7.1 a 

Programs 2. 6 and 9 

Nuclear Measurements-2 

Tests of Equipment-6 

Support Measurements-9 

I 

DIRECTOR 

Program 1 

Blast Measurements 

DIRECTOR 

Program 3 

Structures 

DIRECTOR 

Program 8 

Thermal Measurements 

I I 

I 

I J 

I 

[ Project 1.1 1 I Project 2.1 I I -, I Project 8.1 

I Project 1.2 

I 

I 

I 

Project 1.3 

I 

4-l I 

I 

I Project 2.3 

t I 

1 

I 

I Project 3.4 I I 

I Project 7.3 

I 

I 

I 

I 

t 4 

cl? 

Project 1.4 I I 

I Project 6.3 I 

[ Proje: 4.5 1 I 

I Project 8.4 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I Project 1.5 I 1 Project 4.6 1 

I Project 1.6 I I Project 6.4 I [ Proje; 8.5 -1 

I Project 8.6 1 

I Project 6.7 

t I I 

I 

I Project 8.7 

I 

I Project 1.9 I I Project 9.1 I 

1 Project 9.5 1 

Figure 4-1: MILITARY EFFECTS TEST GROUP ORGANIZATION 
Programs sponsored by the test group during TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

were: 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Program 1, Blast Measurements 

Program 2, Nuclear Measurements and Effects 

Program 3, Structures 

Program 4, Biomedical 

Program 6, Test of Equipment and Operations 

Program 7, Long Range Detection 

Program 8, Thermal Measurements and Effects 

Program 9, Supporting Measurements. 

Program 5, which was to have involved Desert Rock technical 

experiments, was canceled before TUMBLER-SNAPPER began (119; 134; 

138; 148). 

Various military and civilian DOD laboratories and contractors fielded projects under these eight programs. Table 4-l 

lists the programs and projects conducted at each shot. This 

table is an index to project descriptions in this chapter and in 

the TUMBLER-SNAPPER multi-shot volumes. In estimating the number 

of DOD personnel involved, it was assumed that the same personnel 

participated at each shot of the series and that the same 

personnel performed both preshot and postshot activities. 

This section describes the projects' objectives and general 

procedures. The multi-shot volumes contain more detailed 

information regarding the number of personnel involved at each 

shot, their distances from ground zero, and their activities at a 

particular shot. 

4.1.1 Program 1: Blast Measurements 

Program 1, Blast Measurements, was designed to measure and 

analyze in detail the blast wave phenomena associated with 

77 
Table 4-l: MILITARY EFFECTS TEST GROUP PROGRAMS 

INDICATING PARTICIPATION BY SHOT 

Program 

Program 1. 

Blast Measurements 

Y 

z 

1.2 

1.3 

1.4 

1.5 

1.6 

1.7 

1.9 

Y 

3 E e? 

3 2 x 3 

Estimated 

DOD 

3 w G P Personnel 

1.1 1.1 66 

1.2 1.2 1.2 13 

1.3 1.3 1.3 7 

1.4 1.4 1.4 3 

1.5 1.5 1.5 8 

1.6 1.6 1.6 4 

1.7 1.7 1.7 13 

1.9 1.9 1.9 3 

1.13 1.13 1.13 14 

Program 2, 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 5 

Nuclear Measurements 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 * 

and Effects 2.3 2.3 2.3 4 

Program 3, 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 66 

Structures 3.3 3.3 3.3 15 

3.4 3.4 3.4 14 

Program 4, 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.2 6 

Biomedical 4.3 4.3 4.3 19 

4.4 4.4 4.4 4.4 7 

4.5 4.5 27 

4.6 4.6 9 

Program 5, 

Desert Rock 

t t t t 

Program 6, 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 16 

Test of Equipment 6.3 6.3 6.3 * 

and Operations 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 * 

6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 5 

6.7 6.7 6.7 * 

Program 7, 

Long Range 

Detection 7.2 

7.3 

7.lb 

7.2 

7.3 

7.4 

7.la 7.la 7.la 7.1 a 7.la 7.la * 

7.lb 7.1 b 7.lb 7.1 b 7.lb 7.lb 48 

7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 * 

7.3 7.3 7.3 7.3 7.3 7.3 125 

7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 4 

Program 8, 

Thermal Measurements 

and Effects 

8.2 

8.3 

8.6 

8.2 

8.3 

8.4 

8.6 

8.1 

8.2 

8.3 

8.3a 

8.4 

8.5 

8.6 

8.1 7 

8.2 18 

8.3 20 

* 

8.4 7 

8.5 11 

8.6 18 

8.7 8.7 8.7 * 

Program 9, 9.1 9.1 9.1 9.1 9.1 9.1 9.1 9.1 * 

Supporting 9.2 9.2 9.2 9.2 9.2 9.2 9.2 9.2 64 

Measurements 9.4 9.4 9.4 9.4 9.4 9.4 9.4 9.4 * 

9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 * 

*Unknown 

tPlans for scientific experiments were canceled. Only troop training activities were conducted, as discussed in chapter 3 of this volume. 

78 
airburst nuclear devices. The program, which was the essential 

part of the TUMBLER phase of the test series, consisted of the 11 

projects listed in table 4-2. Of these experiments, only 

Projects 1.1, 1.4, and 1.8 were part of the SNAPPER phase. The 

blast data obtained from Program 1 were used to interpret test 

results from the SNAPPER experiments (20; 138; 148). 

Project 1.1, Measurement of Free-air Atomic Blast Pressures, 

was conducted at Shots EASY and HOW by the Air Force Cambridge 

Research Center and the Rome Air Development Center. The 

objective was to measure the pressures produced by a nuclear 

detonation over a wide range of altitudes and distances. This 

project was a continuation of similar experiments conducted 

during Operation BUSTER-JANGLE to field-test theoretical 

calculations. 

Guided by radar, two B-29 aircraft from the Rome Air Development Center each dropped eight parachute-borne canisters carrying instruments that measured altitude and pressure. On the 

ground, a tracking system monitored the location of'the canisters, and a telemetry station recorded data from the instruments. 

Data gained from the project showed that theoretical calculations 

gave a fairly accurate indication of free-air blast pressures 

(82; 94; 134; 138; 148; 152). 

Project 1.2, Air Pressure versus Time, was conducted by the 

Stanford Research Institute at Shots ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, and 

DOG. The objective was to collect data on the airblast produced 

by airdropped nuclear devices. Measurements were taken to 

determine the optimum burst height for producing a maximum area 

of pressure at ground level. The experiment was an attempt to 

resolve differences in predicted and observed ground-level 

pressures found during Operation BUSTER-JANGLE. The results from 

the project at TUMBLER-SNAPPER were consistent enough to enable 

preparation of a chart showing height of burst versus pressure. 

79 
Table 4-2: MILITARY EFFECTS TEST GROUP PROJECTS OF PROGRAM 1 

CONDUCTED DURING OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Project Title Objective Shots Participants 

1.1 Measurement of Free-air 

Atomic Blast Pressures 

To measure pressures 

produced by nuclear 

detonations over various 

altitudes and distances 

EASY, HOW Air Force Cambridge 

Research Center; Rome 

Air Development Center 

1.2 Air Pressure versus Time To determine the optimum 

burst height for producing 

a maximum pressure area 

at ground level 

ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, 

DOG 

Stanford Research Institute 

1.3 and Free-air and Ground-level To measure pressures ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, Naval Ordnance Laboratory 

1.5 Pressure Measurements produced by nuclear DOG 

detonations at ground 

level and in free air 

1.4 Air Blast Measurements To determine the shape 

and peak pressure of 

the shock wave generated 

near the ground from a 

nuclear detonation high 

in the air; to determine 

blast arrival time using 

radiotelemetric systems 

ABLE, BAKER, DOG, FOX Ballistic Research 

Laboratories 

1.6 Ground Acceleration 

Measurements 

To measure ground shock 

resulting from a nuclear 

detonation by use of 

gauges and other 

instruments 

ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, 

DOG 

Ballistic Research 

Laboratories 

1.7 Earth Acceleration versus 

Time 

To measure the proportion 

of blast energy absorbed 

from the air by the earth 

ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, 

DOG 

Stanford Research Institute 

1.8 Geological Survey of the 

AEC Area, Nye County, 

Nevada 

To study the geologic and None AFSWP; Coast and 

topographic features of Geodetic Survey 

the Nevada Proving Ground 

1.9 Pre-shock Dust To determine the concentration and size distribution 

of the pre-shock dust 

generated before arrival 

of the shock wave by 

thermal radiation resulting 

from a nuclear detonation 

ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, 

DOG 

Army Chemical Center 

1.10 Pressure-distance Height 

Study of 2%pound TNT 

Spheres 

To obtain data on the 

variation of pressure with 

height of burst using 26@ 

pound spherical TNT 

charges 

None Sandia Corporation 

1.?3 Measurement of Air Blast 

Pressure versus Time 

To provide blast pressure BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG David Taylor Model Basin 

data for Program 3 agencies, 

especially those in Project 

3.1, Vulnerability of Parked 

Aircraft to Atomic Bombs 
Data from this chart were used in preparing Technical Manual 

(TM)23-200, Capabilities of Atomic Weapons, issued in October 

1952. The Army used this manual as a source of information about 

nuclear weapons effects (134; 145). 

Projects 1.3 and 1.5, Free-air and Ground-level Pressure 

Measurements, were conducted as one project by the Naval Ordnance 

Laboratory at Shots ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG. The projects, 

continuations of similar studies at Operations SANDSTONE, 

GREENHOUSE, and BUSTER-JANGLE, were designed to measure pressures 

produced by nuclear detonations at ground level and in free air. 

Project 1.3 personnel used pressure gauges positioned around 

ground zero to take measurements, while Project 1.5 participants 

measured pressures in free air by photographing smoke rocket 

trails (35; 134). 

Project 1.4, Air Blast Measurements, was conducted at Shots 

ABLE, BAKER, DOG, and FOX by the Ballistic Research Laboratories. 

The objective at ABLE, BAKER, and DOG was to determine the shape 

and peak pressure of the shock wave generated near the ground 

from a nuclear device detonated high in the air. The objective 

at FOX was to use radiotelemetric systems as a means of determining blast arrival time (40; 134). 

Project 1.6, Ground Acceleration Measurements, was performed 

at Shots ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG by the Ballistic Research 

Laboratories. The objective was to obtain ground acceleration 

measurements for the four TUMBLER-SNAPPER airbursts. The experiment was a continuation of a similar project performed at Operations BUSTER-JANGLE and GREENHOUSE, which used gauges and other 

instruments to measure ground shock resulting from a nuclear 

detonation. Figure 4-2 shows Project 1.6 personnel in postshot 

recovery operations (9; 85; 134). 

81 

Project 1.7, Earth Acceleration versus Time, was conducted 

by the Stanford Research Institute at Shots ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, 

and DOG. The objective was to measure the proportion of blast 

energy absorbed from the air by the earth. Analysis of data 

gathered with earth accelerometers and pressure gauges indicated 

that, for airbursts over surfaces similar to the test site, earth 

absorption of air blast energy is negligible (134; 146). 

Project 1.8, Geological Survey of the Atomic Energy Commission Area, Nye County, Nevada, was conducted during Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER by AFSWP and the Coast and Geodetic Survey. The 

objective was to study the geology and topography of the Nevada 

Proving Ground. Data obtained from the project were to be used 

in determining the effects of geological structure on the 

propagation of the blast wave. 

Project personnel conducted limited field work on this survey in the fall of 1951, during Operation BUSTER-JANGLE. In 

February 1952, AFSWP began detailed geologic field mapping and 

continued this activity through Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, until 

mid-August 1952. To provide an accurate geologic picture of 

Yucca Flat and Frenchman Flat, project personnel studied the 

general composition of the valley, the configuration of the valley floor, and the faults and temperatures of the valley at different depths. In addition, they took aerial photographs of the 

test area (111). 

Project 1.9, Pre-shock Dust, was conducted at Shots ABLE, 

BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG by the Chemical and Radiological Laboratories of the Army Chemical Center. The objective was to determine the concentration and the size distribution of the dust 

generated before the arrival of the shock wave by thermal 

radiation resulting from a nuclear detonation. Instruments, 

including cascade impactors and filter samplers, were used to 

collect dust particles generated during the brief interval 

83 
between the detonation and the arrival of the blast wave. AFSWC 

transported dust samples to the Army Chemical Center for 

analysis, as described in section 4.3 of this chapter (46; 134). 

Project 1.10, Pressure-distance Height Study of 250-pound 

TNT Spheres, was conducted by the Sandia Corporation before and 

after Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. The objective was to obtain 

data on the variation of pressure with height of burst using 250- 

pound spherical TNT charges. Data from the detonations preceding 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER were used to predict the pressures that would 

result from Shots ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG. Some of the TNT 

detonations conducted before the series were onsite, but all 

detonations after TUMBLER-SNAPPER were in Coyote Canyon, New 

Mexico (149). 

Project 1.13, Measurement of Air Blast Pressure versus Time, 

was conducted at Shots BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG. The experiment 

was conducted by personnel from the David Taylor Model Basin. c 

The project was designed to provide blast pressure data for 

Program 3, particularly Project 3.1, Vulnerability of Parked 

Aircraft to Atomic Bombs, discussed in section 4.1.3 of this 

chapter. Measurements were to be correlated with damage to 

aircraft parked at various distances from ground zero. The David 

Taylor Model Basin consulted with Project 3.1 personnel regar-ding 

their requirements for the location of pressure gauges in the 

areas of the parked aircraft (67; 134; 147). 

4.1.2 Program 2: Nuclear Measurements and Effects 

Program 2, Nuclear Measurements and Effects, was designed to 

characterize gamma and neutron radiation from a nuclear detonation. Table 4-3 lists the Program 2 projects conducted during 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, including the shots at which the 

project was performed and the participating organizations (138). 

84 
Table 4-3: MILITARY EFFECTS TEST GROUP PROJECTS OF PROGRAM 2 

CONDUCTED DURING OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Project 

2.1 

Title 

Total Gamma Exposure 

versus Distance 

Objective 

To measure gamma radiation exposure as a 

function of distance 

All 

Shots Participating Agency 

Signal Corps Engineering 

Laboratories 

2.2 Gamma Ray Energy 

Spectrum of Residual 

Contamination 

To determine relative 

dosage contribution of 

various gamma-radiation 

energies in contaminated 

areas after a nuclear 

detonation 

EASY, FOX, GEORGE, Signal Corps Engineering 

HOW Laboratories 

2.3 Neutron Flux and Energy 

Measurements 

To measure neutron flux 

and to evaluate neutron 

dosimetry techniques 

CHARLIE, DOG, HOW Naval Research Laboratory 

Project 2.1, Total Gamma Exposure versus Distance, was performed at all shots in the series by the Signal Corps Engineering 

Laboratories. The objective was to measure gamma radiation 

exposure as a function of distance along a radial line from the 

point of detonation. Project personnel placed National Bureau of 

Standards film packets up to 1,000 meters from ground zero for 

the low-yield shots, ABLE and BAKER, and up to 2,750 meters from 

the point of detonation for the other shots, which had higher 

yields. Project personnel also made additional exposure measurements for Projects 1.13, 3.1, and 6.1; the Office, Chief of Army 

Field Forces; and the Marine Corps (116; 134). 

Project 2.2, Gamma Ray Energy Spectrum of Residual Contamination, was conducted at Shots EASY, FOX, GEORGE, and HOW by the 

Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories. The objective was to 

determine the relative dose contribution of various gamma 

*radiation energies in radiation areas following a nuclear 

detonation. To perform this experiment, project personnel used 

radiation survey meters modified to shield portions of the gamma 

ray energy spectrum. The information gained was of military 

85 
importance for determining the radiation dose rates in test areas 

and for designing survey instruments. 

Before each shot, project personnel calibrated five 

AN/PDR-TlB radiac instruments. After the Test Manager announced 

recovery hour, participants placed the instruments on wooden 

tripods facing ground zero in the shot area. After taking readings with the instruments, they moved the equipment to other 

locations in the radiation field to determine any dependence of 

the gamma ray spectrum on distance from the point of detonation. 

At the conclusion of the field work, participants dismantled 

equipment and returned to Camp Mercury to analyze data. They 

took measurements in the shot area again on the first and second 

days after the detonation (134; 159). 

Project 2.3, Neutron Flux and Energy Measurements, was performed at Shots CHARLIE, DOG, and HOW by the Naval Research Laboratory. The project was designed to measure neutron flux and to 

evaluate neutron dosimetry techniques. Before each shot, project 

personnel placed gold, sulphur, and tantalum neutron detectors 

180 to 1,830 meters from the intended ground zero. After the 

detectors were recovered, they were sent to laboratories for 

analysis (92; 134). 

4.1.3 Program 3: Structures 

Program 3, Structures, investigated blast effects on such 

objects as aircraft, land mines, and trees. Table 4-4 lists the 

projects conducted under Program 3 during Operation TUMBLERSNAPPER and states the purpose of each project, the shots at 

which the project was conducted, and the fielding agency (138). 

Project 3.1, Vulnerability of Parked Aircraft to Atomic 

Bombs, was performed at Shots ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG by 

the Wright Air Development Center of Dayton, Ohio, and by 

86 
personnel from LASL and the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory. The objective was to determine the effects of an airburst 

nuclear detonation on parked aircraft. The experiment was coordinated with Project 1.13, which provided airblast pressure data 

to project personnel (147). 

Table 4-4: MILITARY EFFECTS TEST GROUP PROJECTS OF PROGRAM 3 

CONDUCTED DURING OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Project Title Objective Shots Participants 

3.1 Vulnerability of Parked To determine the effects ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, Wright Air Development 

Aircraft to Atomic Bombs of an airburst nuclear DOG Center; LASL; 

detonation on aircraft Naval Radiological 

parked in the surrounding Defense Laboratory 

area 

3.3 Blast Damage to Trees - 

Isolated Conifers 

To predict the effects 

of a nuclear blast on 

isolated coniferous trees 

BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG Forest Service, 

Department of Agrtculture 

3.4 Minefield Clearance To evaluate the practicality 

of using nuclear weapons 

to clear minefields 

BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG Engineer Research 

and Development 

Laboratories 

Participants at Shot ABLE tested only the photographic 

equipment to be used for the project at BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG. 

Twenty-eight aircraft, including 16 F-47s, seven B-17s, two 

F-86s, one F-90, one B-45, and one B-29, were positioned at various ranges from ground zero at Shots BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG. To 

compare the protection afforded aircraft by various defense 

structures, some of the aircraft were placed in revetments and 

behind walls, while others were in the open. The aircraft were 

instrumented to measure thermal, blast, and radiation effects 

(134; 147). 

Project 3.3, Blast Damage to Trees--Isolated Conifers, was 

conducted at Shots BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG by the Forest Service, 

Department of Agriculture. The project was part of a research 

program aimed at predicting the effects of a nuclear blast on 

87 
forests. This experiment was designed to measure motion and 

strain on isolated trees subjected to a nuclear detonation. 

Before each shot, project personnel placed four trees and 

instruments to measure strain at each of four stations on the 

Forest Service Line in Area 7. Figure 4-3 shows participants 

positioning the trees. The stations were 1,520 to 6,100 meters 

from ground zero. The trees, approximately 50 feet high, were 

anchored in concrete. 

After the shot, participants studied physical characteristics 

of the broken trees, such as the weight and moisture content Of 

foliage and branchwood. Personnel from the Army Pictorial 

Service Division took motion pictures of the trees (50; 134). 

Project 3.4, Minefield Clearance, was performed at Shots 

BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG by the Engineer Research and Development 

Laboratories. The-project, a study of the detonation of land 

mines by a nuclear blast, was a continuation of similar 

experiments conducted at Operation BUSTER-JANGLE to evaluate the 

practicality of using nuclear weapons to clear minefields. 

Before Shot BAKER, project personnel laid a minefield with 

live fuses in Area 7. The minefield, which was 15 meters wide, 

extended approximately 90 to 1,830 meters from ground zero. 

Project personnel began recovery within 24 hours after each shot. 

In the process, they: 

0 Uncovered mines 

0 Removed pressure plates from mines 

l Removed and replaced fuses 

0 Inspected and, if necessary, replaced damaged plates 

l Reset plates and replaced dirt around the mines. 

They then transported the damaged pressure plates and fuses to 

Camp Mercury for analysis (134; 143). 

88 

4.1.4 Program 4: Biomedical 

Program 4, Biomedical, consisted of five projects designed 

to characterize the biological effects of the blast, heat, and 

radiation resulting from a nuclear detonation. Table 4-5 

presents information on these five projects (138). 

Table 4-5: MILITARY EFFECTS TEST GROUP PROJECTS OF PROGRAM 4 

CONDUCTED DURING OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Project Title Objective Shots Participants 

4.2 Biomedical Exposure 

Equipment 

To evaluate equipment 

designed to measure blast, 

thermal, and radiation 

effects 

CHARLIE, DOG, EASY, 

HOW 

Naval Medical Research 

Institute 

4.3 Biological Effectiveness 

of Neutron Radiation from 

Nuclear Weapons 

To study the biological 

effects of neutron radiation 

on mice 

CHARLIE, DOG, HOW Naval Aadiologtcal Defense 

Laboratory 

4.4 Gamma Depth Dose 

Measurement in Unit 

Density Material 

To improve techniques 

used to evaluate biological 

effects of radiation on 

living tissue, particularly 

the human body 

CHARLIE, DOG, EASY, 

HOW 

Naval Medical Research 

Institute 

4.5 Flash Blindness To determine to what degree CHARLIE, DOG Air Force School of Aviation 

the flash of a nuclear Medicine; Air Training 

detonation impairs night Command; Brooke Army 

vision Medical Center; Strategic 

Air Command 

4.6 Time Course of Thermal 

Radiation as Measured by 

Burns in Pigs 

To study the production 

of skin burns in pigs 

CHARLIE, DOG Naval Medical Research 

Institute; University of 

Rochester Atomic Energy 

Project 

Project 4.2, Biomedical Exposure Equipment, was conducted at 

Shots CHARLIE, DOG, EASY, and HOW by the Naval Medical Research 

Institute. The project evaluated equipment designed to measure 

blast, thermal, and radiation effects. To measure exposure to 

direct airblast, project personnel constructed wood models of 

dogs, which they instrumented with accelerometers and placed in 

containers fitted with pressure recorders. Blast pressures were 

then correlated with movement. For thermal effects, project 

90 
personnel modified and instrumented exposure containers used 

during Operation GREENHOUSE. Swine were exposed in these 

containers, and the intensity of thermal radiation was correlated 

with the burns produced. To measure nuclear radiation effects, 

project personnel used film and glass dosimeters to measure 

variations in gamma exposure at different locations within 

multiple-compartment mouse cages (79; 134). 

Project 4.3, Biological Effectiveness of Neutron Radiation 

from Nuclear Weapons, was conducted at Shots CHARLIE, DOG, and 

HOW by the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory. The project 

was originally scheduled for Shots DOG, HOW, and the ninth 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER detonation. When it was decided that the series 

would not include the ninth test, the project was scheduled for 

CHARLIE, along with the other two shots. The objective was to 

study the biological effects of neutron radiation on mice. 

Before each shot, project participants placed approximately 

30 mice in cages at several field stations. The stations, 

shielded with lead, bismuth, or aluminum, were located at various 

distances from ground zero. Approximately three hours after each 

shot, project personnel retrieved the mice, which were taken to 

laboratories for pathological analysis (56; 134). 

Project 4.4, Gamma Depth Dose Measurement in Unit Density 

Material, was performed at Shots CHARLIE, DOG, EASY, and HOW by 

the Naval Medical Research Institute. The experiment, which had 

been performed at Operations GREENHOUSE and BUSTER-JANGLE, was 

designed to improve techniques used to evaluate biological 

effects of radiation on living tissue, particularly the human 

body. Project personnel conducted their experiment with 

lucite spheres approximating the density of human tissue. 

To measure gamma doses, project participants placed dosimeters inside each sphere. Before each detonation, they placed 

91 
spheres approximately 1,000 to 1,740 meters from ground zero. 

After the declaration of recovery hour, they spent about one hour 

retrieving the spheres (57; 134). 

Project 4.5, Flash Blindness, was conducted at Shots CHARLIE 

and DOG by the Air Force School of Aviation Medicine. Participating in the project were personnel from the Air Training 

Command, SAC, and the Brooke Army Medical Center. The objective 

was to determine to what degree the flash of a nuclear detonation 

impairs the night vision of personnel. The protection afforded 

by the use of high-density goggles was also evaluated. 

The test subjects witnessed the detonation from a darkened 

trailer about 16 kilometers from the point of detonation, near 

the Control Point. Twelve portholes along the side of the 

trailer were fitted with shutters to expose the eyes of the 

subjects to the nuclear flash. During the exposure, half wore 

protective goggles, while the other half did not. Following the 

exposure, the subjects were required to read lighted instruments 

to determine how soon they could perform visual tasks (54; 59; 

134; 157). 

Project 4.6, Time Course of Thermal Radiation as Measured by 

Burns in Pigs, was conducted at Shots CHARLIE and DOG by the 

Naval Medical Research Institute and the University of Rochester 

Atomic Energy Project. The Naval Medical Research Institute 

provided test equipment, while the Atomic Energy Project supplied 

the animals and conducted the biological experiments. The 

project was designed to study the production of skin burns in 

pigs. 

On the day before each detonation, project personnel weighed 

the pigs and inspected their skins. From six to three hours 

before the detonation, personnel transported the pigs to 

92 
stations, anesthetized them, and placed them in containers. 

Personnel then left the area. About two hours after the detonation, participants recovered the animals and transported them to 

a laboratory for evaluation of their burns (113; 134). 

4.1.5 Program 5: Desert Rock 

The Armed Forces Special Weapons Project originally scheduled Program 5, Desert Rock, for scientific experiments to be 

conducted in conjunction with Exercise Desert Rock IV. Plans for 

the scientific experiments were later canceled, but troop 

training activities were conducted at Shots CHARLIE, DOG, FOX, 

and GEORGE (138). These activities are discussed in chapter 3 of 

this volume. 

4.1.6 Program 6: Test of Equipment and Operations 

Program 6, TeGt of Equipment and Operations, tested procedures and equipment for potential use in nuclear war'fare. The 

program evaluated: 

0 Military radiological equipment 

0 Decontamination procedures 

0 Indirect Bomb Damage Assessment (IBDA) 

techniques. 

The five projects conducted as part of Program 6 are listed in 

table 4-6 (138). 

93 
Table 4-6: MILITARY EFFECTS TEST GROUP PROJECTS OF PROGRAM 6 

CONDUCTED DURING OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Project Title Objective Shots Participants 

6.1 Evaluation of Military 

Radiac Equipment 

To evaluate radiac survey 

and dose-alarm equipment, 

dosimeters, and instruments and techniques 

used for rapid aerial 

surveys 

All Bureau of Ships; Signal 

Corps Engineering 

Laboratories 

6.3 Evaluation of a Filtration 

System for Pressurized 

Aircraft 

To determine the adequacy EASY, FOX, GEORGE Army Chemical Center 

of a system for filtering 

particulate airborne fission 

products from the cabin 

air supply of a B-29 aircraft 

6.4 Operational Tests of 

Radar and Photographic 

Techniques for IBDA 

To evaluate the indirect 

Bomb Damage Assessment 

System under development 

at the Wright Air 

Development Center 

ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, Wright Air Development 

DOG, EASY, FOX Center; Strategic Air 

Command 

6.5 Decontamination of 

Aircraft 

To investigate methods 

of reducing radiological 

hazards to marntenance 

and flight crews 

DOG, EASY, FOX, 

GEORGE, HOW 

Wright Air Development 

Center; Naval Radiological 

Defense Laboratory 

6.7 Evaluation of Air 

Monitoring Instruments 

To determine the adequacy FOX, GEORGE, HOW Army Chemical Center 

of a Chemical Corps air 

sampler for radiological 

air monitoring 

Project 6.1, Evaluation of Military Radiac Equipment, was 

conducted at all TUMBLER-SNAPPER shots by the Bureau of Ships and 

the Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories. The objective was to 

evaluate radiac survey and dose-alarm equipment, dosimeters, and 

the instruments and techniques used for rapid aerial surveys. 

Project personnel supplied radiation survey instruments to test 

group participants. 

Project personnel tested 14 different radiac instruments and 

decided that three instruments then in production, the 

AN/PDR-TlB, the AN/PDR-27, and the AN/PDR-18, would be adequate 

for field use if they underwent minor modifications. 

94 
In studying the techniques and instruments for the rapid 

aerial survey, project personnel used portable military radiac 

meters to conduct a survey from an LC-126 aircraft. The results 

of their study indicated that a fairly accurate rapid survey 

could be made with small aircraft and portable radiacs available 

to a field commander. Such a survey would enable a field 

commander to determine quickly the radiological conditions in a 

maneuver area (134; 151). 

Project 6.3, Evaluation of a Filtration System for Pressurized Aircraft, was conducted at Shots EASY, FOX, and GEORGE by 

the Army Chemical Center. The objective was to determine the 

adequacy of a system for filtering particulate airborne fission 

products from the cabin air supply of B-29 aircraft. Levels of 

radioactivity in air samples taken before and after passage 

through the filtering unit were compared. The results indicated 

that the filter unit removed more than 99.9 percent of the airborne fission products from the air stream entering the unit. 

Provided by the 4925th Test Group (Atomic), the two B-29 aircraft 

participating in this project staged from Indian Springs AFB. 

After penetrating the cloud at altitudes ranging from-16,000 to 

32,000 feet, the aircraft returned to base. The filter samples 

were then removed from the B-29s and transported by B-25 courier 

aircraft to the Army Chemical Center (82; 134; 137). Courier 

flights are discussed in chapter 4.3 of this volume, which 

describes AFSWC support missions at Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. 

Project 6.4, Operational Tests of Radar and Photographic 

Techniques for IBDA, was conducted at Shots ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, 

DOG, EASY, and FOX by the Wright Air Development Center. The 

objective was to evaluate the Indirect Bomb Damage Assessment 

(IBDA) system under development at the Wright Air Development 

Center. Project 6.4 used, for the first time, all elements of 

the IBDA system, which was to provide data for the determination 

of ground zero, height of burst, and yield. The 509th 

95 
Bombardment Group of the Strategic Air Command provided three 

B-50D aircraft, which were instrumented by project personnel. 

These three aircraft either accompanied the B-50D drop aircraft 

or simulated the positions of drop and escort planes. Analysis 

of data indicated that yield, height of burst, and ground zero 

could be determined with sufficient accuracy to be useful 

(45; 82). 

Project 6.5, Decontamination of Aircraft, was conducted at 

Shots DOG, EASY, FOX, GEORGE, and HOW by the Wright Air Development Center and by the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory. 

The project was designed to investigate methods of reducing 

external and internal radiation exposures to maintenance and 

flight crews. 

The project evaluated standard and experimental types of 

cleaning materials and equipment used to decontaminate aircraft. 

The study was also planned to determine the (134; 156): 

0 Effectiveness of various decontamination methods 

l Relative amount of contamination adhering to oiled, 

polished, and clean aircraft surfaces 

0 Distribution of contamination on aircraft contaminated 

during a flight 

0 Relationship between aircraft contamination and cockpit 

exposure rate. 

Project 6.7, Evaluation of Air Monitoring Instruments, was 

conducted at Shots FOX, GEORGE, and HOW by the Army Chemical 

Center. The test area of Shot EASY was also instrumented for the 

project, but wind conditions prevented recovery of the equipment 

in the established time. The objective was to determine the 

adequacy of a Chemical Corps air sampler for radiological 

monitoring. 

Before each shot, project personnel placed six air samplers 

at each of four stations located at various directions and ranges 

96 
from ground zero. The stations were positioned in the expected 

areas of fallout. Changes in the actual fallout pattern, 

however, sometimes caused difficulties in obtaining meaningful 

results, as at Shot EASY. The results indicated that the 

Chemical Corps air sampler was not suitable for field use 

(93; 134). 

4.1.7 Program 7: Long-range Detection 

Program 7, Long-range Detection, was part of a continuing 

Air Force program to analyze detonation phenomena and to develop 

techniques for detecting nuclear detonations at long ranges. The 

program consisted of five projects, as listed in table 4-7 (138). 

Table 4-7: MILITARY EFFECTS TEST GROUP PROJECTS OF PROGRAM 7 

CONDUCTED DURING OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Project Title Objective Shots Participants 

7.la Electromagnetic Effects 

from Atomic Explosions 

To study the electromagnetic pulses produced by 

nuclear detonations 

CHARLIE, DOG, EASY, 

FOX, GEORGE, HOW 

National Bureau of Standards; Air Force 

Cambridge Research 

Center; Air Weather 

Service; Geophysical 

Laboratory of UCLA 

7.lb Long Range Light 

Measurements 

To garn additional information on the long-range 

detection of light produced 

by a nuclear detonation 

BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG, 

EASY, FOX, GEORGE, 

HOW 

EG&G; Headquarters, 

Air Force 

7.2 Detection of Airborne 

Low-frequency Sound from 

Atomic Explosions 

To determine the accuracy 

of acoustic long-range 

detection methods 

All Headquarters, Air Force; 

Signal Corps Engineering 

Laboratories; National 

Bureau of Standards 

7.3 Radiochemical and Physical 

Analysis of Atomic Bomb 

Debris 

To analyze particulate 

and gaseous samples from 

the nuclear cloud 

All Headquarters, Air Force 

7.4 Seismic Waves from 

A-Bombs Detonated over 

a Desert Valley 

To determine the effects 

of the NPG geological 

structure on the transmission of the seismic 

waves produced by a 

nuclear detonation 

BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG, 

EASY, FOX, GEORGE, 

HOW 

Air Force 1009th Special 

Weapons Squadron; 

Coast and Geodetic 

Survey 

97 
Project 7.la, Electromagnetic Effects from Atomic Explosions, was conducted at Shots CHARLIE, DOG, EASY, FOX, GEORGE, 

and HOW by the: 

l National Bureau of Standards 

0 Air Force Cambridge Research Center 

0 Air Weather Service 

a Geophysical Laboratory of the University of California at 

Los Angeles. 

The project, which continued similar experiments conducted 

at Operations CROSSROADS, SANDSTONE, RANGER, GREENHOUSE, and 

BUSTER-JANGLE, was designed to study the electromagnetic pulses 

produced by nuclear detonations. Data were evaluated to determine the location of distant nuclear detonations. The onsite 

stations were at Frenchman and Yucca Flats, and the offsite 

stations were in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New 

Mexico, Virginia, Bermuda, Germany, and Puerto Rico (135). 

Project 7.lb, Long Range Light Measurements, was conducted 

entirely offsite at Shots BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG, EASY, FOX, GEORGE, 

and HOW by EG&G and Headquarters, Air Force. The objective was 

to gain additional information on the long-range detection Of 

light produced by a nuclear detonation. 

EG&G and Headquarters, A-ir Force, established lightdetecting stations in Arizona, Idaho, Texas, and Washington. An 

estimated two EG&G employees and ten Air Force personnel from the 

Sacramento Air Materiel Area, McClellan AFB, operated each 

station from about six hours before to one hour after the 

detonation (80). 

Project 7.2, Detection of Airborne Low-frequency Sound from 

Atomic Explosions, was sponsored at all TUMBLER-SNAPPER shots by 

Headquarters, Air Force, with assistance from the Signal Corps 

98 
Engineering Laboratories and the National Bureau of Standards. 

This project, conducted offsite, was part of a continuing program, initiated during Operations GREENHOUSE and BUSTER-JANGLE, 

to determine the accuracy of acoustic long-range detection methods. The Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories operated stations 

in Alaska, Hawaii, Kentucky, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington. 

The National Bureau of Standards operated a station in 

Washington, D.C. 

Results from the project reinforced conclusions drawn from 

previous test series. The detection range of acoustical equipment depended upon yield of the detonation, atmospheric conditions, existing noise levels at each recording station, and the 

sensitivity of the sound-receiving equipment. Recommendations 

were made to continue similar tests during future test series 

(136). 

Project 7.3, Radiochemical and Physical Analysis of Atomic 

Bomb Debris, was conducted at all shots by Headquarters, Air 

Force. The project involved analysis of particulate and gaseous 

samples from the clouds formed by the detonations. Cloud 

sampling, performed by the 4925th Test Group (Atomic) of Kirtland 

AFB, is discussed in section 4.3, Air Force Support Missions at 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER (82; 150). 

Project 7.4, Seismic Waves from A-Bombs Detonated over a 

Desert Valley, was conducted at Shots BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG, EASY, 

FOX, GEORGE, and HOW by the Air Force 1009th Special Weapons 

Squadron and the Coast and Geodetic Survey. The objective was to 

determine the seismic properties of the geological structure of 

the test area following a nuclear detonation. Unmanned recording 

stations were located in Yucca and Frenchman Flats and at remote 

locations up to 700 kilometers offsite. The project confirmed 

results obtained at Operation BUSTER-JANGLE, that less than five 

99 
percent of the energy entering the ground as seismic waves is 

transmitted to remote locations (55). 

4.1.8 Program 8: Thermal Measurements and Effects 

Program 8, Thermal Measurements and Effects, investigated 

various aspects of thermal radiation and its effects on atmospheric transmissions, weather, forest fuels, and structures. 

This program, which was coordinated with Program 18, Thermal 

Radiation Measurements, included the eight projects shown in 

table 4-8 (138). 

Project 8.1, Effects of Atomic Explosions on Forest Fuels, 

was performed at Shots CHARLIE and DOG by the Forest Service, 

Department of Agriculture. The experiment, which continued a 

similar study conducted during Operation BUSTER-JANGLE, was to 

determine the minimum thermal energies required to ignite common 

forest fuels, such as pine needles, hardwood leaves, grass, and 

rotten wood. Other objectives were to: 

0 Determine blast wave effect on the persistence of fires 

a Provide field data for laboratory tests 

0 Provide information for possible offensive and defensive 

military operations in woodland areas and civilian 

defense activities in urban and rural areas. 

Before each shot, project personnel arranged the forest 

fuels in trays located at various distances from ground zero. 

Personnel from the LASL graphic arts section then photographed 

the fuel beds. The Army Pictorial Service Division, Office Of 

the Chief Signal, Officer, installed three motion picture cameras 

which photographed the ignition and combustion of the fuel beds. 

After the Test Manager opened the area for recovery operations, 

LASL personnel again photographed the fuel beds. Project 

personnel then retrieved the materials for analysis (34; 134). 

100 
Table 4-8: MILITARY EFFECTS TEST GROUP PROJECTS OF PROGRAM 8 

CONDUCTED DURING OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Project 

8.1 

8.2 

8.3 

8.3a 

8.4 

8.5 

8.6 

8.7 

Title 

Effects of Atomic 

Explosions on Forest 

Fuels 

Air Temperatures in the 

Vicinity of a Nuclear 

Detonation 

Thermal Radiation from 

a Nuclear Detonation 

Thermal Radiation 

Measurements Using 

Passive Indicators 

Atmospheric Transmission 

and Weather 

Measurements 

Incendiary Effects of 

Atomic Bomb Tests on 

Building Sections at 

Yucca Flat 

Sound Velocity Changes 

near the Ground in the 

Vicinity of an Atomic 

Explosion 

Thermal Radiation 

Measurement 

Objective 

To determine the minimum 

thermal energies required 

to ignite common forest 

fuels 

To determine the effect 

of a heated air layer on 

the blast wave 

To measure the total 

thermal radiation and 

the intensity-time 

relationship of the 

radiation as a function of 

distance from ground zero 

To evaluate the field 

performance of passive 

heat-sensitive materials 

in measuring the total 

thermal radiation incident 

as a function of distance 

from ground zero 

To provide deta on 

meteorological conditions 

for use in thermal radiation 

projects and to supplement 

information supplied by 

Project 9.2, Air Weather 

Service Participation 

To determine the 

probability of primary fires 

resulting from a nuclear 

detonation in urban areas 

To determine the velocity 0' 

sound at heights of 1.5, 10, 

and 64 feet above the 

surface at ground zero and 

up to 1,830 meters from 

ground zero, and in the 

interval from detonation 

to blast wave arrival 

To train employees of the 

Department of Engineering 

at UCLA in the use of 

thermal radiation 

measuring instruments 

being developed for 

Operation IVY and to 

collect data on the thermal 

radiation emitted from 

nuclear tests 

Shots 

.~ 

CHARLIE, DOG 

ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, 

DOG 

ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE; 

DOG 

CHARLIE 

BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG 

CHARLIE, DOG 

ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, 

DOG 

FOX, GEORGE, HOW 

_ 

Participants 

Forest Service, 

Department of 

Agriculture 

Naval Radiological Defense 

Laboratory 

Naval Radiological Defense 

Laboratory 

Naval Material Laboratory 

Naval Material Laboratorv 

Forest Products Laboratory 

of the Forest Service 

Naval Electronics Laboratory 

Department of Engineering, 

UCLA 

101 
Project 8.2, Air Temperatures in the Vicinity of a Nuclear 

Detonation, was conducted by the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory at Shots ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG. The project was 

designed to determine the effect of a heated air layer on the 

shock wave. Project personnel measured air temperatures and 

blast pressures (48). 

Project 8.3, Thermal Radiation from a Nuclear Detonation, 

was conducted at Shots ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG by the Naval 

Radiological Defense Laboratory. The project, a continuation of 

similar studies at Operations CROSSROADS and BUSTER-JANGLE, was 

designed to measure the total thermal radiation and the intensity-time relationship of the radiation as a function of distance 

from ground zero. Project participants placed several types of 

instruments, including calorimeters, at various distances from 

ground zero. They also positioned calorimeters in the drop 

aircraft (49). 

Project 8.3a, Thermal Radiation Measurements Using Passive 

Indicators, was conducted at Shot CHARLIE by the Naval Material 

Laboratory. The purpose was twofold: 

l To evaluate the field performance of passive heatsensitive materials in measuring the total incident 

thermal radiation as a function of distance from 

ground zero 

a To test the indicators for use in determining yield, 

temperature, and integrated fireball flux. 

Before the shot, Naval Material Laboratory participants in 

Project 8.4 placed indicators at various ranges from the intended 

ground zero. Project 8.4 personnel retrieved these instruments 

along with their own instruments in the CHARLIE test area after 

the declaration of recovery hour (41; 134). 

Project 8.4, Atmospheric Transmission and Weather Measurements, was conducted at Shots BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG by the 

102 
Naval Material Laboratory. The project was designed to provide 

data on meteorological conditions for use in thermal radiation 

projects and to supplement information supplied by Project 9.2, 

Air Weather Service Participation. Project personnel measured 

barometric pressure, temperature, humidity, and rainfall (76). 

Project 8.5, Incendiary Effects of Atomic Bomb Tests on 

Building Sections, was performed at Shots CHARLIE and DOG by the 

Forest Products Laboratory of the Forest Service. The objective 

was to determine the probability of primary fires resulting from 

a nuclear detonation in urban areas. The four types of structures tested were: 

0 Cubicle room 

0 Right angle corner between walls 

a Right angle corner with cornice 

0 Roof section. 

The sections were constructed and mounted to resist demolition by 

the blast so that only the incendiary effects of the nuclear 

detonation would be shown. They were installed at stations 

1,200 to 4,880 meters from ground zero. 

Personnel from Lookout Mountain Laboratory took documentary 

photographs of the displays before each nuclear detonation. They 

also photographed the structures after the declaration of 

recovery hour, when project personnel entered the shot area to 

inspect the displays. Figure 4-4 shows participants examining a 

roof section (52). 

Project 8.6, Sound Velocity Changes near the Ground in the 

Vicinity of an Atomic Explosion, was conducted at Shots ABLE, 

BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG by the Naval Electronics Laboratory. The 

objective was to determine the velocity of sound at heights of 

1.5, 10, and 54 feet above ground, at ground zero and up to 1,830 

meters from ground zero, in the interval from detonation to blast 

wave arrival (129). 

103 

Project 8.7, Thermal Radiation Measurements, was performed 

at Shots FOX, GEORGE, and HOW by the Department of Engineering of 

the University of California at Los Angeles, under contract to 

the Air Research and Development Command. The project was 

designed to train employees of the Department of Engineering in 

the use of thermal radiation measuring instruments being developed for Operation IVY. Another objective was to collect data on 

the thermal radiation emitted from nuclear tests. Data were 

recorded at Building 400, located near the Control Point (144). 

4.1.9 Program 9: Supporting Measurements 

Program 9, Supporting Measurements, assisted other Military 

Effects Group projects by providing weather data, timing signals, 

and photographs of the experiments. In addition, the program 

involved basic research in electromagnetic radiation. As table 

4-9 indicates, four projects were conducted as part of Program 9 

(134; 138). 

Project 9.1, Technical and Training Photography, was conducted at TUMBLER-SNAPPER shots by personnel from the following 

agencies (4; 82; 134): 

0 

0 

0 

Air Force Lookout Mountain Laboratory 

Army Pictorial Service Division 

Naval Medical Research Institute 

Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories 

SAC 5th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron 

SAC 28th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron 

Wright Air Development Center 

4925th Test Group (Atomic). 

Personnel from these units accompanied AFSWP participants to take 

photographs and motion pictures of the detonation and of Military 

Effects Test Group projects. In addition, the Army sent an 

estimated 21 men to Camp Desert Rock around 16 April to 

photograph the Desert Rock IV Exercise at Shot CHARLIE, and the 

105 
Project Title Objective 

9.1 

9.2 

9.4 

9.5 

Table 4-9: MILITARY EFFECTS TEST GROUP PROJECTS OF PROGRAM 9 

CONDUCTED DURING OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Technical and Training 

Photography 

Air Weather Service 

Participation 

Effects of Atomic 

Explosions on the 

Ionosphere 

Electromagnetic Radiation 

over the Radio Spectrum 

from Nuclear Detonations 

To make still photographs 

and motion pictures of 

various Military Effects 

Test Group projects and 

Desert Rock IV military 

operations 

To provide daily weather 

forecasts and data to the 

Test Director and to 

participants in other 

AFSWP projects 

To obtain data on the 

effects of a nuclear 

detonation on the ionosphere and on ionospheric 

radio wave propagation 

To determine the wave 

shape and the amplitude 

of radio frequency energy 

emanating from a nuclear 

detonation 

Shots Participants 

All 

All Air Weather Service 

All Signal Corps Engineering 

Laboratories; 9471 st 

Technical Service Unit 

BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG, 

EASY, FOX, GEORGE 

Signal Corps Engineering 

Laboratories; 9467th 

Technical Service Unit 

Naval Medical Research 

Institute; Air Force Lookout 

Mountain Laboratory; Army 

Pictorial Service Division, 

Wright Air Development 

Center; 4925th Test Group 

(Atomic); SAC 5th and 28th 

Reconnaissance Technical 

Squadrons; Signal Corps 

Engineering Laboratories 

106 
Marine Corps Provisional Atomic Exercise Unit supplied photographers to document the Desert Rock IV Exercise at Shot DOG. 

These photographers returned to their home stations soon after 

the exercises were completed (4; 123). 

Project 9.2, Air Weather Service Participation, was conducted at all TUMBLER-SNAPPER shots by the Air Force. Project 

participants were from the 6th Weather Squadron (Mobile) of the 

2059th Air Weather Wing, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. Project participants provided daily weather forecasts and data to the Test 

Director and to participants in AFSWP projects. Figure 4-5 shows 

a project participant taking meteorological measurements. The 

organization and responsibilities of the Air Weather Service 

during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER are discussed generally in this 

volume in section 2.1.2 of chapter 2 and in section 4.3 of this 

chapter (8; 9; 82; 112). 

Project 9.4, Effects of Atomic Explosions on the Ionosphere, 

was conducted at all TUMBLER-SNAPPER shots by the Signal Corps 

Engineering Laboratories, with assistance from personnel of the 

9471st Technical Service Unit. The objective was to obtain data 

on the effects of a nuclear detonation on ionospheric radiowave 

propagation. 

Project personnel worked at transmitter and receiver stations. The only onsite transmitter was at Station 9.4, 910 

meters north of the Control Point. Two other transmitters were 

at Mather AFB, Sacramento, California. The radio receiver 

stations were at the Navaho Ordnance Depot in Flagstaff, Arizona; 

at White Sands Proving Ground, New Mexico; and at Fort Sill, 

Oklahoma. Information obtained at the stations was sent for 

analysis to the Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories (70; 134). 

107 

Project 9.5, Electromagnetic Radiation over the Radio Spectrum from Nuclear Detonations, was conducted at Shots BAKER, 

CHARLIE, DOG, EASY, FOX, and GEORGE by the Signal Corps 

Engineering Laboratories, with assistance from the 9467th 

Technical Service Unit, Electronic Warfare Center. The project 

was designed to determine the wave shape and the amplitude of 

radio frequency energy emanating from a nuclear detonation. 

Project personnel operated two stations 16 to 25 kilometers from 

ground zero through the detonation. In addition, project 

participants manned one station at White Sands Proving Grounds, 

New Mexico, and another at the Evans Signal Laboratory in Belmar, 

New Jersey (51; 134). 

4.2 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INVOLVEMENT IN PROGRAMS OF THE AEC 

WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT TEST GROUP 

Besides the AFSWP Test Command Military Effects Test Group, 

the joint AEC-DOD organization coordinated the activities of the 

Weapons Development Test Group. The Los Alamos Scientific 

Laboratory conducted most of the experiments of this group. DOD 

participation was limited to the programs listed in table 4-10. 

Program 10, Measurement of Alpha, consisted of two projects 

conducted by the Naval Research Laboratory of Washington, D.C.: 

0 Project 10.1, Measurement of Alpha 

0 Project 10.2, Test of Scintillator Optical 

Path Technique. 

Project 10.1 was conducted at Shots BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG, 

EASY, FOX, and HOW (114). 

Project 10.2 was performed at Shots FOX'and GEORGE to evaluate experimental equipment for use at Operation IVY, scheduled 

for the fall of 1952. This experiment measured the light output 

of a nuclear detonation. Experimental equipment had to be 

109 
Table 4-10: WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT TEST GROUP PROJECTS WITH DOD 

PARTICIPATION, OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Program 10, 

Measurement of Alpha 

Program 11, 

Measurement of 

Transit Time 

10.1 10.1 10.1 10.1 10.1 10.1 

10.2 10.2 

11.1 11.1 11.1 11 .l 11 .l 11.1 11.1 

Program 12, 

Technical Photography 

Program 13, 

Radiochemistry 

Sampling 

12.1 

12.lc 

13 

12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1 

12.lc 12.lc 12.lc 12.lc 12.lc 

12.2a-d 12.2a-d 12.2a-d 12.2a-d 12.2a-d 

13 13 13 13 13 

12.1 

12.lc 

13 

12.1 

12.1 c 

12.2a-d 

13 

Program 14 

Test of an External 

Initiator 

14 14 

Program 15, 

Delayed Gamma Ray 

Measurements 

15.2 15.2 15.2 15.2 15.2 15.2 15.2 

15.3 15.3 15.3 15.3 

Program 17, 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 

Neutron Measurements 17.2 17.2 17.2 17.2 17.2 

Program 18, 18.1 18.1 18.1 18.1 18.1 18.1 18.1 18.1 

Thermal Radiation 18.3 18.3 18.3 18.3 18.3 

Measurements 18.4 18.4 18.4 18.4 18.4 18.4 18.4 18.4 

Program 19, 

Blast Measurements 

19.la 

19.lc-d 

19.2a-b 

19.2d 

19.2f 

19.la 19.la 19.la 

19.lc-d 19.lc-d 19.lc-d 

lS.le lS.le 19.le 

19.2a-b 19.2a-b 19.2a-b 

19.2c 19.2c 19.2c 

19.2d 19.2d 19.2d 

19.2f 19.2f 19.2f 

19.lc-d 

lS.le 

19.2a-b 

19.lc-d 19.lc-d 19.lc-d 

19.2a-b 
located within about ten meters of ground zero, where the levels 

of gamma radiation far exceeded those of any other type of 

radiation. Shot-day recovery operations were not necessary. 

Results of the experiment indicated that the equipment was not 

suitable for use at Operation IVY (115). 

Program 11, Measurement of Transit Time, also consisted of 

two projects, but only one experiment involved DOD personnel. 

Project 11.1, Measurement of Transit Time, was conducted by the 

Naval Research Laboratory at Shots BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG, EASY, 

FOX, GEORGE, and HOW (114). 

Program 12, Technical Photography, was conducted at all 

shots by personnel from EG&G. They provided technical 

photography support, including dust studies, preshock turbulence 

studies, light absorption and.mirage studies, fireball growth 

measurement, thermal effects studies, and other technical still 

and motion picture c6verage required by the Weapons Development 

Test Group. 

Two days before each shot, project personnel at the Control 

Point prepared the film to be used on shot-day. The afternoon 

before the nuclear test, project personnel loaded film into 

remote-controlled cameras located at stations in the shot area. 

After the detonation, they recovered the exposed film and 

processed some of it in the mobile unit set up in the Control 

Point area. The remaining film was flown to civilian laboratories for processing (90). 

Project 12.lc, Bhangmeter Mod II, was conducted at all shots 

by EG&G. The objective was to evaluate and test new bhangmeter 

equipment. Project personnel installed these instruments for 

measuring the yield characteristics of a detonation at the 

Control Point for all shots and in the drop aircraft for Shots 

ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG. Bhangmeter readings recorded at 

shot-time were removed and analyzed after the shot (89). 

111 
Project 12.2a-d, High-speed Photography, was conducted at 

Shots BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG, EASY, FOX, and HOW by LASL and EG&G. 

The objectives were to study early fireball growth and obtain 

measurements correlating shock arrival times with the appearance 

of the fireball. Project personnel mounted special cameras in a 

trailer about four kilometers from ground zero at Shots BAKER, 

CHARLIE, and DOG. At Shot EASY, they installed cameras in 

trailers 1.6 and 3.2 kilometers from the shot-tower. Personnel 

at FOX placed cameras in a bunker 460 meters from the shot-tower 

and in a trailer 3.2 kilometers southeast of the shot-tower. At 

Shot HOW, they mounted cameras in a trailer 3.2 kilometers from 

the shot-tower. After the detonations, personnel retrieved the 

film for analysis (84). 

Program 13, Radiochemistry Sampling, required cloud sampling 

at all TUMBLER-SNAPPER shots. The program was supported by AFSWC 

pilots and aircraft and is discussed in section 4.3 of this 

report (82; 134). 

Program 14, Test of an External Initiator, was conducted by 

LASL at Shots FOX and GEORGE (39). 

Program 15, Delayed Gamma Ray Measurements, was conducted by 

LASL. DOD personnel, apparently assigned to LASL, participated 

in two projects. 

Project 15.2, Gamma Radiation Exposure as a Function of 

Distance, was conducted at Shots BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG, EASY, FOX, 

GEORGE, and HOW. The objective was to measure gamma radiation 

exposure at different distances from the detonation. Project 

personnel placed gamma-detecting instruments in the ground at 

various distances from ground zero and recovered these 

instruments after the detonation (154). 

112 
Project 15.3, Radiation Monitoring Measurements, was 

conducted at Shots CHARLIE, DOG, FOX, and HOW. The objectives 

were to monitor gamma radiation levels from the radioactive 

fallout after a nuclear detonation and to test several prototype 

radiation monitoring instruments for use at Operation IVY. The 

information on radiation levels was also used by recovery 

parties. Project personnel installed recording equipment in 

stations located at various distances from ground zero. The 

recording equipment was set up to telemeter information on gamma 

radiation levels to the Control Point (121). 

Program 17, Neutron Measurements, was conducted by the Los 

Alamos Scientific Laboratory. Projects 17.1 and 17.2, External 

Neutron Measurements, had DOD participants at Shots DOG, EASY, 

FOX, GEORGE, and HOW. The objective of these projects was to use 

threshold detectors to measure external neutron flux as a function of distance. LASL also provided some threshold detectors to 

the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory for Project 4.3 and to 

the Naval Research Laboratory for Project 2.3. 

Project personnel attached some threshold detectors to 

horiozontal steel bars about four feet above the ground, some to 

a steel cable, and some to stakes. Other detectors were placed 

in the ground. Project participants also installed an underground shelter containing oscilloscopes set to run automatically 

at shot-time. After the detonations, project personnel recovered 

the threshold detectors and the records from the underground 

shelter. AFSWC couriers flew the detectors to LASL for analysis 

(69). 

Program 18, Thermal Radiation Measurements, consisted of six 

projects, all conducted by the Naval Research Laboratory: 

0 Project 18.1, Total Thermal Radiation and 

Atmospheric Transmission 

0 Project 18.2, Power as a Function of Time 

113 
0 Project 18.3, Color Temperatures 

l Project 18.4, High-resolution Spectroscopy 

0 Project 18.5, Air Temperature versus Time 

0 Project 18.6, Light Absorption Characteristics. 

Of these six projects, detailed documentation has been located 

for Projects 18.1, 18.3, and 18.4. 

Project 18.1, Total Thermal Radiation and Atmospheric Transmission, was conducted at all eight shots to obtain information 

on the transmission of light and thermal radiation emitted by 

nuclear detonations of various yields. To measure the 

transmission of light, project personnel placed one photoelectric 

brightness meter at the Control Point and another in Area 2 of 

the NPG. In addition, they installed a transmissometer near the 

BUSTER-JANGLE Y and a receiver at the Control Point. Participants manually operated the instruments at the Control Point 

during the shots. They shut down equipment after the shots to 

analyze recorded data (122). 

Project 18.3, Color Temperatures, was conducted at Shots 

BAKER, DOG, EASY, GEORGE, and HOW to measure the spectral characteristics of the nuclear fireball as a function of time. 

Measurements were taken with a high-speed spectrograph (86). 

Project 18.4, High-resolution Spectroscopy, was conducted at 

all eight shots to supplement information obtained from 

spectroscopy measurements taken during previous nuclear weapons 

testing series, such as Operations GREENHOUSE and BUSTER-JANGLE. 

Personnel installed a spectrograph at the Control Point (43). 

Program 19, Blast Measurements, involved several projects in 

which DOD personnel participated: 

l Project 19.la, Air Shock Pressure--Time versus 

Distance 

114 
0 Projects 19.lc and 19.ld, Sandia Laboratory 

Shock-gauge Evaluations Tests 

0 Project 19.le, Air Shock Pressures as Affected by 

Hills and Dales 

0 Projects 19.2a and 19.2b, Blast-wave Material 

Velocity Measurements 

0 Pro,ject 19.2c, Beta-densitometer Feasibility Test 

l Project 19.2d, Interferometer-gauge Pressure-time 

Measurements 

0 Project 19.2f, Measurement of Preshock Sound 

Velocity. 

Project 19.la, Air Shock Pressure --Time versus Distance, was 

conducted by the Sandia Corporation at Shots ABLE, BAKER, 

CHARLIE, and DOG. Representatives of LASL, AFSWP, the Stanford 

Research Institute, the Naval Ordnance Laboratory, and the 

Ballistic Research Laboratories helped to plan this project. The 

objective was to obtain pressure measurements to show the relationship between air shock pressure and height of burst. Project 

personnel installed pressure gauges in the ground and on towers 

along radial lines extending from ground zero. At the instant of 

burst, information from the gauges was telemetered to a recording 

station where it was monitored by project personnel (132). 

Projects 19.lc and 19.ld, Sandia Laboratory Shock-gauge 

Evaluations Tests, were conducted at all TUMBLER-SNAPPER shots. 

Personnel from LASL and contractors assisted Sandia in calibrating and installing instruments. The project was intended to 

develop and test new instruments for collecting information on 

dynamic and static pressures, wind directions, sound and wind 

speeds, and temperature rises resulting from a shock wave. At 

Shots ABLE through DOG, project personnel installed instruments 

at two stations; at EASY through HOW, only one station was 

instrumented. Cables connected the instruments to equipment that 

recorded the information (68). 

115 
Project 19.le, Air Shock Pressures as Affected by Hills and 

Dales, was conducted at Shots BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG, and EASY by 

personnel from Sandia Corporation and contractors of the NPG. 

The objective was to collect more information about the influence 

of hills and valleys on the shock waves from airbursts and to 

study the shielding effects of hills. Project personnel 

installed gauges to record air shock pressure at two sites. 

Cables connected the gauges to recording equipment in a nearby 

mobile van. Sometime after the detonation, project participants 

recovered the records from the van (130). 

Projects 19.2a and 19.2b, Blast-wave Material Velocity 

Measurements, were conducted at Shots ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG, 

EASY, and HOW by LASL. The objective was to photograph peak 

overpressure phenomena associated with a nuclear burst. An 

officer and six men from the Antiaircraft Artillery and Guided 

Missile Center, Fort Bliss, Texas, installed and maintained a 

90-millimeter gun battery. EG&G provided photography services. 

Project personnel emplaced mortars and 90-millimeter guns 

along a blast line extending from ground zero. Smoke canisters 

were fired into the air from these mortars and guns immediately 

before the burst so that air disturbances would be visible. 

An electronic timing device fired the mortars and guns. The 

camera stations were also electronically operated (139). 

Project 19.2c, Beta-densitometer Feasibility Test, was 

conducted at Shots BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG by personnel from 

LASL, assisted by Army personnel. The objective was to test two 

types of densitometers and to measure air density as a function 

of time after passage of a shock wave. The densitometers, 

connected to recording equipment, were installed in the ground 

near the target area used for Shots BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG. 

They were set to start functioning upon receipt of a timing 

signal. After the burst, project personnel entered the area to 

recover instruments and records (139). 

116 
Project 19.2d, Interferometer-gauge Pressure-time 

Measurements, was conducted at Shots ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, and 

DOG by LASL (139). 

Project 19.2f, Measurement of Preshock Sound Velocity, was 

conducted at Shots ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG by LASL, with 

Air Force participation. The objective was to measure the 

velocity of sound in the air near the ground before the shock 

wave from the detonation arrived. Project personnel installed 

oscillators and recording equipment at several stations near 

ground zero. After the detonation, project personnel recovered 

the records from the instrument stations (139). 

4.3 AIR FORCE SUPPORT MISSIONS AT OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

The Air Force, particularly the Air Force Special Weapons 

Center, played a major operational and support role in many of 

the scientific and military test programs conducted at the Nevada 

Proving Ground during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. Based at 

Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, New Mexico, AFSWC used Indian 

Springs AFB in Nevada as its principal staging area during the 

testing. AFSWC provided most of the aircraft and personnel 

required for aircraft operational control, airdrop delivery, 

cloud sampling, courier missions, cloud tracking, aerial surveys 

of the terrain, weather reconnaissance, and other air support 

requested by the joint AEC-DOD organization. The principal AFSWC 

units involved were the 4925th Test Group (Atomic) and the 4901st 

Support Wing. AFSWC participation is summarized in table 4-11 

(8-10; 19; 82; 83). 

The Air Operations Center, staffed by personnel from the 

4925th Test Group (Atomic) and located at the Control Point, 

exercised operational control over all aircraft participating in 

117 
Table 4-11: AFSWC MISSION SUPPORT AT OPERATION 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Mission Prograr ” 

Air Drop 

B-50 0 l l 

845 0 

Disaster l 0 0 0 

Aircraft 

c-47 

Cloud 13 0 a 0 0 l 

Cloud 

Tracking 

Aerial a 0 0 0 l l 0 l 

Survey 

of Terrain I I I I I I I I I 

118 
Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. The 4925th also supported the tests 

by: 

0 Providing, maintaining, and operating the B-45 

and B-50 bomb delivery aircraft and the spare 

aircraft for bomb delivery 

l Controlling the operations of the C-47 disaster 

aircraft that routinely accompanied bomb drop 

aircraft on their missions 

l Providing, maintaining, and operating the B-29 

and T-33 sampling aircraft 

0 Training pilots of Task Group 132.4 (Provisional) in cloud sampling for future participation in Operation IVY, an oceanic test series 

0 Supervising cloud-tracking operations 

0 Operating aircraft for terrain surveys. 

The 4925th was also responsible for radiological safety operations at Indian Springs AFB, as discussed in chapter 5. The 

4925th had approximately 100 personnel on temporary duty at 

Indian Springs AFB (8; 9; 82; 88; 155). 

The 4901st Support Wing, based at Kirtland AFB, was responsible for most of the logistics and maintenance required for the 

air operations. The responsibilities of the 4901st included: 

0 Supplying the 4925th at Indian Springs AFB with 

additional personnel and equipment 

a Providing the disaster aircraft and crew that 

I accompanied the bomb drop aircraft 

0 Providing courier and air shuttle service 

between Indian Springs AFB and Kirtland AFB and 

between Indian Springs AFB and Yucca Lake 

airstrip 

a Supplying instrumented C-47 aircraft with crews 

for aerial surveys of the terrain. 

In addition, the 4901st was responsible for radiological safety 

operations at Kirtland AFB, as discussed in chapter 5. In 

119 
connection with its radiological safety duties, the 4901st 

trained 35 pilots of Task Group 132.4 (Provisional) in 

radiological procedures. These pilots were to participate later 

that year in Operation IVY. During TUMBLER-SNAPPER, approximately 300 personnel from the 4901st Support Wing were stationed 

at Indian Springs AFB (8; 9; 82; 88; 155). 

Other participating Air Force units contributed aircraft, 

flight crews, and ground crews. One of the larger units was the 

55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, which provided aircraft for 

cloud-tracking missions. Squadron personnel stationed at 

McClellan AFB, California, flew to Indian Springs AFB two days 

before each shot. Thirty-two personnel participated at each of 

the first three shots, and 28 personnel took part in each of the 

remaining shots (8; 9; 82; 88; 155). 

The Strategic Air Command furnished 24 B-50 aircraft and a 

number of B-29 and B-36 aircraft for its own photography and crew 

indoctrination projects during all shots except EASY. The aircraft were from Castle AFB, California; Barksdale AFB, Louisiana; 

Travis AFB, California; Walker AFB, New Mexico; Carswell AFB, 

Texas; and Biggs AFB, Texas. A unit of the Strategic Air 

Command, the 12th Fighter-Escort Wing, which was to participate 

in the upcoming Operation IVY, provided five F-84G aircraft and 

pilots to train in sampling procedures. These aircraft and 

personnel were from Bergstrom AFB, Texas (8-10; 19; 24; 82; 88; 

109; 140; 155). 

The Air Weather Service provided the Test Director with 

meteorological information important in scheduling the detonations, such as specific data on wind and cloud conditions. The 

6th Weather Squadron (Mobile) of the 2059th Air Weather Wing, 

Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, directed the meteorological analysis from 

the Control Point Weather Station. Eight forecasters, 13 observers, and 14 other Air Force personnel operated special equipment 

120 
at the Control Point. Eleven Air Force personnel operated a 

weather station in Tonopah, Nevada. Weather stations in Beatty, 

Caliente, Crystal Springs, Currant, and Warm Springs, Nevada, and 

St. George, Utah, were each operated by three airmen. These 

personnel were part of Project 9.2, Air Weather Service 

Participation, discussed in chapter 2 of this volume and in 

section 4.1.9 of this chapter (112). 

Project 9.2 personnel gave the Test Director hourly weather 

reports before and immediately after each detonation. They also 

provided 24-hour and 48-hour weather forecasts. In addition, Air 

Weather Service personnel compiled data from onsite and offsite 

stations into maps showing wind direction, wind speed, cloud 

paths, and other meteorological data (8; 9; 88; 112; 155). 

Airdron and Disaster Missions 

The 4925th Test Group (Atomic) provided, maintained, and 

operated B-45 and B-50 bomb delivery aircraft for Shots ABLE, 

BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG. Taking off from Kirtland AFB several 

hours before shot-time, the drop aircraft flew over unpopulated 

areas before entering an orbit pattern over the Nevada Proving 

Ground. After releasing the nuclear device, the aircraft 

returned to Kirtland AFB (8; 9; 82; 88; 109; 155). 

Accompanying the drop aircraft was a C-47 disaster aircraft, 

provided and operated by the 4901st Support Wing. This aircraft 

generally left Kirtland AFB before the drop aircraft and orbited 

over Las Vegas while the drop aircraft completed its mission. 

The disaster team was to protect the weapon and monitor radiation 

contamination in an emergency situation, such as the crash of the 

bomb-carrying aircraft or the unplanned release of its weapon. 

The disaster team plotted the position of the drop aircraft 

during its mission. Soon after the drop aircraft had successfully completed its mission, the disaster aircraft returned to 

Kirtland AFB (8; 9; 82; 88; 109; 155). 

121 
Cloud Sampling 

An important objective of Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER was to 

obtain samples of fission products from nuclear detonations so 

that the yield and efficiency of the nuclear devices could be 

determined. The task of collecting samples of particulate and 

gaseous debris from the clouds resulting from the detonations was 

assigned to the 4925th Test Group (Atomic), which used B-29 and 

T-33 aircraft to perform the sampling. The 4925th collected 

samples of the clouds for Military Effects Test Group Project 

7.3, Radiochemical and Physical Analysis of Atomic Bomb Debris, 

and Weapons Development Test Group Program 13, Radiochemistry 

Sampling. In addition, pilots from Air Force Task Group 132.4 

flew F-84 sampler aircraft as training for cloud sampling to be 

conducted at Operation IVY in the fall of 1952 (8; 9; 82; 88; 

109; 134; 155). 

The TUMBLER-SNAPPER cloud-sampling procedures were modifications of procedures used during Operation BUSTER-JANGLE. While 

jet aircraft were used only experimentally for cloud sampling 

during BUSTER-JANGLE, they were the primary sampling aircraft for 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER. Jet aircraft were more effective samplers for 

several reasons: 

0 Fewer personnel were exposed to nuclear radiation because 

of the smaller crew (eight crew members in a B-29 versus 

two in a T-33). 

0 The greater speed allowed a sampling team to collect more 

samples before reaching its maximum allowable radiation 

exposure. 

0 The higher altitude capability resulted in the collection 

of samples that formerly could not be obtained. 

0 Fresher samples were obtained because the jet aircraft 

were faster in returning the samples to the landing strip 

for air shipment to the research laboratory. 

In another modification of BUSTER-JANGLE procedures, a 

control aircraft was used to direct samplers to the cloud. 

122 
Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER was the first series in which the 

control aircraft directed the samplers in cloud penetration. 

Previously, the Air Operations Center had performed this function 

(8; 9; 82; 88; 109; 155). 

For the Weapons Development Test Group sampling missions, 

4925th Test Group pilots collected samples on filter papers in 

the specially modified wing-tip tanks of T-33 and F-84 aircraft. 

The aircraft had valves that could be opened to allow an airstream to pass through the wing-tip tank. The radioactive 

particles from the cloud became trapped in the filter paper held 

by a grid within this tank. A radiation detection meter located 

in the wing-tip tank and connected to an instrument in the 

cockpit indicated to the pilot the radiation intensities of the 

sample collected. After the sampling was completed, the aircraft 

returned to Indian Springs AFB, where the filter papers containing the particulate samples were removed and sent promptly by 

courier aircraft to LASL for analysis (8; 9; 82; 88; 109; 155). 

For AFSWP Project 7.3, gaseous samples also had to be 

collected. A B-29 was equipped with a cylindrical metal 

container for trapping gases as the aircraft flew through the 

cloud. The B-29 aircraft was suited for the mission because its 

long-range capability enabled it to stay aloft near the cloud for 

the time required to complete the sampling. The gaseous and 

particulate samples of the cloud were distributed to LASL 

scientists for analysis (82; 150). 

The standard procedures for cloud sampling are described in 

the following paragraphs. Shot-specific information on sampling 

is contained in the TUMBLER-SNAPPER multi-shot volumes. 

About 90 minutes before the detonation, a B-29 sampler 

control aircraft, probably with a crew of nine, took off from 

Indian Springs AFB. The aircraft climbed to an altitude of about 

123 
25,000 feet and orbited above Indian Springs AFB until shot-time. 

A sampler director, a flight surgeon, and a scientific advisor 

from LASL augmented the crew. 

After the detonation, the sampler control aircraft followed 

the cloud and observed its formation and dissipation. During 

this time, the scientific advisor evaluated the cloud structure 

and determined the cloud areas from which sampler aircraft were 

to collect particulate and gaseous samples. The sampler aircraft 

were on standby at Indian Springs AFB. On advice from the 

sampler control aircraft, the Air Operations Center alerted the 

sampler aircraft to take off. The center would then vector the 

samplers to the approximate location of the control aircraft. 

As the sampling aircraft rendezvoused with the B-29 control 

aircraft, the control aircraft would direct the sampler aircraft 

to make one or more penetrations of the cloud at various 

altitudes and areas to gather particulate and gaseous nuclear 

debris. 

After the mission was completed, the control aircraft 

directed the sampler aircraft to Indian Springs AFB. When the 

aircraft landed, the samples were removed and packaged for 

delivery to LASL or Air Force laboratories for analysis. The 

sampler control aircraft was usually the last to land (8; 9; 82; 

83; 88; 109; 155). 

Courier Service 

The AFSWC courier service, provided by the 4901st Support 

Wing, delivered cloud samples and experimental material from 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER research projects to laboratory facilities, such 

as the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and the Naval Research 

Laboratory. AFSWC supplied courier service aircraft and aircrews 

to Projects 1.9, 2.3, 6.3, 7.3, and 9.1 and to Programs 13 and 17 

(8-10; 134). 

124 
Cloud Tracking 

The 4901st, using one B-25, and the Air Weather Service, 

using two B-29s, conducted cloud-tracking missions. Their 

objective was to record the path of the cloud resulting from a 

detonation and to monitor the cloud's radiation intensity in 

order to expedite airway clearance for commercial aircraft. The 

B-25 had a crew of five, including a radiological safety monitor 

from Test Command. The B-29s each had a crew of about ten, 

including a radiological safety monitor. The aircraft, which 

were furnished by AFSWC and the 55th Weather Reconnaissance 

Squadron, March AFB, staged from Indian Springs AFB. 

Cloud-tracking procedures were standard for every shot, 

although they were sometimes modified because of differences 

between the estimated and actual yield of a detonation. The B-25 

tracked the lowest part of the cloud stem, while one of the B-29s 

observed the cloud from its stem to its top. The second B-29 

aircraft was held in reserve near the cloud in case either the 

B-25 or the B-29 aircraft had a mechanical failure or in case the 

cloud had to be tracked in different directions. 

The B-25 aircraft tracked the cloud visually as long as 

possible. When the cloud was no longer visible, highly sensitive 

air-conductivity and scintillation-counter instruments were used 

to detect the cloud. These instruments included: 

0 AN/PDR-TlB ion chamber 

0 AN/PDR-2610A gamma survey meter 

0 Beckman MX-5 beta-gamma survey meter. 

The two B-29,aircraft usually followed the cloud a few 

hundred kilometers from the point of detonation. To track the 

cloud, the aircraft flew back and forth along the edges of the 

cloud, changing direction every two or three minutes. When 

detectors aboard the aircraft gave measurable readings, the 

tracker turned away without actually penetrating the cloud. The 

position, time, altitude, and maximum intensity readings of the 

125 
cloud were reported back to the Air Operations Center at the 

Control Point, where the information was used to plot the cloud 

dimensions and course. 

By repeating this procedure throughout the mission, the 

cloud trackers determined the movement and extent of the cloud. 

The cloud was tracked either until it dissipated or until the 

Test Manager directed the trackers to stop. The B-25 and the 

B-29s then returned to Indian Springs AFB (8-10; 82; 88; 109; 

155). 

Aerial Surveys of Terrain 

Following each nuclear event, several aircraft made 

low-altitude radiation surveys of the terrain in and around the 

Nevada Proving Ground. These surveys helped determine when 

ground parties could safely enter the test area after the shot. 

AFSWC provided aircrews and several types of aircr,aft for this 

activity, including,YH-12, C-45, L-20, and C-47 aircraft. The 

Strategic Air Command also provided four radiological safety 

officers and two airmen to AFSWC. Instructors from AFSWC and 

from the 1009th Squadron (March AFB) trained the crews in the use 

of specialized radiac equipment, and the 4925th Test Group 

(Atomic) conducted training flights for this mission. 

According to the standard operating procedure for aerial 

surveys of the terrain, helicopters and other aircraft would make 

low-level surveys of the immediate target area to determine 

radiological conditions after each detonation. The Test Manager 

determined the departure times of the various aircraft and their 

patterns of flight. The helicopters took off from a pad east of 

the Control Point. Constant radio contact with the Air 

Operations Center at the Control Point was mandatory during these 

missions. Data collected in flight were radioed to the Air 

Operations Center. Following the mission, the helicopters landed 

at the Control Point pad for decontamination before returning to 

Indian Springs AFB (8-10; 82; 83; 88; 109; 155). 

126 
CHAPTER 5 

RADIATION PROTECTION AT OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

TO protect TUMBLER-SNAPPER personnel from the ionizing 

radiation associated with the detonation of a nuclear device, the 

joint AEC-DOD organization developed radiological safety policies 

and procedures. The purpose of the various radiation protection 

procedures was to minimize the exposure of individuals to 

ionizing radiation while still allowing them to accomplish their 

objectives during the testing. 

Exercise Desert Rock IV participants, the test groups, and 

AFSWC conducted different types of activities. Despite those 

differences, these three groups followed similar radiation 

protection procedures. These procedures included: 

0 Orientation and training: preparing radiation 

monitors for their work and familiarizing other 

participants with radiological safety procedures 

0 Personnel dosimetry: issuing and processing film 

badges and evaluating the gamma radiation exposures 

measured by these devices 

0 Use of protective equipment: providing protective 

equipment, including clothing and respirators 

a Monitoring: performing radiological surveys and 

controlling access to radiation areas 

a Briefing: informing observers and project personnel 

of radiological exposure potentials and the current 

radiological conditions in the test area 

0 Decontamination: containing, removing, and disposing of contamination on personnel, vehicles, and 

equipment. 

The Department of Defense performed all onsite radiological 

safety activities during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. In addition, 

the AFSWP Radiological Safety Group was involved in offsite 

127 
radiological safety activities within 320 kilometers of the 

Nevada Proving Ground. The Atomic Energy Commission and Test 

Command, AFSWP, established radiological safety criteria for 

positioning personnel at nuclear detonations (91). 

5.1 RADIATION PROTECTION FOR EXERCISE DESERT ROCK IV 

The AEC was responsible for the overall operation of the 

NPG, including the radiological safety of all Desert Rock IV 

participants. Through AFSWP, the AEC established criteria to 

protect Exercise Desert Rock IV participants from the thermal, 

blast, and radiation effects of the TUMBLER-SNAPPER nuclear 

tests. A 24 March 1952 letter from Headquarters, Test Command, 

AFSWP, addressed the physical and radiological safety of Desert 

Rock participants. The letter established a maximum radiation 

exposure limit of 3.0 roentgens for Desert Rock IV troops during 

the exercise. The AEC set a requirement that maneuver troops and 

troop observers be at least 6,400 meters from ground zero during 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER detonations (25; 58; 108; 134). 

5.1.1 Orientation and Briefing 

The Exercise Desert Rock IV Instructor Group conducted four 

orientation sessions for observers and exercise and support 

troops, covering basic characteristics and effects of nuclear 

weapons, as well as personal protection procedures and related 

medical issues. In addition, the Instructor Group accompanied 

participating troops and observers on a tour of the shot area a 

few days before the detonation. 

The orientation sessions had several deficiencies. To begin 

with, the instructors were not organized soon enough to prepare 

their teaching materials. The instructors who conducted the 

first two courses were not thoroughly familiar with nuclear 

weapons effects. Experienced AFSWP instructors were not 

128 
available until the third orientation session, from 12 to 24 May. 

Finally, the Camp Desert Rock training aids were inadequate 

(42; 108). 

5.1.2 Personnel Dosimetry 

Desert Rock personnel entering the forward area during 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER were to wear film badges to measure 

their exposure to ionizing radiation. The Signal Section 

obtained film badges from the AFSWP Radiological Safety Group and 

issued them to participants no later than 1800 hours on the day 

before the shot. After the troops had completed their activities 

and returned to Camp Desert Rock, Signal Section personnel 

collected the film badges by 1800 hours on shot-day. The Signal 

Officer then returned the badges to the AFSWP Radiological Safety 

Group, which processed and interpreted them to determine 

individual exposure to radiation (91; 108). 

5.1.3 Protective Equipment 

According to the operations orders and the Desert Rock Final 

Report of Operations, Desert Rock troops entering the forward 

area on shot-days carried protective masks, which were worn on 

command. Figure 5-l shows Marines rehearsing use of protective 

masks before the maneuver at Shot DOG. Although Desert Rock 

troops wore no special protective clothing, they were required to 

keep their standard fatigues tucked securely into their boot 

tops and to keep their sleeves and collars tightly buttoned to 

minimize contamination of underclothing and skin (102; 103; 108). 

5.1.4 Monitoring 

Radiological ground surveys of the test area generally began 

after the shock wave passed and when the Test Director gave 

129 

permission. At Shots ABLE, BAKER, EASY, and HOW, the AFSWP 

Radiological Safety Group conducted all radiological monitoring. 

At Shots CHARLIE, DOG, and FOX, Desert Rock monitors accompanied 

monitors from the AFSWP Radiological Safety Group during initial 

surveys of the Desert Rock area. At Shot GEORGE, however, the 

Desert Rock monitors conducted the initial survey of the manc?uver 

area without AFSWP supervision (91; 108). 

Whenever Desert Rock troops entered radiation areas, Sixth 

Army Chemical, Biological, and Radiological monitors preceded the 

troops and surveyed routes of approach to and through radiation 

areas. The monitors notified the Exercise Director by radio when 

it was safe for troops to advance toward ground zero. The forward limit for Desert Rock personnel was the 0.5 roentgen-perhour (R/h) radiation line (91; 102; 103; 108). 

5.1.5 Decontamination 

The objective of decontamination procedures at Exercise 

Desert Rock IV was to ensure that no troops or vehicles left the 

forward area of the Nevada Proving Ground with radioactivity in 

excess of established limits. For all shots, the limit of 

personnel and vehicle contamination was 0.01 R/h. 

After troops had finished their maneuvers or their tour of 

equipment displays, they returned to the trench area, where 

their clothing was brushed to remove dust. Monitors then 

surveyed personnel, using AN/PDR-TlB meters, which they held 

about five centimeters from the surface being surveyed. 

Personnel who still exceeded the prescribed radiation limit were 

sent to the decontamination station operated by Army monitors and 

the Engineer Section. This station was one kilometer north of 

the Control Point at Yucca Pass, UTM coordinates 848888. There 

they were required to shower and change their clothing. Monitors 

checked these individuals after they had showered to ensure that 

intensities had been reduced to the prescribed limit. 

131 
Vehicles and equipment were also first brushed in the 

forward area to remove dust. If this measure failed to reduce 

the radiation intensities to 0.01 R/h or lower, vehicles were 

driven onto a rock bed at the decontamination station and washed 

with detergent and water. After each washing, monitors measured 

the contamination level with portable survey instruments. If 

repeated washings would not reduce contamination to permissible 

levels, the vehicles were isolated and allowed to stand until 

radioactive decay reduced contamination levels to 0.01 R/h or 

lower. When radiation levels had been reduced below that limit, 

the vehicles were returned to service at Camp Desert Rock 

(102; 103; 108). 

5.2 RADIATION PROTECTION FOR THE JOINT AEC-DOD ORGANIZATION 

The Test Director was responsible for the radiological 

safety of all members of the joint AEC-DOD organization at the 

Nevada Proving Ground during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. The 

gamma exposure limit established for TUMBLER-SNAPPER participants 

was 3.0 roentgens, with the exception of the cloud-sampling 

pilots and crew who were permitted to receive exposures up to 

3.9 roentgens.* To ensure that both onsite and offsite 

radiological safety procedures were followed, the Department of 

Defense established the Radiological Safety Group (25; 134). 

The Radiological Safety Group was organized as shown in 

figure 5-2. Appointed by AFSWP, the Radiation Safety Director 

implemented the Test Director's radiation protection policy, 

which addressed the radiological safety of all persons within 320 

kilometers of the Nevada Proving Ground. To implement this 

policy, the Radiation Safety Director supervised and 

*The radiological safety report indicates that 3.9 roentgens was 

the established limit at TUMBLER-SNAPPER (91). However, this 

limit, except for the sampling crews, has not been verified in 

any other pre- or post-action report. 

132 
I Monitoring F 

Dosimetry 

and 

Records 

Aerial 

Surveys I Radiac I 

Measurements 

I Radiation 

Safetv I 

SUPPlY 

I 

Figure 5-2: AFSWP RADIOLOGICAL SAFETY ORGANIZATION 
coordinated all activities of the Radiological Safety Group and 

informed the Test Director of onsite and offsite radiological 

conditions. The Radiation Safety Director was also responsible 

for radiological safety operations at Indian Springs AFB 

(91; 134). 

The following elements made up the AFSWP Radiological Safety 

Group (53; 91): 

0 216th Chemical Service Company, consisting of four officers and 134 enlisted men from Rocky Mountain Arsenal, 

Colorado 

0 995th Quartermaster Laundry Company Detachment, involving 

one officer and 14 enlisted men from Fort Devens, 

Massachusetts 

l 17th Chemical Technical Intelligence Detachment, consisting of two officers and seven enlisted men from the 

Army Chemical Center, Maryland 

0 Five officers and five enlisted men from the Department 

of the Navy 

a Ten officers from the Department of the Air Force 

a Three officers and seven enlisted men from Test Command, 

AFSWP 

a Five officers from Headquarters, AFSWP. 

The activities performed by the AFSWP Radiological Safety 

Group included (91): 

a Advising the Test Director on measures to ensure the 

radiological safety of all personnel involved in the 

operation 

a Furnishing all ground monitoring services for both scientific programs and radiological safety procedures 

within a '320-kilometer radius of the NPG 

a Providing current radiological situation charts and maps 

showing onsite and offsite data obtained by ground and 

aerial surveys of the terrain 

a Issuing, processing, and maintaining records of all 

personnel dosimeters 

134 
l Operating decontamination facilities for personnel, 

vehicles, and equipment 

l Receiving reports from cloud-tracking aircraft to advise 

the Test Director of the need to close air lanes 

0 Packaging radioactive material for shipment offsite. 

5.2.1 Onsite Operations 

The Onsite Operations Department was organized into five 

sections (91): 

0 

l 

l 

l 

0 

Members 

logical 

0 

Dosimetry and Records 

Monitoring 

Plotting and Briefing 

Personnel Decontamination 

Vehicle Decontamination. 

of these sections were responsible for all onsite radiosafety activities. Specifically, they were to (91; 134): 

Provide test participants with film badges and pocket 

dosimeters 

Provide radiation monitors for test group projects 

Conduct initial radiation surveys and delineate radiation 

areas in the field by marking the 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, and 

10.0 R/h isointensity lines 

Maintain onsite radiation intensity maps 

Brief recovery personnel on radiological conditions in 

the shot area before recovery operations 

Control access into radiation areas 

Monitor and decontaminate personnel, vehicles, and equipment returning from radiation areas 

Process film badges and maintain film badge exposure 

records. 

135 
Dosimetry and Records 

For Shots ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, and DOG, the onsite unit of 

the Logistics and Materiel Department supervised the Dosimetry 

and Records Section. On 3 May 1952, the Dosimetry and Records 

Section was transferred from the Logistics and Materiel 

Department to the Onsite Operations Department (91). 

The Dosimetry and Records Section was to provide a DuPont 

Type 558 film badge and one or more self-reading pocket 

dosimeters to official reentry parties and other personnel 

entering a controlled radiation area (an area with radiation 

intensities exceeding 0.01 R/h). Section personnel processed 

film badges for all test participants, including Desert Rock 

personnel (91; 134). 

The Onsite Operations Officer determined daily requirements 

for film badges and pocket dosimeters for the groups taking part 

in the tests. A dosimetry clerk recorded the name, rank, service 

number (if appropriate), organization, and project affiliation of 

each participant in the group. He entered the data onto Form 

RlOl, the Daily Record of Radiation Exposure. This form, filled 

out in duplicate, listed the film badge number by the name of 

each individual using the device. 

The dosimetry clerk issued the duplicate copy of Form RlOl, 

together with the film badges and pocket dosimeters, to the mOnitor accompanying the party, or to the party leader if a monitor 

was not required. The Dosimetry and Records Section retained the 

original copy of Form RlOl pending return of the dosimeters. 

Upon completion of the mission, the monitor or party leader collected the dosimeters and returned them and the copy of Form RlOl 

to the clerk at the Dosimetry and Records Section. 

Film badges were sent along with Form RlOl to the film badge 

processing laboratory in the Radiological Safety Building at the 
Control Point. The film badges were processed by 0800 hours on 

the following day. After developing the badges, members of the 

Dosimetry Section determined the net optical density, or darkness, of the film. Using a standard calibration curve, they then 

determined the radiation exposure indicated by various film 

densities. Dosimetry personnel entered the density reading and 

the exposure reading on Form RlOl. 

In addition to Form RlOl, the Dosimetry and Records Section 

maintained Form R102, Individual Accumulated Radiation Exposure 

Record, as a permanent record of cumulative individual exposure. 

At the completion of the daily dosimeter processing, members of 

the Dosimetry and Records Section transferred information from 

Form RlOl to Form R102. They sent cumulative exposure records 

for each individual to the Radiological Safety Director. The 

names of individuals who had accumulated more than 2.0 roentgens 

of gamma radiation exposure were underscored (91; 134). At the 

end of Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, the Dosimetry and Records 

Section compiled the records of individual total exposures into a 

report (22; 91). 

Monitoring 

The Monitoring Section performed the daily monitoring 

assignments required by the Onsite Operations Officer. These 

assignments included (91; 134): 

0 Conducting initial ground surveys of shot areas 

0 Posting signs warning of radiation areas 

0 Operating checkpoints 

0 Accompanying program and project personnel into 

areas with radiation intensities greater than 

0.1 R/h. 

Monitors conducted initial ground surveys soon after each 

detonation, beginning from several minutes to almost an hour 

* 

137 
after shot-time. The initial survey party, probably four or five 

two-man teams, traveled in radio-equipped vehicles to the shot 

area where they took radiation intensity readings. Beginning 

with Shot BAKER, these readings were taken along stake lines 

already laid out at the eight major compass headings from ground 

zero. Monitoring teams moved inward along the stake lines toward 

ground zero, taking radiation intensity readings at go-meter 

intervals until they reached an intensity of 10.0 R/h. The 

monitors radioed information on the radiation intensity, 

location, and time to personnel in the Plotting and Briefing 

Section, who then drew radiation isointensity contour maps. The 

monitoring teams usually resurveyed the shot area on several days 

after the detonation. Occasional variations of these procedures 

are indicated in the discussions of monitoring within the 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER multi-shot volumes. 

The sign-posting detail, consisting of one officer and four 

enlisted men, posted signs and placed road barricades in radiation areas as directed by the Onsite Operations Officer. Members 

of the detail placed signs daily on barricades delineating the 

0.01 R/h lines on all main and secondary access roads. This 

detail was also responsible for positioning signs on the 0.1 R/h 

isointensity line. 

Checkpoint monitors were responsible for ensuring that each 

party entering a controlled area had a properly authorized area 

access clearance form issued by the Onsite Operations Office. 

The checkpoint monitors made sure that the names and numbers of 

individuals in the party and its protective equipment agreed with 

the entries on the form. If the form was filled in correctly, 

the monitor entered the time of entry on the document and 

returned it to the party proceeding into the forward area. When 

the party returned to the checkpoint, the monitor filled in the 

exit time and submitted the form on that day to the Onsite 

Operations Office, where the documents were filed (33; 91). 

138 
In addition to processing area access forms, the checkpoint 

monitors surveyed personnel and their equipment with Beckman MX-5 

survey meters and provided the party with brooms to sweep dust 

from themselves and the equipment. The primary purpose of this 

preliminary decontamination was to prevent contaminated dust from 

accumulating on personnel (91; 134). 

Plotting and Briefing 

The duties of the Plotting and Briefing Section included 

plotting radiological situation maps based upon information 

provided by survey parties. Members of this section, who worked 

in the Plotting and Briefing Room of the Radiological Safety 

Building, developed maps showing the location of 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 

and 10.0 R/h isointensity areas. They updated these maps daily, 

or as often as resurveys were conducted. The Radiological Safety 

Director received up-to-date copies of these maps. 

A member of thPs section briefed the leader and monitor of 

each party before that party entered a controlled radiation area. 

The briefing included an explanation of the radiological 

conditions in the area, of the location of checkpoints, and of 

the radiological safety regulations for radiation areas. After 

completing his presentation, the individual who had given the 

briefing signed the area access clearance form for the party and 

gave the form to the party monitor or leader (91; 134). 

Personnel Decontamination 

The Personnel Decontamination Section was responsible for 

monitoring and, if necessary, decontaminating individuals returning from radiation areas. One monitor, positioned outside the 

entrance to the Personnel Decontamination Section, directed all 

individuals to remove tape, booties, and gloves, in that order, 

and to put them in designated receptacles. All gloves and 

booties were considered contaminated without monitoring. Next, 

two monitors with Beckman MX-5 portable survey instruments 

i39 
surveyed personnel in the checkroom, as shown in figure 5-3. 

Outer garments and equipment registering radiation levels in 

excess of 0.007 R/h of gamma radiation, or undergarments and 

external respirator surfaces registering levels in excess of 

0.002 R/h of beta and gamma radiation, measured about five 

centimeters from surfaces, were turned in to a member of the 

Supply Section. After this check, personnel took showers. One 

monitor was stationed at the shower exit to check skin contamination. Personnel showing radiation intensities in excess of 

0.002 R/h returned to the showers (91; 134). 

Vehicle Decontamination 

The Vehicle Decontamination Section was responsible for 

monitoring and decontaminating equipment and vehicles returning 

from contaminated areas. Vehicles and equipment leaving the test 

area were stopped and monitored for contamination at checkpoints. 

Vehicles and equipment registering less than 1,000 counts per 

minute of alpha contamination per 55 square centimeters, less 

than 0.002 R/h of gamma radiation outside, and less than 0.002 

R/h of gamma plus beta radiation inside passed through the 

checkpoints. Vehicles and equipment exceeding these radiation 

levels were sent to the decontamination station (91; 134). 

Decontamination consisted initially of washing the contaminated item with steam and hot soapy water on a ramp and allowing 

it to drain. Personnel monitored the vehicle or equipment after 

it was washed t.o determine whether the decontamination was successful. If the radiation intensities had not been reduced to 

less than 0.002 R/h, the washing and monitoring procedure was 

repeated until the contamination was reduced to the desired 

level. If contamination could not be reduced after five or six 

washings, the vehicle or equipment was placed in a "hot park" 

adjacent to the decontamination building until radioactive decay 

reduced contamination to an acceptable level. The hot park was 

supervised by decontamination personnel, and vehicles or 

140 

equipment could not be removed without approval of the Vehicle 

Decontamination Section Officer. Personnel periodically 

monitored vehicles and equipment in the hot park, and when the 

radiation intensities had decayed to less than 0.002 R/h, the 

vehicles and equipment were returned to service (91; 134). 

5.2.2 Offsite Operations 

The Offsite Operations Department consisted of about ten 

officers and 50 enlisted men. Under the command of the Offsite 

Operations Officer, this department was responsible for radiological safety within 320 kilometers of the Nevada Proving 

Ground. The main function of the Offsite Operations Department 

was collating reports from aerial radiological surveys and 

offsite ground surveys in order to prepare maps showing offsite 

radiological conditions. Personnel assigned to this department 

also measured the airborne and surface concentration of 

radioactivity in various areas and determined the offsite fallout 

pattern (91; 134). 

The department consisted of the following subsections: 

0 Ground Surveys 

0 Aerial Surveys 

0 Fallout Measurements 

0 Radiation Safety Information Center. 

Monitoring teams in vehicles conducted ground surveys up t0 

100 kilometers from the NPG. The two-man mobile teams, who were 

in radio contact with the Radiation Safety Information Center, 

varied in number at the shots from eight to 13. 

Aerial surveys consisted of cloud tracking and terrain 

surveys, both of which are discussed in chapter 4 of this volume. 

B-25 and B-29 aircraft tracked the cloud resulting from the 

detonation at various altitudes by flying as close to the cloud 

142 
as possible without exceeding radiation intensities of 0.002 to 

0.005 R/h. Monitors in C-47 and L-20 aircraft conducted aerial 

surveys of the terrain at heights of 500 to 1,000 feet. These 

surveys were used to delineate the offsite fallout pattern. 

Other offsite personnel operated air-sampling and fallout 

stations. Approximately 18 of these stations, located from 30 to 

320 kilometers from the NPG, were operated for at least 24 hours 

after each detonation. 

Finally, one officer and six non-commissioned officers 

operated the Radiation Safety Information Center at the Control 

Point. Information from ground and aerial surveys was radioed to 

the center, where plots were made showing the fallout path and 

the radiation levels at offsite locations (91; 134). 

5.2.3 Logistics and Materiel 

The Logistics and Materiel Department furnished the 

Radiological Safety Group with supplies, equipment, transportation, and communications. This department consisted of the 

following sections (91; 134): 

0 SUPPlY 

0 Radiac Issue and Repair 

0 Transportation 

0 Communications. 

The Supply Section issued supplies, including protective 

equipment, on a daily basis. 

Personnel in the Radiac Issue and Repair Section issued 

instruments for detecting beta and gamma radiation. They 

repaired and calibrated these instruments as needed after use. 

Personnel in this section were also participants in Project 6.1, 

Evaluation of Military Radiac Equipment (91; 151). 

143 
The Transportation Section operated a 24-hour motor pool, 

with at least one mechanic on duty at all times. Members of this 

section, which maintained military vehicles only, kept a daily 

record of all vehicles dispatched and returned. 

The Communications Section operated and maintained the 

equipment used to radio survey results from the field to the 

Control Point (91; 134). 

5.2.4 Indian Springs Operations 

Although this department followed the standard procedures 

established by the Radiological Safety Group, it operated 

independently because of the special mission of AFSWC. Details 

of AFSWC's radiological safety operations are presented in the 

next section (82; 91; 134). 

5.3 RADIATION PROTECTION FOR AIR FORCE SPECIAL WEAPONS 

CENTER PERSONNEL 

During Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, the Air Force Special 

Weapons Center provided two types of air support to the test 

groups: test air operations and support air operations. The 

test air operations included all aircraft directly involved in 

test missions and projects, such as cloud sampling and cloud 

tracking. Support air operations included all other aircraft not 

directly involved in these test missions, such as sample 

couriers. 

The radiological safety of air and ground personnel involved 

in AFSWC test and support operations was the responsibility of 

the Test Director. He adopted the joint AEC-DOD organization's 

exposure limit of 3.0 roentgens for the entire operation. 

Sampling pilots were permitted to receive up to 3.9 roentgens of 

gamma radiation (82; 91; 134). 

144 
The Test Director's Operations Order, dated 2 February 1952, 

outlined the responsibilities of the Air Force Special Weapons 

Center and other organizations participating in TUMBLER-SNAPPER. 

AFSWC was responsible for a number of tasks related to the 

radiological safety of its personnel, including (134): 

0 Briefing the air and ground crews on radiation 

safety precautions 

0 Providing protective equipment, film badges, 

dosimeters, and radiac instruments 

0 Providing monitors trained in radiological 

safety 

0 Decontaminating personnel, aircraft, and 

equipment. 

The 4925th Test Group (Atomic) was responsible for radiological safety operations at Indian Springs AFB. Two officers 

and eight airmen were assigned to radiological safety operations. 

The officer in charge came from the Radiological Section of the 

4925th Test Group (Atomic), and the other personnel came from 

various squadrons and groups at Kirtland AFB. The eight airmen 

had the following duties: 

0 One was responsible for seeing that decontamination 

procedures were performed safely. 

0 One operated the decontamination equipment.. 

0 Six doubled as radiological monitors and wash-crew 

personnel. 

The airman responsible for the safety of decontamination 

activities was trained in the Passive Defense Section of the 

34th Air Division. Several of the other airmen had attended a 

40-hour course in basic nuclear science (82). 

In addition, one man from the supply department distributed 

the film badges, which were obtained before each shot from the 

AFSWP Radiological Safety Group at the NPG Control Point. This 

individual was also responsible for returning the badges to the 

145 
AFSWP Radiological Safety Group for processing and then keeping 

records of film badge exposures after AFSWP returned the results 

to Indian Springs (82). 

The radiological safety office and personnel decontamination 

center were located in a large quonset hut on the eastern end of 

the flight line at Indian Springs AFB. These facilities 

consisted of an office, a supply room, a dressing room, and 

showers and latrines (82). 

At Kirtland AFB, the 4901st Support Wing (Atomic) performed 

radiological safety activities similar to those at Indian Springs 

AFB (82). 

5.3.1 Briefing 

Before each mission, ground and air crews at Kirtland AFB 

and Indian Springs AFB attended briefings concerning the weather, 

the mission, and precautions to minimize exposures to radiation 

while performing the mission. These briefings, given by the 

4925th Test Group at Indian Springs and at Kirtland, were usually 

presented the day before each shot. At the time of the briefings, crews received film badges and pocket dosimeters (8; 82). 

5.3.2 Protective Equipment 

The primary goal of the AFSWC radiation protection program 

was to ensure the radiological safety of AFSWC members by 

minimizing their exposure to radiation. AFSWC developed 

procedures to minimize exposure to ionizing radiation. 

To minimize internal exposure, which occurs primarily 

through inhalation of radioactive material, AFSWC ground 

personnel wore respiratory protection devices if they worked in 

enclosed spaces or in activities resulting in airborne 

146 
radioactive material, such as the unloading of cloud samples. 

Individuals with open cuts could not enter radiation areas unless 

the cuts were covered. Ground crews wore protective clothing 

over their regulation clothing while in radiation areas. Proper 

wear of protective clothing included closing openings in the 

coveralls with masking tape. Protective clothing included: 

0 Fatigue suits and caps 

0 Shoes and boots 

0 Rubber chemical gloves 

0 White cotton gloves. 

Upon leaving radiation areas, personnel removed this clothing, 

showered, and put on clean clothing in order to reduce the 

chances that they would spread contamination (8; 82). 

Procedures had been tested during Operations SANDSTONE and 

RANGER for minimizing the possibility that cloud-sampling crews 

would inhale airborne radioactive particles. B-29 crews, for 

instance, operated depressurized aircraft and remained on full 

oxygen during the entire sampling mission. Although this method 

was effective, the pilots were uncomfortable in depresstTrized 

aircraft. At TUMBLER-SNAPPER, the B-29 samplers were pressurized, with a filtration system added to the air pressurization 

system of these aircraft (8; 137). 

AFSWC personnel entering radiation areas also wore film 

badges, provided and processed by the AFSWP Radiological Safety 

Group. After Shot BAKER, when there were indications that some 

of the film badges were giving erroneous readings, it became the 

procedure to wear two badges, taped side by side. The average of 

the two readings was recorded (82). 

5.3.3 Monitoring and Decontamination 

Monitors at both Kirtland AFB and Indian Springs AFB used 

portable radiation detection instruments to check for radioactive 

147 
contamination on personnel and aircraft. The radiation detection 

instruments used at Indian Springs AFB included: 

0 AN/PDR-TlB ion chamber 

0 AN/PDR-23 ion chamber 

0 Beckman MX-5 beta-gamma survey meter 

0 Electronic integrating ion chamber dosimeter 

0 Pocket dosimeters with ranges of O-0.002 roentgens, 

O-l roentgen, O-5 roentgens, and O-10 roentgens. 

The assessment of contamination levels was an important step in 

establishing controlled areas and in determining whether procedures had been successful (8; 82). To prevent the spread of 

contamination, and thus reduce personnel exposure to radiation, 

AFSWC developed special contamination control procedures for 

aircrews, groundcrews, and aircraft. These procedures are 

explained below. 

Personnel 

AFSWC ground personnel planning to enter radiation areas 

obtained protective clothing, film badges, and dosimeters from 

the radiological safety section. Monitors accompanied individuals working in radiation areas. On leaving the radiation 

areas, personnel were monitored. If radiation intensities 

greater than 0.002 R/h of gamma radiation were detected after 

participants had removed their protective clothing, the personnel 

showered to reduce the intensities and then put on clean clothing 

(8; 82). 

Aircraft 

After landing, aircraft taxied to a designated decontamination area. There they were met by radiological monitors, 

who surveyed the aircraft to determine the level of radioactive 

contamination. Figure 5-4 shows monitors practicing aircraft 

survey techniques (9). 

148 

Aircraft with gamma radiation intensities of 0.02 R/h and 

greater were decontaminated by a special cleaning procedure. 

B-29 aircraft used in the early phase of Operation TUMBLERSNAPPER were first sprayed with a cleaning compound known as 

"gunk." The wash crew then rinsed the aircraft's surface with 

cold water. Later in the test series, a steam generator became 

available, and the aircraft were first sprayed with steam 

containing a cleaning compound and then rinsed with cold water. 

B-29 engines were sprayed with gunk and flushed with cold water. 

The wash crews used a similar procedure to decontaminate T-33s. 

For F-84 aircraft, only the surface was sprayed with gunk, steam, 

and cold water; no attempt was made to clean the engine. If 

repeated washings did not reduce radiation intensities to 

acceptable levels, the aircraft were parked in "hot parks" and 

marked with radiation signs while the radioactivity was allowed 

to decay. Figure 5-5 pictures a member of the decontamination 

crew washing a T-33 cloud sampler (9). 

A study of sampling aircraft decontamination was conducted 

as Project 6.5, Decontamination of Aircraft, discussed in chapter 

4 of this volume. Radiation monitors were present during all 

phases of the decontamination, and decontamination crew members 

wore protective clothing, film badges, and pocket dosimeters (8; 

82; 156). 

Special procedures were developed for the removal of cloud 

samples from sampling aircraft. These procedures were designed 

to prevent personnel from contacting contaminated surfaces. To 

avoid direct contact with the samples, members of the filter 

removal team removed the particulate samples from the wing-tip 

chambers with long-handled tools, as shown in figure 5-6. Before 

the samples were placed in lead-shielded containers, members of 

the AFSWC Radiological Safety Group monitored the intensity of 

the samples, as shown in figure 5-7. Courier aircraft took the 

samples to laboratories for analysis. Samples were packaged in 

150 



lead shielding sufficient to ensure that personnel in the courier 

aircraft would not be exposed to radiation intensities exceeding 

0.02 R/h (8; 9; 82). 

154 
CHAPTER 6 

DOSIMETRY FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

PERSONNEL AT OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

This chapter summarizes the data available as of June 1982 

regarding the radiation doses received by Department of Defense 

personnel during their participation in various military and 

scientific activities during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. It is 

based on research that identified the participants, their unit or 

organizational assignment, and their doses. 

6.1 PARTICIPATION DATA 

The identity of participants was determined from several 

sources: 

Report of Exercise Desert Rock IV: April-June 1952 

provided information on unit participation and 

activities of Desert Rock organizations (108). 

Weapons test reports for AFSWP and other scientific 

projects often identified personnel, units, and 

organizations that participated in the operation. 

After-action reports, security rosters, and vehicleloading rosters related to the military exercises 

identified some participants. 

Morning reports, unit diaries, and muster rolls 

identified personnel assigned to participating 

units, absent from their home unit, or in transit 

for the purpose of participating in a nuclear 

weapons test. 

Official travel or reassignment orders provided 

information on the identity of transient or assigned 

personnel participating in the nuclear weapons 

tests. 

Discharge records, maintained by all services, aided 

in identification. 

155 
0 The exposure report of the AFSWP Radiological Safety 

Group listed the names, units, and total gamma doses 

for joint AEC-DOD participants at TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

(22). 

0 A widely publicized national call-in campaign 

sponsored by the Department of Defense has 

identified some of the nuclear weapons test 

participants. 

6.2 SOURCES OF DOSIMETRY DATA 

Most of the dosimetry data for Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

were derived from film badge records. As stated in chapter 5, 

the AFSWP Radiological Safety Group maintained dosimetry records 

for each participant. 

During Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, the film badge was the 

primary device used to measure 'the radiation dose received by 

individual participants. The film badge, normally worn at chest 

level on the outside of clothing, was designed to measure the 

wearer's exposure to gamma radiation from external sources. The 

film badge was insensitive, however, to neutron radiation and did 

not measure the amount of radioactive material, if any, that may 

have been inhaled or ingested. 

Radiological safety personnel issued, received, developed, 

and interpreted film badges during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. 

They recorded film badge data manually, maintaining a dosimetry 

record for each participant. At the conclusion of the operation, 

all dose records for Desert Rock participants and all records 

indicating overexposure for AFSWP and scientific personnel were 

forwarded to their home stations. When the individual left the 

service, his records were retired to a Federal records repository 

(91; 108). 

156 
The film badge data summarized in this chapter were obtained 

from the following sources: 

Historical files of the Reynolds Electrical and 

Engineering Company, the prime support contractor to 

the Department of Energy (and previously to the AEC 

Nevada Operations Office). REECo has provided 

support at the Nevada Test Site since 1952. REECo 

assumed responsibility for onsite radiological 

safety after Operation TEAPOT in July 1955 and 

subsequently collected available dosimetry records 

for nuclear test participants at all nuclear testing 

operations from 1945 to the present. REECo has on 

microfilm the available exposure records for 

individuals working under the joint AEC-DOD 

organization at Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. 

Military medical records, maintained at the National 

Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri, for 

troops separated from military service, or at the 

Veterans Administration, for individuals who have 

filed for disability compensation or health 

benefits. Unfortunately, many records were 

destroyed in a fire at the St. Louis repository in 

July 1973. That fire destroyed 13 to 17 million 

Army records for personnel discharged through 31 

December 1959 and for members of the Army Air 

Corps/Air Force discharged through 31 December 1963. 

The radiological safety report for Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER, which provides some information on 

participants who received gamma exposures (91). 

A list provided by REECo that gives the total 

exposures and units or home organization of many of 

the joint AEC-DOD organization personnel at TUMBLERSNAPPER (142). 

The exposure report of the AFSWP Radiological Safety 

Group that lists the names, units, and total gamma 

doses for joint AEC-DOD participants at TUMBLERSNAPPER (22). 

6.3 DOSIMETRY DATA FOR OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER PARTICIPANTS 

This section presents data on the external gamma radiation 

exposures received by AEC-DOD participants in Operation TUMBLERSNAPPER. 

157 
6.3.1 Format of Dosimetry Data 

Tables 6-1 through 6-6 present dosimetry data, organized by 

service or unit. This information includes: 

l The number of personnel identified by name 

0 The number of personnel identified by both name and 

film badge 

l The average gamma exposure in roentgens 

0 The distribution of these exposures. 

Table 6-l summarizes all exposures for each service 

affiliation. In addition to the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and 

Air Force designations, the table has information on scientific 

personnel, contractors, and affiliates. Tables 6-2 through 6-6 

provide information about the gamma exposures received by the 

various participants. In these tables, distributions and 

averages are given by unit, home station, or organization. For a 

unit or organization to be represented in the tables, it must 

meet at least one of the following criteria: 

0 Records are available for ten or more individuals 

from the unit. 

0 At least one individual in the unit had a gamma 

exposure of 1.0 roentgen or more. 

Units not meeting these criteria are consolidated in tables 6-2 

through 6-6 in the "other" category, and a distribution of total 

exposures with an average is provided for them. Tables 6-2a 

through 6-6a list the individual units that constitute the 

"other" category in tables 6-2 through 6-6 (72). The individual 

film badge records summarized in tables 6-6 and 6-6a are for 

civilians employed either directly or indirectly by the 

Department of Defense. In most cases, the records contained 

information on the project on which the individual worked but not 

on the organization by which he was employed. Hence, the 

organizations that fielded the projects have been researched and 

are included in the table. 

158 
6.3.2 Instances of Gamma Exposure Exceeding Established Limits 

As stated in chapter 5, the gamma exposure limit for 

participants at TUMBLER-SNAPPER was 3.0 roentgens (108). Cloud 

sampling pilots, however, were authorized to receive exposures up 

to 3.9 roentgens (82). Table 6-7 lists the units or organizations that included AEC-DOD personnel who received gamma 

exposures in excess of the established limits (22; 72; 142). 

Several of the overexposed personnel listed in table 6-7 

participated in Military Effects Test Group projects that 

required them to enter radiation areas to retrieve instruments 

and records. Some of these projects, with their fielding 

organizations, are: 

0 Project 2.1 (Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories) 

0 Project 6.1 (Bureau of Ships; Signal Corps 

Engineering Laboratories) 

0 Project 17.1 (Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory). 

In addition, research indicates that the individual from the Army 

Chemical Center participated in Project 1.9, "Pre-shock Dust," 

and that the participant from the Engineer Research and 

Development Laboratories took part in Project 3.4, "Minefield 

Clearance." 

Overexposures resulted from a variety of activities. For 

example, most personnel entered the test area at recovery hour or 

when permitted by the Test Manager, but personnel from Projects 

1.9, 2.1, and 17.1 were permitted to enter the shot area before 

recovery hour because immediate recovery of equipment or data was 

necessary to ensure accurate results. Personnel from Project 3.4 

inspected, recovered, and replaced land mines that had been 

placed around ground zero before the shot. To complete these 

activities, personnel may have spent considerable time in 

radiation areas. Project 6.1 personnel tested various radiac 

instruments and survey techniques under field conditions, which 

159 
required them to enter radiation areas (22; 46; 72; 92; 116; 138; 

142; 143; 151). 

Members of the Radiological Safety Group provided 

radiological safety monitors for all shots. These monitors 

accompanied AFSWP project personnel on many of the recovery 

missions. In addition, radiological safety personnel surveyed 

the shot area after each detonation and manned the checkpoints to 

the radiation areas. Members of the Radiological Safety Group 

spent more time in or near radiation areas than other personnel, 

especially because they repeated their activities during several 

shots. Personnel from the following units were members of the 

Radiological Safety Group at TUMBLER-SNAPPER (91): 

0 AFSWP Test Command 

0 Carswell AFB, Texas 

0 Naval Air Station, North Island, California 

0 216th Chemical Service Company. 

The 4925th TeSt Group gathered radioactive samples from 

the clouds resulting from the detonations for analysis by 

personnel from various test projects. Because this task required 

the pilots to fly near or through the clouds, their potential 

exposures were increased (82; 88). 

Documentation of the activities of the representatives from 

the Headquarters of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, 

Fort Belvoir, Fort McClellan, Indian Springs AFB, and the 1009th 

Special Weapons Squadron was not found. 

160 
Table 6-1: DISTRIBUTION OF GAMMA RADIATION EXPOSURES FOR 

OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER PARTICIPANTS BY 

AFFILIATION 

Personnel Average 

Personnel Identified Gamma Gamma Exposure (Roentgens) 

Identified by Name and Exposure 

Units by Name by Film Badge (Roentgens) <.I .I-1.0 1 .o-3.0 3.0-5.0 5.0+ 

Army 1786 843 .3S6 295 463 61 17 7 

Navy 493 130 .5S4 51 51 26 2 0 

Marine Corps 1980 25 .070 22 2 1 0 0 

Air Force 416 416 .497 177 184 36 17 2 

Scientific Personnel, Contractors, and Affiliates 389 389 575 206 98 72 12 1 

TOTAL 5064 1803 .468 751 798 196 48 10 
Table 6-2: DISTRIBUTION OF GAMMA RADIATION EXPOSURES FOR 

ARMY PERSONNEL AND AFFILIATES, OPERATION 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Personnel Average 

Personnel Identified Gamma 

Gamma Exposure (Roentgens) 

Identified by Name and Exposure 

Units by Name by Film Badge (Roentgens) <.l .I-1.0 1 .o-3.0 3.050 5.0+ 

Antiaircraft Artillery Detachment (Provisional) 11 0 

Army Chemical Center 3 2 2.483 0 0 1 1 0 

Desert Rock IV 729 729 0.153 288 432 9 0 0 

Edgewood Arsenal 3 3 1.949 0 0 3 0 0 

Engineer Research and Development Laboratories 1 1 5.930 0 0 0 0 1 

Fort Belvoir, VA 13 12 3.327 1 2 2 4 3 

Fort McClellan, AL 4 4 4.613 0 0 2 1 1 

Fort Monmouth, NJ 3 2 2.641 0 0 2 0 0 

Observers 10 1 0.024 1 0 0 0 0 

Radiation Safety 1 1 3.440 0 0 0 1 0 

Sixth Army 54 0 

Sixth Army Special Field Chemical, Radioiogical 47 0 

and Biological School 

1 st Armored Division 24 0 

1 st Armored Division, 701 st Armored Infantry 54 0 

Battalion 

11 th Airborne Division 13 0 

16th Signal Operations Battalion 13 0 

31 st Infantry Division (Dixie Division), Camp 16 0 

Atterbury. IN 

47th Infantry Division 25 0 

82nd Airborne Division 96 0 

216th Chemical Service Company 74 74 1.840 5 15 42 10 2 

369th Engineer Amphibious Support Regiment 57 3 0.157 0 3 0 0 0 

Other* 409 5 0.195 0 5 0 0 0 

Unit Unknown** 126 6 0.165 0 6 0 0 0 

TOTAL 1786 843 ,396 295 463 61 17 7 

* For list of units in this category, see table 6-2a. 

l * Unit information unavailable. 
Table 6-2a: DETAILED LISTING OF "OTHER" CATEGORY, 

ARMY PARTICIPANTS, OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Numbered Units 

First Army, Battalion (sic)* 

First Army, G-4 Headquarters [Governors Island, NY]** 

First Army, Provisional 

Second Army, Fort Meade, MD 

Third Army, Fort McPherson, GA 

Third Army, Antiaircraft Artillery Training Center 

[Camp Stewart, GA] 

Fifth Army, Chicago, IL 

III Corps Artillery, Fort MacArthur, CA 

VI Corps, Headquarters, G-3 Section [Camp Atterbury, IN] 

XVIII Airborne Corps, Artillery, Fort Bragg, NC 

1st Cavalry, [29th] Antiaircraft Gun Battalion [Chitose, Japan] 

1st Composite Group [Provisional], Headquarters Detachment, Fort 

Bliss, TX 

1st Division, Fort Hood, TX (sic) 

1st Heavy Artillery Support Group [Sandia Base, NM] 

1st MA Division (sic) 

1st Missile Group, TX (sic) 

1st Training Battalion, Battery "A" (sic) 

2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, TX [Bad Kreunsach, Germany] 

2nd Signal Photography, Camp Mercury, NV 

3rd Armored Cavalry [Regiment], Camp Pickett, VA 

3rd Armored Cavalry, Company "B" 

3rd Infantry Division [Korea] 

3rd Infantry Regiment, Washington, DC 

3rd Provisional Detachment, Fort Hood, TX 

4th Armored Division (sic) [Activated 15 June 1954 at Fort Hood, 

TX]*** 

5th Armored Division, Fort Chaffee, AR 

5th Infantry Division [Indiantown Gap, PA1 

6th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, Fort Sill, OK 

6th Infantry Division, Fort Ord, CA 

*“Sic” indicates that the table entry for the unit and/or home 

station appears as it was listed in source documentation. 

**Unit and/or home station verification based on the "Directory 

and Station List of the US Army" for April 1952 and June 1952. 

Additional information from the Station List is provided in 

brackets. 

***Unit files in Organizational History Branch, Office Chief of 

Military History. 

163 
Table 6-2a: DETAILED LISTING OF "OTHER" CATEGORY, 

ARMY PARTICIPANTS, OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

(Continued) 

6th Signal Corps (sic) 

6th Transportation Company (Helicopter) [Fort Hood, TX] 

8th Infantry Division, Fort Jackson, SC 

8th Trng, Fort Belvoir, VA (sic) 

9th Ordnance Battalion, Sandia Base, NM 

9th Antiaircraft Artillery Group [Fukuoka, Japan] 

10th Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KA 

10th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, NC 

11th Airborne Infantry Division, Fort Campbell, KY 

13th Infantry Division, Headquarters (sic) 

15th Signal Operations Company [Camp San Louis Obispo, CA] 

16th Armored Engineer Battalion, Fort Hood, TX 

17th Chemical Technical Intelligence Company [Rocky Mountain 

Arsenal, Denver, CO] 

19th Engineer Battalion, Company "B", Fort Meade, MD 

19th Infantry [Regiment], Company "I" [Sendai, Japan] 

21st Engineer Brigade (sic) 

21st Engineer Combat Battalion, Camp Carson, CO 

23rd Transportation Truck Company, Camp Roberts, CA 

24th Antiaircraft Artillery Group [Fort Dix, NJ] 

24th Evacuation Field Hospital, Fort Benning, GA 

24th Infantry Division, 52nd Field Artillery Battalion 

[Sendai, Japan] 

25th Armored Infantry Battalion, Fort Hood, TX 

26th Transportation [Truck] Battalion [Fort Hood, TX] 

27th Regimental Combat Team [25th Infantry Division, 

Chunchon, Korea] 

28th Transportation Truck Company [Taegu, Korea] 

29th Ordnance Battalion, Fort Bragg, NC 

30th Combat Training Company (sic) 

30th Infantry Regimental Combat Team [Fort Benning, GA] 

30th Infantry Reg Volunteer CBR of (sic) 

31st Transportation Company [Camp Roberts, CA] 

32nd Division (sic) 

37th Infantry Division, Camp/Fort Polk, LA 

38th Transportation Truck Company 

39th Engineer [Construction] Group [Ettlingen, Germany] 

42nd Morter, Fort Benning, GA (sic) 

43rd Truck Company [Yongdung po, Korea] 

44th Infantry Division, Camp Cooke, CA 

47th Medical Battalion [Fort Hood, TX] 

48th Infantry, 37th Division (sic) 

49th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion, Battery "C" 

49th Infantry (sic) 

164 
Table 6-2a: DETAILED LISTING OF "OTHER" CATEGORY, 

ARMY PARTICIPANTS, OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

(Continued) 

50th Chemical Maintenance Platoon (sic) [505th Chemical 

Maintenance Company, Fort Bragg, NC] 

52nd Antiaircraft Gun Battalion (sic) 

52nd Division, AA, Camp Roberts, CA (sic) 

60th [66th] Signal Battalion [Detachment, Fort Hood, TX] 

61st Infantry Training Battalion (sic) 

63rd Transportation Truck Company, Headquarters 122nd T (sic) 

65th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squad, 545th Detachment 

[Fort Devens, MA] 

68th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, Fort Hood, TX 

73rd Tank Battalion [Chunchon, Korea] 

77th Antiaircraft [Artillery Gun] Battalion [Camp Stewart, GA] 

77th Army Band [Fort Huachuca, AZ] 

81st Chemical Group [Fort Bragg, NC] 

87th Infantry Division (sic) [Regiment, Fort Riley, KS] 

89th [Antiaircraft Artillery] Gun Battalion, Battery "A" 

[Fort Meade, MD] 

91st [Armored] Field Artillery [Fort Hood, TX] 

94th Veterinary Food Inspection Service, Detachment 

95th Technical Service Unit (sic) 

1Olst Armored Infantry Battalion (sic) 

127th Engineer Combat Battalion, Company "B", Fort Bragg, NC 

135th Radiological Warfare ENG (sic) 

148th Truck Company, Fort Benning, GA 

151st Field Artillery, Fort Rucker, AL 

154th Signal Battalion (sic) 

161st Ordnance Depot Company [Camp Cooke, CA] 

161st Supply Company Part OR 393 R (sic) 

163rd Military Police Battalion, Company "C" [Fort Hood, TX] 

168th Military Police Battalion, Headquarters Company, Fort 

Meade, MD 

231st Engineer Combat Battalion [Fort Lewis, WA] 

278th Regimental Combat Team [Camp Drum, NY] 

301st Signal Photographic Company [Fort Hood, TX] 

303rd Signal Service Battalion [Fort Hood, TX] 

313th Signal Construction Battalion [Fort Meade, MD] 

314th Signal Construction Battalion, Detachment 

[S-an Luis Obispo, CA] 

315th Signal Battalion [Worms, Germany] 

325th Tank Battalion [Camp Irwin, CA] 

165 
Table 6-2a: DETAILED LISTING OF "OTHER" CATEGORY, 

ARMY PARTICIPANTS, OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

(Continued) 

330th Ordnance Battalion (3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment) 

[Camp Pickett, VA] 

360th Army Band [Fort Worden, WA] 

361st Engineer [Construction] Battalion [Fort Leonard Wood, MO] 

365th Ordnance [Battalion], Red River Arsenal [TX] 

374th Convalescent Center [Garmisch, Germany] 

393rd Ordnance [Battalion, Camp Cooke, CA] 

405th Medical Detachment (sic) 

412th Engineer Construction Battalion [Camp Roberts, CA] 

422nd Gun Battalion, Battery "A" (sic) 

449th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, Headquarters Company, 

Fort Bragg, NC 

464th Signal Battalion (sic) 

466th [Antiaircraft Artillery] Battalion, Camp Cooke, CA 

469th National Guard (sic) 

484th Engineer Construction Battalion, Headquarters and Service 

Company [Camp Atterbury, IN] 

501st Chemical [Depot Company, Fort McClellan, AL] 

503rd Signal Radio Operator Company [San Luis Obispo, CA] 

505th Military Police Battalion, Company "A", Camp Roberts, CA 

506th Helicopter Company, Fort Benning, GA 

508th [Field] Artillery [Battalion], Camp/Fort Polk, LA 

508th Regimental Combat Team (Airborne) [Fort Hood, TX] 

509P Signal Corps (sic) 

510th Armored Infantry (sic) [Battalion activated June 1954, Fort 

Hood, TX]*** 

515th Transportation Truck Company [Taegu, Korea] 

532nd Engineer Boat and Shore Battalion, Company "D" 

538th Field Artillery Battalion, Camp Carson, CO 

551st Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion, Camp Stewart (sic) 

562nd Transportation Staging Area Company [Camp Stoneman, CA] 

576th Transportation [Car] Company [Salzburg, Austria] 

597th Engineer Equipment Company [Fort Huachuca, AZ) 

601st Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, Battery "C" (sic) 

663rd Unit, Company "B", Fort Bragg, NC (sic) 

705th Engineer Field Maintenance [Company, Fort Huachuca, AZ] 

710th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion (sic) 

720th Field [Artillery] Battalion [Fort Lewis, WA1 

723rd Tank Battalion (sic) 

728th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion [Fort Bliss, TX] 

166 
Table 6-2a: DETAILED LISTING OF "OTHER" CATEGORY, 

ARMY PARTICIPANTS, OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

(Continued) 

752nd Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion, Oakland, CA (sic) 

773rd Tank Battalion [Fort Benning, GA] 

936th Field Artillery Battalion [Taegu, Korea] 

973rd Engineer Construction Battalion, Camp Carson, CO 

4005th ASV, Fort Hood, TX (sic) 

4005th Medical Detachment, Fort Hood, TX 

6002 Area Service Unit (sic) 

6003 Area Service Unit, Headquarters Company, Fort Ord, CA (sic) 

6006 ASU, Fort Lewis, WA (sic) 

6020 ASU, Camp Desert Rock (sic) 

9393rd Technical Service Unit, Ordnance Detachment 2 (sic) 

9471st Technical Service Unit [Fort Monmouth, NJ] 

9771st Technical Service Unit, Dugway Proving Ground (sic) 

[Toolele, UT] 

Department of the Army 

Army Corps of Engineers 

Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence 

Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations 

Office Chief of Finance 

Office Chief of Ordnance 

Office of Chief Chemical Corps 

Office of Provost Marshal General 

Office of Surgeon General 

Office Quartermaster General 

Research and Development (sic) 

Commands 

Army Caribbean Command, Canal Zone 

Chemical Corps Training Command (sic) 

Far East Command, Headquarters, Tokyo, Japan 

Missile Command (sic) 

Schools 

Antiaircraft and Guided Missile Branch of The Artillery School, 

Fort Bliss, TX 

Chemical Corps School, Fort McClellan, AL 

Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KA 

Engineer School, Fort Belvoir, VA 

(The) Infantry School, Fort Benning, GA 

167 
Table 6-2a: DETAILED LISTING OF "OTHER" CATEGORY, 

ARMY PARTICIPANTS, OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

(Continued) 

Medical Field Service School, Fort Sam Houston, TX 

Medical Training Center, Camp Pickett, VA 

Military Police Replacement Training Center [Camp Gordon, GA] 

Ordnance School, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 

Southeastern Signal School, Fort Gordon, GA 

Southwestern Signal School, Camp San Louis Obispo, CA 

Locations 

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 

Camp Cooke, CA 

Camp Drum, NY 

Camp Mercury, NV 

Camp Pickett, VA 

Camp/Fort Polk, LA 

Camp Roberts, CA 

Ent Air Force Base, CO 

Fort Bliss, TX 

Fort Bragg, NC 

Camp Carson, CO 

Fort Dix, NJ 

Fort Eustis, VA 

Fort Hood, TX 

Fort Jackson, SC 

Fort Knox, KY 

Fort Lawton, WA 

Fort McNair, Washington, DC 

Fort Ord, CA 

Fort Riley, KA 

Fort Worden, WA 

Redstone Arsenal, AL 

Miscellaneous 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Sandia Base, NM 

Army Medical Corps, Headquarters Detachment 

Army Medical Service 

Army Pictorial Center 

Control Group Alpha (sic) 

Dept Combined Arms Special Weapons (sic) 

Engineer Provisional Company (sic) 

Engineer Unit, Fort Wagner, WA (sic) 

Hunters Point Battery DOG, San Francisco (sic) 

Joint Chiefs of Staff 

Joint Task Force 132, TG1322 (sic) 

Medical Corps at Test (sic) 

168 
Table 6-2a: DETAILED LISTING OF "OTHER" CATEGORY, 

ARMY PARTICIPANTS, OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

(Continued) 

Office Chief Army Field Forces, Fort Monroe, VA 

Ordnance Board [Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD] 

Quartermaster Research and Development, Fort Lee, VA 

Radiation Safety 

ROTC of A&M College (sic) 

Separation Unit, Fort Hood, TX 

Special Weapons Operation Corps (sic) 

169 
Table 6-3: DISTRIBUTION OF GAMMA RADIATION EXPOSURES FOR 

NAVY PERSONNEL AND AFFILIATES, OPERATION 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Personnel Average 

Personnel Identified Gamma 

Gamma Exposure (Roentgensl 

Identified by Name and Exposure ’ 

Units by Name by Film Badge (Roentgens) -=I.1 .l-1.0 1 J-3.0 3.0-5.0 5.0+ 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project 29 12 0.717 7 2 2 1 0 

Atomic Energy Commission 3 2 1.535 0 1 1 0 0 

Bureau of Ships 3 2 0.950 1 0 1 0 0 

Chief of Naval Operations 11 0 

Commander Training Atlantic 2 1 2.670 0 0 1 0 0 

Joint Chiefs of Staff 2 1 2.688 0 0 1 0 0 

Naval Administrative Unit, Kirtland AFB 11 2 0.255 1 1 0 0 0 

Naval Air Station, North Island, CA 1 1 4.215 0 0 0 1 0 

Naval Material Laboratory 1 1 1.955 0 0 1 0 0 

Naval Medical Research Institute 20 13 0.421 7 3 3 0 0 

Naval Ordnance Laboratory 23 9 0.178 3 6 0 0 0 

Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory 36 22 0.680 10 6 6 0 0 

Naval Research Laboratory 59 38 0.488 11 19 8 0 0 

1st Marine Corps Provisional Atomic Exercise Battalion* 66 0 

2d Marine Corps Provisional Atomic Exercise Battalion* 70 1 0.995 0 1 0 0 0 

Others*” 67 14 0.354 5 9 0 0 0 

Unknown*‘* 87 11 0.461 6 3 2 0 0 

TOTAL 493 130 0.594 51 51 26 2 0 

* Naval support personnel assigned to the Marine Corps. 

l * For list of units in this category, see table 63a. 

l ** Unit information unavailable. 
Table 6-3a: DETAILED LISTING OF "OTHER" 

CATEGORY, NAVY PARTICIPANTS, 

OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Bureau of Aeronautics 

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery 

Bureau of Personnel 

Civil Effects Test Group 

Commandant First Naval District 

Commandant Second Fleet 

Commandant Third Naval District 

Commandant Twelfth Naval District 

Commander Amphibious Group 3 

Commander Amphibious Pacific 

Commander Cruiser Destroyer Pacific 

Commander Joint Task Force 132 

Commander Naval Air Command Atlantic 

Commander Naval Air Command Pacific 

Commander Training Pacific 

David Taylor Model Basin 

Directorate Weapons Effects Test 

Joint Air Defense Board 

Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory 

Military Sea Transport Service 

Naval Administrative Unit, Sandia, NM 

Naval Attachment, Kirtland AFB, NM 

Naval Civil Engineering Research and Evaluation Laboratory 

Naval Electronics Laboratory 

Naval Schools Command, Treasure Island, CA 

Navy Special Weapons Unit 802 

Navy Special Weapons Unit 1233 

Observers 

Operations Development Forces 

San Francisco Naval Shipyard 

171 
Table 6-4: DISTRIBUTION OF GAMMA RADIATION EXPOSURES FOR 

MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL AND AFFILIATES., 

OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Personnel Average 

Personnel Identified Gamma 

Gamma Exposure (Roentgen4 

Identified by Name and Exposure 

Units by Name by Film Badge (Roentgen4 Cl l-l.0 1.03.0 34-5.0 5.0+ 

1 st Marine Corps Provisional Atomic Exercise Brigade 1925 21 0.083 18 2 1 0 0 

Other” 13 4 0.000 4 0 0 0 0 

Unit Unknown - Observer** 42 0 

TOTAL 1980 25 0.070 22 2 1 0 0 

I I I I I I I I I 

* For list of units in this category, see table 64a. 

l * Unit information unavailable. 
Table 6-4a: DETAILED LISTING OF "OTHER" CATEGORY, MARINE 

CORPS PARTICIPANTS, OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Recruitment 

Depot, Parris Island, SC--Observer 

Headquarters Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, 

D.C .--Observers 

Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force 

Atlantic 

Headquarters Battalion, 3d Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force 

Pacific --Observers 

Marine Corps School, Quantico, VA--Observer 

Service Company, 3d Engineer Battalion, 3d Marine Division, Fleet 

Marine Force Pacific 

Service Company, 8th Tank Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, Camp 

Le,jeune, NC 

Staff, Commander, Amphibious Force, US Pacific Fleet 

1st Battalion, 3d MBrines, 3d Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force 

Pacific 

2d Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion Fleet Marine Force, Camp 

LeJeune, NC 

2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force 

Pacific 

173 
Table 6-5: DISTRIBUTION OF GAMMA RADIATION EXPOSURES FOR 

AIR FORCE PERSONNEL AND AFFILIATES, OPERATION 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Personnel Average 

Personnel Identified Gamma Gamma Exposure (Roentgens) 

Identified by Name and Exposure 

Units by Name by Film Badge (Roentgensl <.l .l-1.0 1.0-3.0 3.0-5.0 5.0+ 

Carswell AFB 1 1 4.540 0 0 0 1 0 

Indian Springs AFB 89 89 0.482 35 40 12 2 0 

Lookout Mountain Laboratory 13 13 0.248 4 9 0 0 0 

Wright Air Development Center 23 23 0.199 8 15 0 0 0 

4925th Test Group 269 269 0.545 117 112 24 14 2 

Other” 21 21 0.231 13 8 0 0 0 

TOTAL 416 416 0.497 177 184 36 17 2 

* For list of units in this category, see table 6-5a. 
Table 6-5a: DETAILED LISTING OF "OTHER" 

CATEGORY, AIR FORCE PARTICIPANTS, 

OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Air Research and Development Command, Bolling Air Force Base 

Headquarters, Tactical Air Command 

Headquarters, United States Air Force, Washington, D.C. 

Jangle* 

Norton Air Force Base, CA 

*These individuals were probably program personnel completing 

their assignments for Operation BUSTER-JANGLE in March 1952 (91). 

175 
Table 6-6: DISTRIBUTION OF GAMMA RADIATION EXPOSURES FOR 

SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL, CONTRACTORS, AND 

AFFILIATES, OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Personnel Average 

Personnel Identified Gamma 

Gamma Exposure IRoentgens) 

Identified by Name and Exposure 

Organizations+ by Name by Film Badge (Roentgens) <.l .l-1.0 1.03.0 3.0-5.0 5.0+ 

AFSWP Test Command 134 134 0.206 106 18 9 1 0 

AFSWP Test Command-Radiological Safety 61 61 l&l7 9 14 32 5 1 

Program 1 -Blast Measurement 2 2 0.815 0 1 1 0 0 

Program 3-Structures 4 4 0.267 3 0 1 0 0 

Program B-Test of Equipment 2 2 0.811 1 0 1 0 0 

Program g--Support 4 4 0.413 2 1 1 0 0 

Project 1 .l (Air Force Cambridge Research Center; 14 14 0.165 6 8 0 0 0 

Rome Air Oevelopment Center) 

Project 2.1 (Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories) 2 2 3.784 0 0 0 2 0 

Project 2.3 (Naval Research Laboratory) 3 3 0.405 2 0 1 0 0 

Project 3.1 (Wright Air Development Center; Naval 35 35 0.521 11 18 6 0 0 

Radiological Defense Laboratory; Los Alamos Scientific 

Laboratory) 

Project 3.3 (Forest Service) 2 2 0.772 1 0 1 0 0 

Project 4.3 (Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory) 7 7 0.301 4 2 1 0 0 

Project 6.1 (Bureau of Ships; Signal Corps Engineering 19 19 1.274 3 5 10 1 0 

Laboratories) 

Project 6.7 (Army Chemical Center) 

Project 7.4 (Air Force 1009th Special Weapons 

Squadron) 

8 8 1.260 0 3 5 0 0 

4 4 1.605 0 2 1 1 0 

Project 9.1 (Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories: 13 13 0.136 8 5 0 0 0 

Naval Medical Research Institute; Lookout Mountain 

Laboratory; Wright Air Development Center; Army 

Pictorial Service Division; 4925th Test Group (Atomic); 

Strategic Air Command 5th and 28th Reconnaissance 

Technical Squadrons) 

Project 17.1 (Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory) 2 2 3.700 0 0 0 2 0 

Stanford Research Institute 2 2 0.862 1 0 1 0 0 

University of California 6 6 0.484 5 0 1 0 0 

Other** 65 65 0.132 44 21 0 0 0 

TOTAL 389 389 0.575 206 98 72 12 1 

l Individual exposures are listed by name and project in the film badge records. Where two or more organizations fielded a project, 

the specific organization of participation for an individual cannot be determined. 

l * For list of units in this category, see table 6&s. 

17G 
Table 6-6a: DETAILED LISTING OF "OTHER" 

CATEGORY, SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL, 

CONTRACTORS, AND AFFILIATES, 

OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Headquarters 

Boeing Aircraft Company 

North American Aviation 

Program 2 - Nuclear Measurements 

Program 4 - Biomedical 

Program 7 - Long Range Detection 

Program 8 - Thermal Measurements 

Program 914 (sic)* 

Project 1.2 (Stanford Research Institute) 

Project 1.3 (Naval Ordnance Laboratory) 

Project 1.4 (Ballistic Research Laboratories) 

Project 1.5 (Naval Ordnance Laboratory) 

Project 1.6 (The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics 

Laboratory) 

Project 1.7 (Stanford Research Institute) 

Project 1.13 (David Taylor Model Basin) 

Project 2.2 (Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories) 

Project 3.4 (Engineer Research and Development Laboratories) 

Project 4.2 (Naval Medical Research Institute) 

Project 4.4 (Naval Medical Research Institute) 

Project 4.5 (Air Force School of Aviation Medicine; Air Training 

Command; Brooke Army Medical Center; Strategic Air Command) 

Project 4.6 (Naval Medical Research Institute; University of 

Rochester) 

Project 5.1 (Desert Rock) 

Project 7.1 (Headquarters, Air Force; National Bureau of 

Standards; Air Force Cambridge Research Center; Air Weather 

Service; University of California; EG&G) 

Project 8.2 (Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory) 

Project 8.3 (Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory) 

Project 8.5 (Forest Service) 

Project 8.6 (Naval Electronics Laboratory) 

Project 9.2 (Air Weather Service) 

*“Sic” indicates that the table entry for the unit and/or 

organization appears as it was listed in source documentation. 

177 
Table 6-7: FILM BADGE READINGS EXCEEDING ESTABLISHED 

LIMITS FOR DOD PARTICIPANTS AT TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

Unit or Organization 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project 

Test Command 

Number of Total Exposures 

Personnel IRoentgen 

1 3.2 

7 3.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.7, 4.2, 4.7, 6.1 

Army Chemical Center 

Carswell AFB, TX 

Engineer Research and Development 

Laboratories 

1 3.3 

1 4.5 

1 5.9 

Fort Belvoir, VA 

Fort McClellan, AL 

Indian Springs AFB, NV 

Naval Air Station, Ngrth Island, CA 

Project 2.1 (Signal Corps Engineering 

Laboratories) 

7 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 4.8, 5.5, 6.9, 7.0 

2 3.2, 10.8 

2 3.2, 3.5 

1 4.2 

2 3.7, 3.9 

Project 6.1 (Bureau of Ships; Signal Corps 

Engineering Laboratories)” 

1 3.1 

Project 7.4 11009th Special Weapons 

Squadron) 

Project 17.1 (Los Alamos Scientific 

Laboratory) 

1 3.5 

2 3.5, 3.9 

Radiological Safety 1 3.4 

216th Chemical Service Company 12 3.3, 3.3, 3.4, 3.4. 3.5, 3.6, 4.0, 

4.0, 4.4. 4.9, 6.1, 9.0 

4925th Test Group** 8 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.2, 4.3, 4.8, 6.9, 

7.6 

TOTAL 50 

* Individual exposures are listed by name and project in the film badge records. Where two or more 

organizations fielded a project, specific organization of participation for an individual cannot be 

determined. 

** Subject to 3.9 roentgen AFSWC limit. 

17s 
OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER BIBLIOGRAPHY 

The following bibliography represents all the 

documents cited in the three Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER reports. When a DNA-WT 

document is followed by an EX, the latest 

'version has been cited. 

179 
AVAILABILITY INFORMATION 

An availability statement has been included at the end of 

the reference citation for those readers who wish to read or 

obtain copies of source documents. Availability statements were 

correct at the time the bibliography was prepared. It is 

anticipated that many of the documents marked unavailable may 

become available during the declassification review process. The 

Coordination and Information Center (CIC) and the National 

Technical Information Service (NTIS) will be provided future 

DNA-WT documents bearing an EX after the report number. 

Source documents bearing an availability statement of CIC 

may be reviewed at the following address: 

Department of Energy 

Coordination and Information Center 

(Operated by Reynolds Electrical & Engineering Co., Inc.) 

ATTN: Mr. Richard V. Nutley 

2753 S. Highland 

P.O. Box 14100 Phone: (702) 734-3194 

Las Vegas, Nevada 89114 FTS: 598-3194 

Source documents bearing an availability statement of NTIS 

may be purchased from the National Technical Information Service. 

When ordering by mail or phone, please include both the price 

code and the NTIS number. The price code appears in parentheses 

before the NTIS order number. 

National Technical Information Service 

5285 Port Royal Road Phone: (703) 487-4650 

Springfield, Virginia 22161 (Sales Office) 

Additional ordering information or assistance may be obtained by 

writing to the NTIS, Attention: Customer Service, or by calling 

(703) 487-4660. 

180 
OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

79th Congress of the United States, 2nd Session. Public 

Law 585: Atomic Energy Act of 1946. Washington, 

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1st Armored Division, 16th Armored Engineer Battalion, 

Companies "A-D". Extracts from Morning Reports for 

20 May 1952 --31 May 1952. Fort Hood, TX.: Fourth 

Army. 1952. 10 Pages.*** 

1st Armored Division, 16th Armored Engineer Battalion, 

Bridge Company. Morning Reports for 27 May 1952 and 

1 June 1952. Fort Hood, TX.: Fourth US Army. 

1952. 2 Pages.*** 

301st Signal Photo Company. Morning Reports for 11 April 

1952 and 5 May 1952. Camp Gordon, GA.: Third US 

Army. 1952. 3 Pages.*** 

369th Engineer Amphibious Support Regiment, Headquarters 

and Service Company. Extracts from Morning Reports 

for 3 May 1952--10 June 1952. Sixth US Army. Fort 

Worden, WA.: 369th Engineer Amphibious Support. 

1952. 9 Pages.*** 

369th Engineer Amphibious Support Regiment, Headquarters 

and Service Company. Morning Report for 21 April 

1952. Sixth US Army. Fort Worden, WA.: 369th 

Engineer Amphibious Support. 1952. 2 Pages.*** 

504th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 

Headquarters and Headquarters Company. Extracts from 

Morning Reports for 22 and 24 April 1952. Third US 

Army. Fort Bragg, NC.: 83rd Airborne Division. 

1952. 2 Pages.*** 

Air Force Special Weapons Center, Historical Division. 

History of the Air Force Special Weapons Center in 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER, April-June. Vol. I: 

"Narrative Account." Kirtland AFB, NM.: AFSWC. 

January 1953. 204 Pages.*** 

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 Requests sub,ject to Privacy Act restrictions. 

181 
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Air Force Special Weapons Center, Historical Division. 

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66 Pages.** * 

Air Force Special Weapons Center, SWO. D/F to Adjutant 

General Command Historian, Subject: Aircraft 

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AFSWC, Special Weapons Office. 9 June 1952. 

43 Pages.** 

Air War College. Memorandum for Commandant, Air War 

College. Subject: Report of Official Observers 

Attending Shot 4. Maxwell AFB, AL.: Air War 

College. 22 May 1952. 2 Pages.*** 

Allardice, C.; Trapnell, E. The Atomic Energy Commission. 

lYt?W 

RT-... 'r'ork_ n-ii_ ---_^ n-.1-1 2 -I_--- clr)P n---e. 

kJ1 aeger YutJIJ_sIlers. 1974. LJW rages. 

Anonymous. [File, Subject: Desert Rock Exercise IV, 

January 1952 to December 1953.1 Washington, D.C.: 

US Marine Corps. 1953. 100 Pages. 

Anonymous. [Correspondence File, Subject: Rad Safety for 

Troops, from AEC; AFSWP; D/A, G-3.1 April 1952. 

12 n.-.,,.,’ ** ra~;t=a. 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. [First] History of 

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1960. 900 Pages.*** 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. Memoranda on AFSWP 

Participation. Washington, D.C.: AFSWP. 

18 January 1952. 10 Pages. 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. Memorandum for 

Chief of Staff, USAF, Subject: Air Force Support of 

Operations TUMBLER and SNAPPER, w/o inclosure. 

Washington, D.C. SWPT/400.112. 30 January 1952. 

3 Pages.*** 

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**Available at CIC. 

***Not available, see Availability Information page. 

 Requests subject to Privacy Act restrictions. 

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Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. Memorandum for 

Commanding Officer Tinker AFB, Subject: Official 

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D.C. 16 April 1952. 2 Pages.** * 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. Memorandum for 

Headquarters US Air Force, Subject: Support for 

Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER. Washington, D.C. 

28 February 1952. 2 Pages.*** 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. "Operation TUMBLER 

Preliminary Report, Parts One and Two." Washington, 

D.C.: AFSWP. 15 May 1952. 101 Pages.** 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Chief of. 

Memorandum of Agreements Reached at Conference Held at 

Los Alamos, New Mexico, 9 January 1952. Washington, 

D.C.: AFSWP. January 1952. 3 Pages.** 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Radiological Safety 

Group. [Exposures of Joint AEC-DOD Organization Test 

Personnel, by Activity.] Undated. 

57 Pages.  

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Test Command. 

Command Report, 29 Jan. - 30 June 1952--Test Command. 

Albuquerque, NM.: AFSWP. 1952. 208 Pages. 

62A1564 2/67:21.** * 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Test Command. 

Letter to Test Director; Nevada Proving Grounds, 

Subject: SAC Participation in Operation 

TUMBLER/SNAPPER, w/l incl: Outline of SAC 

Participation. Mercury, NV. 27 March 1951. 

3 Pages.** 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Test Command. 

"Operations Plan 1-52 (TUMBLER-SNAPPER)." 

Albuquerque, NM.: Test Command, AFSWP. 17 March 

1952. 104 Pages.** 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Test Command. 

"Weekly Activities Summary, Period Ending 18 March 

1952." Mercury, NV.: TC, AFSWP. 18 March 1952. 

35 Pages.*** 

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 Requests subject to Privacy Act restrictions. 

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27. Armed Forces Special Weapons Project [Test Command]. 

"Weekly Activities Summary, Period Ending 28 March 

1952." Washington, D.C.: AFSWP. 28 March 1952. 

3 Pages.** * - 

28. Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Test 

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1952." Mercury, NV.: TC, AFSWP. 4 

20 Pages.*** 

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Ending 4 April 

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"Weekly Activities Summary, Period Ending 25 April 

1952." Mercury, NV.: TC, AFSWP. 25 April 1952. 

15 Pages.*** 

30. Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Test Command. 

"Weekly Activities Summary, Period Ending 9 May 1952." 

Mercury, NV.: TC, AFSWP. 9 May 1952. 6 Pages.*** 

31. Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Test Command. 

"Weekly Activities Summary, Period Ending 30 May 

1952." Mercury, NV.: TC, AFSWP. 30 May 1952. 

12 Pages.*** 

32. Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Test Command, Deputy 

Commander. Letter to Deputy Test Director [Subject: 

Manned Camera Positions for Shot 8.1 Mercury, NV. 

26 May 1952. 2 Pages.** 

33. 

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35. 

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Test Command, 

Military Effects Test Group. [File: Access Lists 

for TUMBLER-SNAPPER, 31 March--4 June 1952.1 1952. 

66 Pages.** 

Arnold, Keith. "Effects of Atomic Explosions on Forest 

Fuels, Project 8.1." Washington, D.C.: AFSWP. 

WT-506. 1952. 35 Pages.*** 

Aronson, C. J.; Moulton, J. F.; Petes, J.; et al. 

Free-Air and Ground-Level Pressures Measurements, 

Projects 1.3 and 1.5. Washington, D.C.: 

Headquarters, AFSWP. WT-513-EX. March 1980. 

254 Pages. (All) AD/A995 029.* 

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Atomic Energy Commission, Division of Military Application. 

Memorandum for BGEN. Fields, USA, Subject: Draft 

Staff Paper on Troop Participation in Operation 

TUMBLER-SNAPPER. Washington, D.C. March 25, 1952. 

1 Page.** * 

Atomic Energy Commission, Division of Military Application. 

Memorandum for BGEN. Fields, USA, Subject: 

Participation of Additional Fifteen Hundred Troops in 

Operation SNAPPER. Washington, D.C. May 9, 1952. 

5 Pages.** 

Atomic Energy Commission, Division of Military Application. 

Memorandum for M. W. Boyer, General Manager, AEC, 

Subject: Approval of Additional Troop Participation 

in T/S. Washington, D.C. May 1, 1952. 3 Pages.** 

Baggett, Lester M.; Kike, Robert S.; Dunaway, Robert E.; et 

al. Test of External Initiator, Program 14 (U). 

Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. Washington, D.C. 

WT-557. December 1952. 141 Pages.*** 

Ballistic Research Laboratories. "Air Blast Measurements, 

Project 1.4." Washington, D.C.: AFSWP. WT-515. 

December 1952. 75 Pages. (A04) AD/A078 547.* 

Banet, L.; Grinoch, P.; Hirschman, A.; Monahan, T. "Thermal 

Radiation Measurements Using Passive Indicators, 

Project 8.3a." Washington, D.C.: AFSWP. WT-544. 

February 1953. 23 Pages. (A02) AD/B951 586.* 

Banks, C. E., LTC, USA. "Final Report --TUMBLER/SNAPPER 

Desert Rock, Liaison Section J-3, Test Command, 

AFSWP." w/o 3 incls. Mercury, NV.: Test Command, 

AFSWP. 2 June 1953. 10 Pages.** 

Beck, C. A.; Campbell, J. H. "High Resolution 

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Naval Research Laboratory. WT-571. April 1955. 

28 Pages.*** 

Billingsley, S. G.; Balloch, J. C.; Hausrath, A. H. 

Reactions of Troops in Atomic Maneuvers, Exercise 

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Boone, H. F., Lt. Col., USAF. "Operational Tests of 

Radar and Photographic Techniques for IBDA, Operation 

SNAPPER, Project 6.4." Washington, D.C.: AFSWP. 

WT-534. August 1952. 54 Pages. 

(A04) AD/A080 269.* 

Bouton, E. H.; Elder, C. S.;, Kemper, J. S.; WilseY, E. 

Pre-shock Dust, Project 1.9. Washington, D.C.: 

AFSWP. WT-519. October 1952. 95 Pages. 

(A05) AD/A078 549.* 

Boyer, M. W., General Manager, AEC. Memorandum for 

Carroll L. Tyler, Manager, Santa Fe Operations, 

Subject: Directive for TUMBLER-SNAPPER. Washington, 

D.C. March 27, 1952. 3 Pages.*** 

Broida, T. R.; Broido, A.; Willoughby, A. B. Air 

Temperatures in the Vicinity of a Nuclear Detonation, 

Project 8.2. Washington, D.C.: AFSWP. WT-542.' 

1 September 1952. 83 Pages. (A05) AD 483 422.* 

Broido, A.; Butler, C. P.; Day, R. P.; et al. Thermal 

Radiation from a Nuclear Detonation, Project 8.3. 

Washington, D.C.: AFSWP. WT-543. March 1953. 

109 Pages. (A06) AD/B951 585.* 

Brown, A. A.: Arnold, R. K.; Fons, W. L.; et al. "Blast 

Damage to Trees--Isolated Conifers--Project 3.3." 

Washington, D.C.: AFSWP. WT-509. January 1953. 

69 Pages.*** 

Brown, P.; Carp, G.; Castellini, N.; et al. Electromagnetic Radiation over the Radio Spectrum from 

Nuclear Detonations, Project 9.5. Washington, D 

AFSWP. WT-548. June 1953. 82 Pages.*** 

.c. : 

Bruce, H. D. "Incendiary Effects of Atomic Bomb Tests on 

Building Sections at Yucca Flat, Project 8.5." 

Washington, D.C.: AFSWP. WT-510. October 1952. 

61 Pages.*** 

Bullene, E. F., MGEN., USA. [Letter of Commendation to 

Commanding Officer, 216th Chemical Service Co.] 

Washington, D.C. 4 September 1952. 1 Page.** 

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Richmond, 0. "Minefield Clearance, Project 3.4." 

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U.S. Ililitary Academy 

ATTN: Director of Libraries 

PEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 

Aviation History Unit 

Department of the Navy 

ATTN: Library 

Naval 

Naval 

Naval 

Naval 

Naval 

Naval 

Naval 

Naval 

Naval 

Naval 

Naval 

Naval 

Naval 

Aviation School Command 

ATTN: Library 

Hospital Corps School 

ATTN: Library 

Ocean Systems Center 

ATTN: Library 

Oceanographic Office 

ATTN: Code 325, Historian 

Postgraduate School 

ATTN: Code 1424, Library 

Research Laboratory 

ATTN: Library 

School 

Construction Battalion Center 

ATTN: Commanding Officer 

Sea Systems Command 

ATTN: Nuclear Technology Div 

Surface Weapon5 Center 

ATTN: Library 

War College 

ATTN: Professor 8 Libraries 

Weapons Center 

ATTN: Code 233 

Weapons Evaluation Facility 

ATTN: Library 

Navy Dept Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Navy Nuclear Power School 

ATTN: Library 

Navy Nuclear Test Personnel Review 

2 cy ATTN: W. Loeffler 

U.S. Naval Academy 

ilimitz Library 

ATTN: Documents & Reports Dept 

Marine Corps Base 

ATTN: Document Custodian 

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery 

Department of the Navy 

ATTN: Asst for Med Surgery 

199 
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY (Continued) 

Office of the Judge Adv Gen 

Department of the Navy 

ATTN: Code 73 

Marine Corps Historical Center 

2 cy ATTN: Code HOH-2 

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 

ATTN: Librn 

U.S. Naval Air Station Library 

Department of the Navy 

ATTN: Library 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE (Continued) 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE -__ 

Academy Library DFSELLI 

U.S. Air Force Academy 

ATTN: Library 

Aerospace Defense Command 

Air 

Air 

Air 

Air 

Air 

Air 

Air 

ATTN: Historian 

Force Communications Command 

ATTN: Historian 

Force Institute of Technology 

ATTN: Library 

Force Logistics Command 

ATTN: Historian 

Force Nuclear Test Personnel Review 

ATTN: HQ USAF/SGES 

Force School of Aerospace Medicine 

ATTN: Strughold Library 

Force Systems Command 

ATTN: Historian 

Force Technical Applications Center 

ATTN: Historian 

Air Force Weapons Laboratory 

Air Force Systems Command 

ATTN: Tech Library 

Air National Guard 

ATTN: Historian 

Air Training Command 

ATTN: Historian 

Air University Library 

Department of the Air Force 

ATTN: AUL-LSE 

Military Air Lift Command 

ATTN: Historian 

Comnander-in-Chief 

Pacific Air Forces 

ATTN: Historian 

Tactical Air Command 

Department of the Air Force 

ATTN: Historian 

Strategic Air Command 

Oepartment of the Air Force 

ATTN: NRI-STINFO Library 

ATTN: Historian 

U.S. Air Force Occupational & Env Health Lab 

ATTN: NTPR 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Department of Energy 

ATTN: OMA 

Department of Energy 

Nevada Operations Office 

ATTN: Health Physics Div 

2 cy ATTN: R. Nutley 

Department of Energy 

Human Health & Assessments Division 

ATTN: EV-31 

OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES - 

Centers for Disease Control 

U.S. Public Health Service 

ATTN: G. Caldwell 

Central Intelligence Agency 

ATTN: Office of Medical Services 

Department of Health i Human Svcs 

ATTN: Office of General Counsel 

Exec Oft of The President 

Management & Budget Off Lib 

ATTN: Librn 

Library of Congress 

ATTN: Library Service Division 

ATTN: Science & Technology Div 

ATTN: Serial & Govt Publication 

National Atomic Museum 

ATTN: Historian 

Department of Commerce 

National Bureau of Standards 

ATTN: Librn 

Occupational Safety & Health Admin 

ATTN: Library 

Office of Health & Disability (ASPER) 

ATTN: R. Copeland 

Oft of Workers Compensation Program 

Department of Labor 

ATTN: R. Larson 

U.S. Coast Guard Academy Library 

ATTN: Librn 

U.S. House of Representatives 

ATTN: Committee on Armed SvcS 

200 
OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (Continued) 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Committee on Interstate & Foreign Cornnerce 

ATTN: Subcomnittee on Health & Envir 

U.S. Senate 

Committee on Armed Services 

ATTN: Conrnittee on Veterans Affairs 

U.S. Senate 

ATTN: Committee on Veterans Affairs 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Providence, RI 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Montgomery, AL 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Anchorage, AK 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Phoenix, AZ 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Little Rock, AR 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Los Angeles, CA 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

San Francisco, CA 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Denver, CO 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Hartford, CT 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Wilmington, DE 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-OFC Central 

Washington, D. C. 

ATTN: Dept Veterans Benefit, Central Oft 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration 

Washington, 0. C. 

ATTN: Board of Veteran Appeal 

Veterans Administration-R0 

St. Petersburg, FL 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Atlanta, GA 

ATTN: Director 

OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (Continued) 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Honolulu, HI 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Chicago, IL 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Seattle, WA 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Indianapolis, IN 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Des Moines, IA 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Wichita, KS 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Louisville, KY 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

New Orleans, LA 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Togus, ME 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Baltimore, MD 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Boston, MA 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

St. Paul. MN 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Jackson, MS 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Huntington, WV 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

St. Louis, MO 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Ft. Harrison, MT 

ATTN: Director 

National Archives 

ATTN: Librn 

201 
OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (Continued) 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Lincoln, NE 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Reno, NV 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Manchester, NH 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Newark, NJ 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Milwaukee, WI 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Albuquerque, NM 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Buffalo, NY 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

New York, NY 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Winston-Salem, NC 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Fargo, ND 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Cleveland, OH 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Muskogee, OK 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-RD 

Portiand, OR 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Pittsburgh, PA 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Philadelphia, PA 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

San Francisco, CA 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

San Juan, Puerto Rico 

ATTN: Director 

OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (Continued) 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Columbia, SC 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Sioux Falls, SD 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Houston, TX 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Waco, TX 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Salt Lake City, UT 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administraiton-RO 

White River Junction, VT 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Roanoke, VA 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Cheyenne, WY 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

San Diego, CA 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Boise, ID 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Detroit, MI 

ATTN: Director 

Veterans Administration-R0 

Nashville. TN 

ATTN: Director 

The White House 

ATTN: Domestic Policy Staff 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY CONTRACTORS 

Lawrence Livermore National Lab 

ATTN: Tech Info Dept Library 

Los Alamos National Lab 

ATTN: Library 

2 cy ATTN: ADPA MMS 195 

Sandia National Lab 

ATTN: W. Hereford 

ATTN: Central Library 

Reynolds Electrical & Engr Co., Inc 

ATTN: CIC 

ATTN: W. Brady 

202 
OTHER 

Adams State College 

ATTN: Librn 

Akron Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Alabama State Dept of Archives & History 

ATTN: Military Records Div 

University of Alabama 

ATTN: Reference Dept, Documents 

University of Alaska Library at Anchorage 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Alaska 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

Albany Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Alexander City State Jr College 

ATTN: Librn 

Allegheny College 

ATT!: Librr 

Allen County Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Altoona Area Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

American Statistics Index 

Congressional Info Service, Inc 

ATTN: Cathy Jarvey 

Anaheim Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

College of Wooster 

ATTN: Gov Dots 

Angelo State University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Angelo Iacoboni Public Library 

PTT"': Librn 

Anoka County Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Appalachian State University 

ATTN: Library Dots 

Arizona State University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Jniversity of Arizona 

ATTN: Gov Dot Dept/C. Bower 

Arkansas College Library 

ATTN: Library 

Brooklyn College 

ATTN: Dot Civ 

9THER (Continued) 

Arkansas Library Comm 

ATTN: Library 

Arkansas State University 

ATTN: Library 

University of Arkansas 

ATTN: Gov Dots Div 

Austin College 

ATTN: Librn 

Atlanta Public Library 

ATTN: Ivan Allen Dept 

Atlanta University 

ATTN: Librn 

Auburn University Library et Mongomery (Reg) 

ATTN: Librn 

C. W. Post Ctr Long Island University 

ATTN: Librn 

Bangor Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Bates College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Baylor University Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

Beloit College Libraries 

ATTN: Serials Dots Dept 

Bemidji State College 

ATTN: Library 

State University College 

ATTN: Gov Dots 

Akron University 

ATTN: Gov Dots 

Boston Public Library (Reg) 

ATTIC: Dots Dept 

Bowdoin College 

ATTN: Librn 

Bowling Green State University 

ATTN: Lib Gov Dots Services 

Bradley University 

ATTN: Librn 

Brandeis University Library 

ATTN: Dots Section 

Brigham Young University 

ATTN: Librn 

Brigham Young University 

ATTN: Dots Collection 

Brookhaven National Laboratory 

ATTN: Tech Library 

203 
3TilER (Continued) OTHER (Continued) 

Eroward County Library Sys 

ATTN: Librn 

Brown University 

ATTN: Librn 

Bucknell University 

ATTN: Reference Dept 

Buffalo & Erie Co Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

State University Library of California at Fresno 

ATTN: Library 

University Library of California at Los Angeles 

ATTN: Pub Affairs Serv U.S. Dots 

University of California at San Diego 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

State College Library of California at Stanislaus 

ATTN: Library 

California State Polytechnic University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

California State University at Northridge 

ATTN: Gov Dot 

California State Library (Reg) 

ATTN: Librn 

California State University at Long Beach Library 

ATTN: Librn 

California State University 

ATTN: Librn 

California State University 

ATTN: Librn 

California University Library 

ATTN: Gov Pub Dept 

California University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

California University Library 

ATTN: Gov Dots Dept 

California University Library 

ATTN: Dots Set 

University of California 

ATTN: Gov Dots Dept 

Calvin College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Kearney State College 

ATTN: Gov Dots Dept 

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh 

ATTN: Librn 

Carnegie Mellon University 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

Carson Regional Library 

ATTN: Gov Pubs Unit 

Case Western Reserve University 

ATTN: Librn 

Casper College 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Central Florida 

ATTN: Library Dots Dept 

Central Michigan University 

ATTN: Library Dots Set 

Central Missouri State Univ 

ATTN: Gov Dots 

Central State University 

ATTN: Lib Dots Dept 

Central Washington University 

ATTN: Lib Dots Set 

Central Wyoming College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Charleston County Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Charlotte & llechlenburg County Public Library 

ATTN: E. Correll 

Chattanooga Hamilton County, Bicentennial Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Chesapeake Public Library System 

ATTN: Librn 

Chicago Public Library 

ATTN: Gov Pubs Dept 

State University of Chicago 

ATTN: Librn 

Chicago University Library 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

ATTN: Dots Processing 

Cincinnati University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Claremont Colleges Libraries 

ATTN: Dot Collection 

Clemson University 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

Cambria County Library Sys 

ATTN: Librn 

Carleton College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

204 
OTHER (Continued1 

Cleveland Public Library 

ATTN: Dots Collection 

Cleveland State University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Coe Library 

ATTN: Does Div 

Colgate University Library 

ATTN: Ref Lib 

Colorado State University Libraries 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Colorado Libraries 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

Columbia University Library 

ATTN: Dots Svc Ctr 

Columbus & Franklin Cty Public Library 

ATTN: Gen Ret Div 

Compton Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Connecticut State Library (Reg) 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Connecticut 

ATTN: Gov't of Connecticut 

University of Connecticut 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

Cornell University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Corpus Christi State University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Culver City Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Curry College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

University of North Carolina at Asheville 

ATTN: Librn 

Dallas County Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Dallas Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Dalton Junior College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Dartmouth College 

ATTN: Librn 

Davenport Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Davidson College 

ATTN: Librn 

OTHER (Continued) 

Dayton & Montgomery City Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Dayton 

ATTN: Librn 

Decatur Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Dekalb Community College So Cpus 

ATTN: Librn 

Delaware Pauw University 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Delaware 

ATTN: Librn 

Delta College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Delta State University 

ATTN: Librn 

Denison University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Denver Public Library (Reg) 

ATTN: Dots Div 

Dept of Library & Archives (Reg) 

ATTN: Librn 

Detroit Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Burlington Library 

ATTN. Librn 

Dickinson State College 

ATTN: Librn 

Alabama Agricultural Mechanical University & Co1 

ATTN: Librn 

Drake University 

ATTN: Cowles Library 

Drew University 

ATTN: Librn 

Duke University 

ATTN: Pub Dots Dept 

Duluth Public Library 

ATTN: Dots Set 

East 

East 

East 

Carolina University 

ATTN: Lib Dots Dept 

Central University 

ATTN: Librn 

Islip Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

205 
OTHER (Continued) ~__ 

East Orange Public Library 

ATTN: U.S. Gov't Depository 

East Tennessee State University Sherrod Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

East Texas State University 

ATTN: Library 

Monmouth County Library Eastern Branch 

ATTN: Librn 

Eastern Illinois University 

ATTN: Librn 

Eastern Kentucky University 

ATTN: Librn 

Eastern Michigan University Library 

ATTN: Library 

Eastern Montana College Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

Eastern New Mexico University 

ATTN: Librn 

Eastern Oregon College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Eastern Washington University 

ATTN: Librn 

El Paso Public Library 

ATTN: Dots & Genealogy Dept 

Elko County Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Elmira College 

ATTN: Librn 

Elon College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Enoch Pratt Free Library 

ATTN: Dots Oft 

Emory University 

ATThI: Librn 

Evansville & Vanderburgh Cty Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Everett Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Fairleigh Dickinson University 

ATTN: Depository Dept 

Florida A & M University 

ATTN: Librn 

Florida Atlantic University‘Library 

ATTN: Oiv of Pub Dots 

OTHER (Continued) 

Florida Institute of Technology 

ATTN: Library 

Florida International University Library 

ATTN: Dots Set 

Florida State Library 

ATTN: Dots Set 

Florida State University 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Florida 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

Fond Du Lac Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Ft Hays State University 

Ft Hays Kansas State College 

ATTN: Librn 

Ft Worth Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Free Public Library of Elizabeth 

ATTN: Librn 

Free Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Freeport Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Fresno Cty Free Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Gadsden Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Garden Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Gardner Webb College 

ATTN: Dots Library 

Gary Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Georgetown University Library 

ATTN: Gov Dots Room 

Georgia Institute of Technology 

ATTN: Librn 

Georgia Southern College 

ATTN: Librn 

Georgia Southwestern College 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

Georgia State University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

206 
OTHER (Continued) 

University of Georgia 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries (Reg) 

Glassboro State College 

ATTN: Librn 

Gleeson Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Graceland College 

ATTN: Librn 

Grand Forks Public City-County Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Grand Kapids Public Library 

ATTN: Dir of Lib 

Greenville County Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Government Publications Library-M 

ATTN: Director of Libraries (Reg) 

Guam RFK Memorial University Library 

ATTN: Fed Depository Co11 

University of Guam 

ATTN: Librn 

Gustavus Adolphus College 

ATTN: Librn 

South Dakota University 

ATTN: Librn 

Hardin-Simmons University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Hartford Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Harvard College Library 

ATTN: Dir of Lib 

Harvard College Library 

ATTN: Serials Ret Div 

University of Hawaii Library 

ATTN: Gov Dots Co11 

Hawaii State Library 

ATTN: Fed Dots Unit 

University of Hawaii at Monoa 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries (Reg) 

University of Hawaii 

Hilo Campus Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Haydon Burns Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Hennepin County Library 

ATTN: Gov Dots 

Henry Ford Community College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

OThER (Continued) ~- - 

Herbert H. Lehman College 

ATTN: Lib Dots Div 

Hofstra University Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

Hollins College 

ATTN: Librn 

Hopkinsville Community College 

ATTN: Librn 

Wagner College 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Houston Library 

ATTN: Dots Div 

Houston Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Tulane University 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

Hoyt Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Humboldt State College Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

Huntington Park Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Hutchinson Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Idaho Public Library & Information Center 

ATTN: Librn 

Idaho State Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Idaho State University Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

University of Idaho 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries (Reg) 

ATTN: Dots Set 

University of Illinois Library 

ATTN: Dots Set 

Illinois State Library (Reg) 

ATTN: Gov Dots Br 

Illinois University at Urbana-Champaign 

ATTN: P. Watson Dots Lib 

Illinois Valley Community College 

ATTN: Library 

Illinois State University 

ATTN: Librn 

Indiana State Library (Reg) 

ATTN: Serial Set 

Indiana State University 

ATTN: Dots Library 

207 
_OTHER (Continued) 

Indiana University Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

Indianapolis Marion County Public Library 

ATTN: Social Science Div 

Iowa State University Library 

ATTN: Gov Dots Dept 

Iowa University Library 

ATTN: Gov Dots Dept 

Butler University 

ATTN: librn 

Isaac Delchdo College 

ATTN: Librn 

James Madison University 

ATTN: Librn 

Jefferson County Public Library 

Lakewood Regional Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Jersey City State College 

ATTN: F. A. Irwin Library Periodicals 

Dot Set 

Johns Hopkins University 

ATTN: Dots Library 

La Roche College 

ATTN: Librn 

Johnson Free Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Kalamazoo Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Kansas City Public Library 

ATTN: Dots Div 

Kansas State Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Kansas State University Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

University of Kansas 

ATTN: Dir of Library (Rey) 

University of Texas 

ATTN: Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public 

Affairs Library 

Maine Maritime Academy 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Maine 

ATTN: Librn 

_OTHER (Continued) 

Kent State University Library 

ATTN: Dots Div 

Kentucky Dept of Library & Archives 

ATTN: Dots Set 

University of Kentucky 

ATTN: Gov Pub Dept 

ATTN: Dir of Lib (Reg) 

Kenyon College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Lake Forest College 

ATTN: Librn 

Lake Sumter Community College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Lakeland Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Lancaster Regional Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Lawrence University 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

Brigham Young University 

ATTN: Dots & Map Set 

Lewis University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Library and Statutory Dist & Svc 

2 cy ATTN: Librn 

Earlham College 

ATTN: Librn 

Little Rock Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Long Beach Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Los Angeles Public Library 

ATTN: Serials Div U.S. Dots 

Louisiana State University 

ATTN: Gov Dot Dept 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries (Reg) 

Louisville Free Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Louisville University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Hoover Institution 

ATTN: 3. Bingham 

208 
Manchester City Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Mankato State College 

ATTN: Gov Pubs 

University of Maine at Farmington 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

Marathon County Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Principia College 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Maryland 

ATTN: McKeldin Library Dots Div 

University of Maryland 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Massachusetts 

ATTN: Gov Dots Co11 

Kahului Library 

ATTN: Librn 

McNeese State University 

ATTN: Librn 

Memphis & Shelby County Public Library & 

Information Center 

ATTN: Librn 

Memphis State University 

ATTN: Librn 

Mercer University 

ATTN: Librn 

Mesa County Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Miami Library 

ATTN: Gov Pubs 

Miami Public Library 

ATTN: Dots Div 

Miami University Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

University of Santa Clara 

ATTN: Dots Div 

Michigan State Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Michigan State University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Murray State University Library 

ATTN: Lib 

OTHER (Continued) 

Michigan Tech University 

ATTN: Lib Dots Dept 

University of Michigan 

ATTN: Acq Set Dots Unit 

Middlebury College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Millersville State College 

ATTN: Librn 

State University of New York 

ATTN: Dots Librn 

Milwaukee Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Minneapolis Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Minot State College 

ATTN: Librn 

Missi ssipp 

ATTN 

State Uni 

Librn 

versity 

University of Mississippi 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

Missouri University at 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Missouri 

ATTN: Gov Dots 

M.I.T. Libraries 

ATTN: Librn 

Mobile Public Library 

ATTN: Gov Info 

Kansas City General 

Library 

)iv 

Midwestern University 

ATTN: Librn 

Montana State Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Montana State University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Montana 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries (Reg) 

Montebello Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Moorhead State College 

ATTN: Library 

Mt Prospect Public Library 

ATTN: Gov't Info Ctr 

209 
OTHER (Continued) 

Nassau Library System 

ATTN: Librn 

Natrona County Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Nebraska Library Community 

Nebraska Public Clearinghouse 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Nebraska at Omaha 

ATTN: Univ Lib Dots 

Nebraska Western College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Nebraska 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries (Reg) 

University of Nebraska Library 

ATTN: Acquisitions Dept 

University of Nevada Library 

ATTN: Gov Pubs Dept 

University of Nevada at Las Vegas 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

New Hampshire University Library 

ATT?: Librn 

New Hanover County Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

New Mexico State Library 

ATTN: Librn 

New Mexico State University 

ATTN: Lib Dots Div 

University of New Mexico 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries (Reg) 

University of New Orleans Library 

ATTN: Gov Dots Div 

New Orleans Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

New York Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

New York State Library 

ATTN: Dots Control Cultural Ed Ctr 

State University of New York at Stony Brook 

ATTN: Main Lib Dots Set 

State University of New York Co1 Memorial Lib 

at Cortland 

ATTN: Librn 

State University of New York 

ATTN: Lib Dots Set 

Worth Texas State University Library 

ATTF!: Librn 

DTHER (Continued) 

State University of New York 

ATTN: Librn 

New York State University 

ATTN: Dots Ctr 

State University of New York 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

New York University Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

Newark Free Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Newark Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Niagara Falls Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Nicholls State University Library 

ATTN: Dots Div 

Nieves M. Flores Memorial Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Norfolk Public Library 

ATTN: R. Parker 

North Carolina Agricultural & Tech State 

University 

ATTN: Librn 

University of North Carolina at Charlotte 

ATTN: Atkins Lib Dot Dept 

University Library of North Carolina at Greensboro 

ATTN: Librn 

University of North Carolina at !dilmington 

ATTN: Librn 

North Carolina Central University 

ATTN: Librn 

North Carolina State University 

ATTN: Librn 

University of North Carolina 

ATTtl: BA SS Div Dots 

North Dakota State University Library 

ATTN: Dots Librn 

University of North Dakota 

ATTP!: Librn 

North Ceornia College 

ATTN: Librn 

Minnesota Div cf Emergency Svcs 

ATTN: Librn 

210 
OTHER (Continued) ~__ 

Northeast Missouri State University 

ATTN: Librn 

Northeastern Oklahoma State University 

ATTN: Librn 

Northeastern University 

ATTN: Dodge Library 

Northern Arizona University Library 

ATTN: Gov Oocs Dept 

Northern Illinois University 

ATTN: Librn 

Northern Michigan University 

ATTN: Dots 

Northern Montana College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Northwestern Michigan College 

ATTN: Librn 

Northwestern State University 

ATTN: Librn 

Northwestern State University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Northwestern University Library 

ATTN: Gov Pubs Dept 

Norwalk Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Northeastern Illinois University 

ATTN: Library 

University of Notre Dame 

ATTN: Dot Ctr 

Oakland Community College 

ATTN: Librn 

Oakland Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Oberlin College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Ocean County College 

ATTN: Librn 

Ohio State Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Ohio State University 

ATTN: Lib Dots Div 

Ohio University Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

Oklahoma City University Library 

ATTN: Lihrn 

Oklahoma City University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

OTHER (Continued)_ 

Oklahoma Department of Libraries 

ATTN: U.S. Gov Dots 

University of Oklahoma 

ATTN: Dots Div 

Old Dominion University 

ATTN: Dot Dept Univ Lib 

Olivet College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Omaha Public Library Clark Branch 

ATTN: Librn 

Onondaga County Public Library 

ATTN: Gov Dots Set 

Oregon State Library 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Oregon 

ATTN: Dots Set 

Ouachita Baptist University 

ATTN: Librn 

Pan American University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Passaic Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Queens College 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

Pennsylvania State Library 

ATTN: Gov Pubs Set 

Pennsylvania State University 

ATTN: Lib Dot Set 

University of Pennsylvania 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

University of Denver 

ATTN: Penrose Library 

Peoria Public Library 

ATTN: Business, Science & Tech Dept 

Free Library of Philadelphia 

ATTN: Gov Pubs Dept 

Philipsburg Free Public Library 

ATTN: Library 

Phoenix Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Pittsburgh 

ATTN: Dots Office, G8 

Plainfield Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

211 
OTHER (Continued) 

Popular Creek Public Library District 

ATTN: Librn 

Association of Portland Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Portland Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Portland State University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Pratt Institute Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Louisiana Tech University 

ATTN: Librn 

Princeton University Library 

ATTN: Dots Div 

Providence College 

ATTN: Librn 

Providence Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Public Library Cincinnati & Hamilton County 

ATTN: Librn 

Public Library of Nashville and Davidson County 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Puerto Rico 

ATTN: Dot & Maps Room 

Purdue University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Quinebaug Valley Comnunity College 

ATTN: Librn 

Auburn University 

ATTN: Microforms & 

Rapid City Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Reading Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Dots Dept 

Reed College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Augusta College 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Rhode Island Library 

ATTN: Gov Pubs Oft 

University of Rhode Island 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

Rice University 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

OTHER (Continued) 

Richland County Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Riverside Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Rochester Library 

ATTN: Dots Set 

University of Rutgers Camden Library 

ATTN: Librn 

State University of Rutgers 

ATTN: Librn 

Rutgers University 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries (Reg) 

Rutgers University Law Library 

ATTN: Fed Oocs Oept 

Salem College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Samford University 

ATTN: Librn 

San Antonio Public Library 

ATTN: Bus Science & Tech Dept 

San Diego County Library 

ATTN: C. Jones, Acquisitions 

San Diego Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

San Diego State University Library 

ATTN: Gov Pubs Dept 

San Francisco Public Library 

ATTN: Gov Dots Dept 

San Francisco State College 

ATTN: Gov Pubs Co11 

San Jose State College Library 

ATTN: DOCS Dept 

San Luis Obispo City-County Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Savannah Public 8r Effingham Liberty Regional 

Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Scottsbluff Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Scranton Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Seattle Public Library 

ATTN: Ref Dots Asst 

University of Richmond 

ATTN: Library 

Louisiana College 

ATTN: Librn 

212 
OTHER (Continued) 

Southern Oregon College 

ATTN: Library 

Southern University in New Orleans Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Southern Utah State College Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

South;rest Missouri State College 

ATTN: Library 

University of Southwestern Louisiana Libraries 

ATTN: Librn 

Southwestern University 

ATTN: Librn 

Spokane Public Library 

ATTN: Ref Dept 

Springfield City Library 

ATTN: Dots Set 

OTHER (Continued) 

Selby Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Shawnee Library System 

ATTN: Librn 

Shreve Memorial Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Silas Dronson Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Sioux City Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Skidmore College 

ATTN: Librn 

Slippery Rock State College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

South Carolina State Library 

ATTN: Librn 

University of South Carolina 

ATTN: Librn 

University of South Carolina 

ATTN: Gov Dots 

South Dakota School of Mines & Technical Library 

ATTN: Librn 

South Dakota State Library 

ATTN: Fed Dots Dept 

University of South Dakota 

ATTN: Dots Librn 

South Florida University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Southeast Missouri State University 

ATTN: Librn 

Southeastern Massachusetts University Library 

ATTN: Dots Set 

University of Southern Alabama 

ATTN: Librn 

Southern California University Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

Southern Connecticut State College 

ATTN: Library 

Southern Illinois University 

ATTN: Librn 

Southern Illinois University 

ATTN: Dots Ctr 

Southern Methodist University 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Southern Mississippi 

ATTN: Library 

St 

St 

St 

St 

St 

Bonaventure University 

ATTN: Librn 

Joseph Public Library 

ATTN. Librn 

Lawrence University 

ATTN. Librn 

Louis Public Library 

ATTN- Librn 

Paul Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Stanford University Library 

ATTN. Gov Dots Dept 

State Historical Sot Library 

ATTN: Dots Serials Set 

State Library of Massachusetts 

ATTN. Librn 

State Vniversity of New York 

ATTN: Librn 

Stetson University 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Steubenville 

ATTN: Librn 

Stockton & San Joaquin Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Stockton State College Library 

ATTN. Librn 

213 
DTHER (Continued) 

Superior Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Swarthmore College Library 

ATTN: Ref Dept 

Syracuse University Library 

ATTN: Dots Div 

Tacoma Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Hillsborough County Public Library at Tampa 

ATTN': Librn 

Temple University 

ATTN: Librn 

Tennessee Technological University 

ATTN: iibrn 

University of Tennessee 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

College of Idaho 

ATTN: Librn 

Texas A & M University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Texas at Arlington 

ATTN: Library Dots 

University of Texas at San Antonio 

ATTN: Library 

Texas Christian University 

ATTN: Librn 

Texas State Library 

ATTN: U.S. Dots Set 

Texas Tech University Library 

ATTN: Gov Dots Dept 

Texas University at Austin 

ATTN: Dots Co11 

University of Toledo Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Toledo Public Library 

ATTN: Social Science Dept 

Torrance Civic Center Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Traverse City Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Trenton Free Public Library 

ATTN: Lihrn 

Trinity College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Trinity University Library 

ATTN: Dots Co11 

_OTHER (Continued) 

Tufts University Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

University of Tulsa 

ATTN: Librn 

UCLA Research Library 

ATTN: Pub Affairs Svc/U.S. Dots 

Uniformed Services University of the Health 

Sciences 

ATTN: LRC Library 

University Libraries 

ATTN: Dir of Lib 

University of Maine at Oreno 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Northern Iowa 

ATTN: Library 

Upper Iowa College 

ATTN: Dots Co11 

Utah State University 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Utah 

ATTN: Special Collections 

University of Utah 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

ATTN: Dept of Pharmacology 

Valencia Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Vanderbilt University Library 

ATTN: Gov Dots Set 

University of Vermont 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

Virginia Commonwealth University 

ATTN: Librn 

Virginia Military Institute 

ATTN: Librn 

Virginia Polytechnic Institute Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

Virginia State Library 

ATTN: Serials Set 

University of Virginia 

ATTN: Pub Dots 

Volusia County Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

214 
OTHER (Continued) PTHERatinued) 

Washington State Library 

ATTN: Dots Set 

Washington State University 

ATTN: Lib Dots Set 

Washington University Libraries 

ATTN: Dir of Lib 

University of Washington 

ATTN: Dots Div 

Wayne State University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Wayne State University Law Library 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

Weber State College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Wesleyan University 

ATTH: Dots Librn 

West Chester State College 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

West Covina Library 

ATTN: Librn 

University of West Florida 

ATTll: Librn 

Kest Hills Community College 

ATTN: Library 

West Texas State University 

ATTN: Library 

West Virginia College of Grad Studies Library 

ATTN: Librn 

University of West Virginia 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries (Reg) 

Westerly Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Western Carolina University 

ATTN: Librn 

Western Illinois University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Western Washington University 

ATTN: Librn 

Western Wyoming Community College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Westmoreland City Community College 

ATTN: Learning Resource Ctr 

Whitman College 

ATTN: Librn 

Wichita State University Library 

ATTN: Librn 

William & Mary College 

ATTN: Oocs Dept 

Emporia Kansas State College 

ATTN: Gov Dots Div 

William College Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Willimantic Public Library 

ATTN : Librn 

'Winthrop College 

ATTN: Dots Dept 

University of Wisconsin at Whitewater 

ATTN: Gov Dots Lib 

University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee 

ATTN: Lib Dots 

University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Wisconsin at Platteville 

ATTN: Dot IJnit Lib 

University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point 

ATTN: Dots Set 

University of Wisconsin 

ATTN: Gov Pubs Dept 

University of Wisconsin 

ATTN: Acquisitions Dept 

Worcester Public Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Wright State University Library 

ATTN: Gov Dots Librn 

Wyoming State Library 

ATTN: Librn 

University of Wyoming 

ATTN: Dots Oiv 

Yale University 

ATTN: Dir of Libraries 

Yeshiva University 

ATTN: Librn 

Yuma City County Library 

ATTN: Librn 

Simon Schwab Mem Lib, Columbus Co1 

ATTN: Librn 

215 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CONTRA= 

Advanced Research & Applications Corp 

ATTN: H. Lee 

JAYCOR 

ATTN: A. Nelson 

10 cy ATTN: Health & Environment Div 

Kaillan Tenlpo 

ATTN: DASIAC 

ATTN: E. Martin 

Kaman Terllpo 

ATTN: R. Mil'ler 

Science Applications, Inc 

JRB Associates Div 

10 cy ATTN: L. Novotney 

2 cy ATTN: J. Ponton 

2 cy ATTN: C. Maag 

2 cy ATTN: il. Barrett 

2 cy ATTN: R. Shepanek 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CONTR,6CTORS (Continued) 

Kaman Tempo 

ATTN: C. Jones 

National Academy of Sciences 

ATTN: C. Robinette 

ATTN: Med Follow-up Agency 

ATTN: Nat Mat Advisory Bd 

Pacific-Sierra Research Corp 

ATTN: H. Erode, Chairman SAGE 

Science Applications, 

ATTN: Tech Lib 

R & D Associates 

ATTN: P. Haas 

Inc 

216 
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