PROJECT 1947

CONFIDENTIAL

WAR DEPARTMENT        
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE        
WASHINGTON, D. C.        

   23 June 1947            

SUBJECT:   Request for Operation and Radar Equipment
                    at White Sands Proving Ground for AAF Training

TO:              Commanding General

                    Army Air Forces

                    ATTENTION: Mr. Vincent S. Roddy, AC/AS-4

         1.       Attention is invited to the inclosed letter from the Commanding
Officer, White Sands Proving Ground dated 12 June 1947, File O.O.
413.4/435, with inclosure from Headquarters, Eighth Air Force, Fort
Worth, Texas dated 3 June 1947.

         2.      The radar equipment at White Sands Proving Ground is manned
by civilian personnel from the Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories
of the Chief Signal Officer.   As pointed out in the inclosed letter
from White Sands Proving Ground, this equipment is under-going
continual modification and testing when not in use for actual tracking
of missiles.

         3.      Because of the interference it would cause to the already
over-taxed demands on the radar equipment and civilian radar personnel,
and in view of the objections raised by the Commanding Officer, White
Sands Proving Ground this office does not concur in participation in
a coordinated counter-measures training program for the Eighth Air Force.

         4.       This office has no objections to the conduct of radar counter-
measure training in this area by the Eighth Air Force with AAF radar
equipment at the Alamogordo Air Base, provided that it is conducted on
non-missile firing days.   A tentative schedule of White Sands Proving
Ground firings is attached.   Coordination between the Commanding Officer,
White Sands Proving Ground and Commanding Officer, Alamogordo Air Base
could be set up to take care of changes in the firing schedule.

          FOR THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE:

 2  Incls:
     1. Ltr, F'ile O.O 413.4/435
         w/1 incl
     2. Firing Schedule

CONFIDENTIAL