BRIEFING INFORMATION CONCERNING PROJECT AQUATONE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP33-02415A000100360073-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 7, 1998
• Sequence Number: 73
• Content Type: PAPER

Sanitized -Approved For Release :CIA-RDP33-02415A000100360073-0
I~IE~ING
I~1P't~MIITION COHC~iNING
PROJ~T At~uATONE
This paper is intended for use as an amplification when shorts oral
briefings have been necessary, in order to introduce an individual snore
intimately to AQUATONE.
HISTt~tICAL BACKf~t~~___OUbID
Aerial Camerae
In World War II, as the range of enemy anti-aircraft fire was gradually
extended upwards, Allied plan? on photographic missions had to fly at con-
tinually higher altitudes. Optical scientists in this country were forced to
evolve cameras which would take mare detailed pictures at faster speeds and
from much greater height.
The bulk of the development work sponsored by the National Defense
Research Committee (NDRC) an new and special types of aerial camera lenses and
lens eyste~as was carried out at Harvard University under the technical direc-
tion of Dr. James G. Baker. Thhe~ program began ariginally early in 19+1 as a
contract dab Par the Photographic Laboratory of the Army Air Forces at Wright
Field, an. was tak?n over by NDRC during the following year at the request of
the Air Forces.
Foremost among the new cameras designed at Harvard was a 40-inch f. 5.0
automatic telephoto cam?ra which gave a high order of definition. In pictures
taken with the camera from 10,000 feet, it was possible to dietinguiah tele-
phone wires, power cables, and their ?hadows. Frain 30,000 feet, even such
minute details as railroad ties could be spotted.
The Harvard optical staff also worked an both 3~-irch and 100--inch camera
systems. One of the 36-inch eystezns was needed as a substitute for the standard
24-inch lens in the K-18 camera. Service testing in late 1944 at 15,000 and
20,000 feet proved that it was a satisfactory and practical replacement far the
smaller lane system. The 100-inch anastigmatic lens system for high-altitude
phatograpiy was along-range project which had some success. A working model
urea built, but because cif lack of homogeneity in the optical glass the expected
telescopic quality did net materializes and the camera was recommended for use
only at altitudes of approximately 50,000 feet.
TS 142$22 /':-.
Page / of S
COPY 1 of 2
Sanitized -Approved For Release :CIA-RDP33-02415A000100360073-0
 Sanitized -Approved For Release :CIA-RDP33-02415A000100360073-0
Other lens systems developed at Harvard included special 7-inch f. 2.S
lenses for night photography spherically syrmmetrical lenses for wide-angle
photography, and 36- and 48-inch lenses incorporating artificial fluorite.
The spherically syr~:etrical lenses were designed to a]1ow one esmera to do the
work of three,. since three short-focus cam?ras were usually mounted together and
synchronised to obtain wide-angle coverage on a photographic mission.
Air..,. c. ~t
Human rocketry began in Worid War ZI with the Messerchmitt 163 inter-
ceptor fighter, which could travel from ground to 40,000 feet in about three
nd.nutea, Leveling off at a top speed of 600 mph, it could fly a total of
11 minutes, reaching 50,000 feet.
Major Charles Yeager, USAF, made the worldts first supersonic flight
in the Bell $-1 rocket-?driven research s3.ngle-seat aircraft on October I4,
1947. His airplane was lifted from the ground into the open bomb-bay of a
Boeing B-29 superfortress. At 30,000 feet, the bc~nber released the bell.
8111 Bridge~nan, test pilot for Dou,~las Aircraft Coanpany, flew at 1,238
mph reaching 79,494 feet in the Skyrocket in August 1951. Bridgeman traveled
in the 8-29 while it climbed to 35,000 feat where it dropped ham into space.
The motor burned a ton of fuel per minute. Temperature was 270? Fahrenheit.
The Skyrocketts gliding sped was 275 mph; it carne down for a3anding at 250
mph, and laruied at 180 mp;- .
Lieutenant Colonel Marion E. Carl, USMC, was released in a Skyrocket at
35,000 feet an 21 August 1953? He clamed to 7S,!UOO feet where his fuel burned
out. Carl climbed to 83,285 feet without any power but his own sped. It
took him ten minutes to reach the ground.
Yeager beat Bridgemants speed in December 1953 f13~-ng 1,b54 mph in the
Be11 1G-lA.
In 1954, Ma3or Arthur Murray, USAF, reached the greatest height then
attained by man, flying the X-lA up to approximately 90~ feet after r his
releae~e Pry a 8-23 at ~0~00o feet.
...
These rocket research aircraft weigh about 16,(K10 pounds at release,
carrying 6,000 pounds in fuel which is consumed in mi.nutas. The cockpit is
highly gressuri.aed fors at bQ,00Q feet the atmospheric pressure falls to
~~but rune-tenth of that at ~aa level.
xs 142922JA
Page ~ of s
Copy ~2 of 2
Sanitized -Approved For Release :CIA-RDP33-02415A000100360073-0
 Sanitized -Approved For Release :CIA-RDP33-02415A000100360073-0
Maadm~n flight height for a het engine is bet~reen b0,000 and 70000
feet. A ra~n3et may operate up to about 90000 feet. About that height
rocket propulsion is essential because no peer unit can any longer obtain
erx~ugh oxygen from the tenuous atmosphere.
T5 ].l~2922/A
Page 9 of ~
~Py~ of 2
Sanitized -Approved For Release :CIA-RDP33-02415A000100360073-0
 25X1X3
\ Sanitized -Approved For Release :CIA-RDP33-02415A000100360073-0
Next 1 Page(s) In Document Exempt
Sanitized -Approved For Release :CIA-RDP33-02415A000100360073-0
 Sanitized -Approved For Release :CIA-RDP33-02415A000100360073-0
Il~MUN~4ATION Rffi~UIREMENTS
Certain immunisations are required for a warld~-wide standby; thee?
are typhoids cholera, tgtanus~ typhus, yellow fever, smallpox, arxi diphtheria.
These imQnunizationa era given as follower
Typhoid -- requires three (3} in~eations from seven (7)
to tw+snty~aight (2B) days apart.
Cholera - requiraa two 2) in~ectiona, seven (?} to ten
(10) days apart.
Tetanus -requires two (2} in~eations, t~toanty-eight (28}
to forty-~tr~ { 1a..2) date apart
Typhus ~ .- requires two (2) in~eations, seven (7} to ten
(lo) says apart.
Yellow - ie given in one (1) infection; not to be givem
Fever within five (5) says of the time typhoid or
smallpox is given.
Smallpox -requires one (1) injaction<
Diphtheria ~- requires three (3) in~eations~ t~+renty-sight
{ 2g } to forty--tom (t+2) says ap~-rt, if the
Schick teat indicates the in3aation is necessary.
Zf the subject has received the faLlawing imsnuniaations within the
states periods? booster shots only will be necessary as follower
Typhoid -each year except for Pacific area which is
six months.
Cholera -every six menthe regardless of area.
Tetanus -each year except for Pacific area which is
six tenths.
Typhus -- each year except for Pacific eras which is
six months.
If the sub~act has rsaeived the falloxing immunisations within the
stag periods, no repeat immuni$ation will be nsaessarys
Ye11ow -Every four (4) years.
Fever
sma].l.pox - gvsz~' y$er except fdr Pacific ergs which is
six r~antha.
SAPC - 52b7
Copy ~ of b
Sanitized -Approved For Release :CIA-RDP33-02415A000100360073-0