AIDEV-1 SUBJECT: Amendment to Proposed Project Regarding Blast Injury Evaluation (U) TO: Chief of Research and Development Department of the Army Washington 25, D.C. 1. References: a. Letter, ATDEV-1 000.9(8), Headquarters COWARC to Chief of Research and Development, Department of the Army, 6 September 1955, subject: "Requirements for Information on Primary and Secondary Biological Effects of Air Blast to Army Troops from Nuclear Weapons (U)," recommending laboratory and field tests on dummies and animals under stimulated tactical conditions. b. Final Report of Operations, Exercise Desert Rock VI (U), Headquarters Exercise Desert Rock VI, 23 May 1955, of which Section IX deals with the Volunteer Officer Progress. 2. In reference is, a requirement has been established for a thorough investigation of the mechanisms of blast injury to individuals for the purpose of more accurate estimation of casualties, determination of safe distances, and evaluation of field fortifications and protective measures. Current injury criteria are based largely on assumptions and hypotheses, rather than on experimental evidence, and cannot be accepted with confidence. 3. Injury criteria established by tests on dummies and animals, as proposed in reference 1a, should be validated by human tests to insure their reliability. Volunteers in foxholes and prone en the surface of the ground can be exposed to low levels of blast and thermal effects until thresholds of intolerability are ascertained. (Suitable choice of yields would eliminate excessive nuclear radiation exposure.) Volunteer participation has been tried successfully on several Desert Rock Exercises, as described in reference 1b. However, the objectives in Desert Rock were training ones and the participants were at relatively safe distances. All the volunteers in Desert Rock VI concurred in the recommendation that this program be continued and that the participants be closer to ground zero in the future. It is believed that human tests can be integrated into the program proposed in reference 1a and conducted with negligible expense, preparation time, and interference with scheduled test programs. 4. It is realized that the lateness of this proposal and other problems may make it impossible to include a volunteer program in Operation REDWING. 1 SUBJECT: Amendment to Proposed Project Regarding Blast Injury Evaluation (U) However, since inherent dangers will necessitate a gradual approach to the threshold of intolerability of effects, it is probable that a program extending over several tests will ensue. Therefore it is felt that Army interest in such a program should be brought to the attention of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project at this time for such action as may be feasible in Operation REDWING. Detailed recommendations for volunteer human participation in future atomic tests will be submitted by this headquarters. 5. It is recommended that: a. The interest of the Army in a volunteer program to determine injury criteria be expressed to the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project for such action as may be feasible in Operation REDWING. b. This headquarters be informed of the action taken. FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL: R.C. MORRIS Major, AGC Asst Adj General Copies furnished: COFORD, DA CCm10, DA The QM General, DA The Surgeon General, DA Dir, Ballistics Res Lab Office, Sp Wpns Dev Dir 16 DEC 1955 C8HD/G SUBJECT: Amendment to Proposed Project Regarding Blast Injury Evaluation (U) Office, Chief of Research and Development, CCS, Department of the Army, Washington 25, D. C. TO: Chief, Armed Special Weapons Project, The Pentagon, Room 1B-671, Washington 25, D.C. 1. Reference is made to Comment No. 4, Chief, Armed Forces Special Weapons Project to Chief of Research and Development, 25 November 1955, Subject: "Requirements for Information on Primary and Secondary Biological Effects of Air Blast to Army Troops from Nuclear Weapons (U)", furnishing Armed Forces Special Weapons Project comments on the Continental Army Command proposal, paragraph 1a of basic letter. 2. In the reference DF it is stated that: "Redwing projects have been firmed and planning and coordination have progressed to the point where the cost in both time and money of reorientation to any more than a very minor degree would be prohibitive", On the basis of this comment and because of the basic problems inherent in conducting volunteer program to determine injury criteria in the Pacific Proving Grounds it is considered highly improbable that any such program could be included in Redwing at this date. 3. It is required that: a. Comments be furnished concerning the feasibility of the volunteer program proposed in the basic letter both in Operation Redwing and in subsequent test operations at the Nevada Test Site and the Pacific Proving Grounds. b. In the event it is considered feasible to incorporate a volunteer program in Operation Redwing as outlined in the basic letter, recommendations be furnished concerning the implementation of such a program. FOR THE CHIEF OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: SIGNED: Copies furnished:ROBERT E. COFFIN COWARCColonel, GS TSGChief, Atomic Division COFORD Regrading Data Cannot Be Predetermined