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Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
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No. 864 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tel. ST 3-8000, Ext. 307 THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 1956 PRELIIIINARY REPORTS TO DOD AND AEC Rear Admiral B. Hall Hanlon, Commander, Joint Task Force Seven, has returned from the Marshall Islands following the recent conclusion of the RZDIWING test series, and has made preliminary reports of the tests to Secretary of Defense Charles E. ‘Jilson and Chairman Lewis L. Strauss of the Atomic Energy Commission. Admiral Hanlon reported that the programmed number of tests was made of nuclear devices ranging widely in yield,.. some in the kiloton and some in the megaton range, and that the energy released by each of the devices fell within the range of’ estimates made prior to firing. Admiral Hanlon reaffirmed that the energy yield of the largest was substantially less than that of the largest de~~ice detonated in the CASTLE test series of 1954. Following the firing of the concluding detonations, light fallout occurred on parts of Eniwetok Atoll occupied ‘oythe Joint Task Force. The fallout did not necessitate evacuation of personnel and no special protective measures v!e~e required. pressed to Admiral Hanlon their gratification at the splendid work done by the Task Force, composed of the three armed services, scientists and other civilian personnel in the AE~ program, and by the laboratories which developed the devices tested }n the series; and by the personnel of the Armed Forces Special Weapons
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Secretary Wilson, who was able to view a part of ,.*- -.. the tests first-hand, expressed his personal congratulations and those of the Department of Defense to all personnel who worked so diligently to bring Operation REDWING to a successful conclusion. ‘~That this series will have far- -reaching effects on national defense, and constitutes an invaluable contribution to the progress in preparedness of our nation is already evident,lt he said. ‘tTheteamwork and leadership, both scientific and operational, displayed under changing conditions of weather and operational contingencies are highly commendable. This fine example of cooperation in such a complex operation indicates that it is possible to blend both the scientific and operational aspects and bring out the best performance in each.rt Chairman Strauss said: ‘rThenation owes much to these men of science and industry and the armed forces. Their combined efforts have substantially advanced the security of this nation and the free world by developing new knowledge which will add to the power and the flexibility of our nuclear armament against aggression.ll Besides Admiral Hanlon, the Joint Task Force senior personnel includes: Dr. William E. Ogle, Deputy Commander for Rear Admiral Leonard B. Sutherland, Chief Major General John C. Macdonald, Deputy for Rear Admiral Joseph H. wellings, Deputy for Brig. Gen. Perry B. Griffith, Deputy for Air The nuclear experimentation and design for the test devices was carried on by the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, headed by Dr. Norris Bradbury, and the Livermore Laboratory, headed by Dr. Herbert york= Both are operated for the Commission by the University of California. The development work on non-nuclear
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components was carried on by Sandia Laboratory of which.,,. James W. McRae is President. The contractor operating Sandia Laboratory is the Sandia Corporation, a subsidiary of Western Electric Company. Several other AEC contractors contributed materially to the operation. During the tests, Commissioners Strauss, Murray and Vance and Senator Pastore of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy visited the Proving Ground. Department of Defense officials, in addition to Secretary Wilson, who visited the Proving Ground during the tests, included Assistant Secretary of Defense (Applications Engineering) Frank D. Newbury, Assistant Secretary of” the Navy (Personnel and Reserve Forces) Albert Pratt and Assistant to the Secretary for Atomic Energy