Further to our previous blog regarding experimentation, documentation relating to aircraft sampling and the dose rates and the psychological effects on the aircrew have been discovered. These documents are in relation to Operation Mosaic.
The first document refers to radioactive sampling and the need to control the sampling of the G.2 Cloud. The clouds must not go to such a height that they risk not getting a fair sample.
As the centre of the cloud may be beyond reach, it is suggested that the crews should carry some form of dose-rate measuring equipment to estimate the dose rate to be encountered should they fly through the centre.
"S.H.P.R believes that the dose-rate at any point away from the edge is virtually independent of weapon yield and, at 20 minutes, should be in the region of 2,800 r/hour; he therefore believes there is no practical necessity for carrying any form of recording instrument."
Why would they not fit the equipment? Why was the ground-controlled procedure preferred? A simple explanation was given:
"The ground-controlled procedure has the added advantage
that the pilot and crew are not confronted with a psychologically
embarrassing reading of several thousand r per hour, when they know the maximum dose is only 25r."
The scientists knew how much these men would be exposed, but did not want to give them accurate instruments because of the psychological embarrassment of the crew reading the exposure they were experiencing. They were to be exposed to massive dosages of radiation, but they would not be told due to the psychological effects it would have on them. No mention of the effects on their physical health. If we don't tell them, they will never know.
"I am assured by R.A.F/A.W.R.E, after consultation with R.A.E Farnborough
that it is now next to impossible to fit any large equipment into
the Canberras, not only on the grounds of physical size but chiefly
because there is no power available."
So we will not fit the correct equipment to keep the crew safe, as this will show the actual exposure levels, but we will allow them to fly into the cloud, as we need the samples.
In response, the Central Medical Establishment of the Royal Air Force responded by stating:
"I do not agree however with Paragraph 5 since the
psychological aspect (if any) can be taken care of by marking
the scale r. per minute."
So this would change the figures dramatically, effectively giving the crew an incorrect reading to stop the psychological effects, but they would still be exposed. It gets worse:
"During the 1957 trials the R.A.F will gain invaluable experience
in handling the weapons and demonstrating first hand the
effects of nuclear explosions on personnel and equipment."
These R.A.F. personnel were used in experimentation. They were exposed, and they were lied to.
Conclusion
These men were used in the nuclear weapons experiments, the dose rates were well known, and they were exposed because the UK Government needed the sampling information. They needed the data. Even when the psychological effects of reading such massive dose rates are discussed, they just wanted to change the scale and not provide them with equipment which could read the actual doseage, but would max out at a lower dose.
This is just further documentary evidence of the treatment of the sampling crews, they were expendable, they were lied to, used and left to suffer the consequences by the UK Government.
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