ATTACHMENT 2

January 20, 1956 Memorandum from AFSWP to the 
Army Chief of Research and Development
(Best Copies Available)


SWPEF/2/924 (15 Nov 1955)



SUBJECT:    Amendment to Proposed Project Regarding
	    Blast Injury  Evaluation (U)

Headquarters, Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Washington 25, D.C.

TO:	    Chief of Research and Development, OCS, 
	    Department of the Army, Washington 25, D.C.

1.	Reference is made to the following:

a.	Letter, ATDEV-1 000.9(8), Headquarters COWARC to Chief of 
Research and Development, OCS, 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)."

b.	Comment #4 to letter referenced in a, above, from Chief, 
AFSWP to Chief of Research and Development, OCS, Department of the 
Army, dated 25 November 1955.

2.	The comments requested in paragraph 3 of the 1st Indorsement 
are explained in detail in Annex A attached hereto.  These comments 
are summarized as follows:

a.	The Armed Forces Special Weapons Project does not consider the 
volunteer program proposed in the basic letter feasible for Operation 
REDWING.  The AFSWP position in this regard is contained in reference 
1b above.

b.	The AFSWP feels that the nature of the experiment proposed and 
the rules governing tests at the Nevada Test Site preclude obtaining 
any more information on the subject than is already available.

c.	The AFSWP considers that the physical nature of the Pacific 
Proving Grounds and the type of shots conducted there make it extremely 
doubtful that a human volunteer program is feasible for future Pacific 
tests.

3.	As a further consideration the original COWARC proposal, 
reference 1a, above, presents the need for a laboratory investigation 
of primary and secondary effects of blast by pointing out that very 
little is known of the interacting effects of overpressure, duration, 
and rise time on the human body.  To expose humans to higher levels 
than they were in DESERT ROCK V in full scale tests before laboratory 
work has shed sufficient light on the interrelated effects of these 
blast parameters does not seem advisable.  The AFSWP recommends that 
action on the original COWARC proposal for laboratory investigation 
of this problem be expedited.

4.	The foregoing is in regard to a scientific program and is not 
related to volunteer participation conducted for the purpose of 
indoctrination and
			
					1



SWPEF/2/924 (15 Nov 1955)

SUBJECT:     Amendment to Proposed Project Regarding Blast Injury
	     Evaluation (U)

training such as was done in DESERT ROCK V and VI.  It must be 
pointed out, however, that the results of those exercises cannot 
be expected to produce data of scientific value.

FOR THE CHIEF, AFSWP

					IRVING L. BRANCE
					Colonel, USAF
					Chief of Staff

1 Incl
  Annex "A" - Detailed Explanation of 
  AFSWP Comments on Feasibility of Human 
  Volunteer Program (ILLEGIBLE)

M/R The orig COWARC proposal referenced in la of above ltr called
for laboratory investigation of the blast effects on humans in the 
BRL Shock Tube and for full scale tests to corroborate this data.  
AFSWP commented unfavorably on full scale tests until such time as 
lab work would indicate what needed to be tested.  AFSWP offered to 
furnish $75,000 to support the lab. program for FY 56 and budgeted 
another $75,000 for FY 57.  It is believed that this lab program 
should be exploited rather than attempting full scale test a clear 
idea of where the areas of interest will lie.  SEE A.G. #18295 
(Outgoing) and #17073 (Incoming), EF-2 #157.  THE DATA CONTAINED IN 
INCL 1 CLASSIFIED SRD BECAUSE IT CONTAINS REFERENCES TO STOCKPILE 
WEAPONS, YIELD, HEIGHTS OF BURST, AND EFFECTS RADII FROM WHICH 
COULD BE DEDUCED SCALING LAWS.

Distribution of Incl 1 (6cys)
Cy 1A - Addressee; Cy 2A - BRL (Attn: Mr. W.J. Taylor); 
Cy 3A - SWPEF-2; Cy 4A - A.G., and Cys 5 & 6A - SWPEF-2, Read File