DEVELOPMENT OF AN INSTALLATION FOR DETECTING RADIOACTIVE PARTICLES IN THE AIR AT THE KMENT FIRM IN HRADEK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00415R004900120004-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 19, 2001
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: May 2, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

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CLASSIFICATION
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COUNTRY C.soelor.J.ova'zia
SUWECT
PLACE
P,CQU IRE
DATE OF
INFO.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
IINFORMATOON RE_voirr
Deve/opment of an Insta21ation for Detecting Radio-
actio Particles in the Air rt the Krent Firm in
Hindek
25X1A
REPORT NO
CD NO.
25X1A
DATE DISTR. 2 L
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO.OFENCM
(LISTED BELOW)
UTI TO CIA LIBRARY
SUPPLEMENT TO
25X1X REPORT NO.
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1, Betseen 15 April and 15 :Tay /948, Inr. Xuhn (fnu) atetWNMent irrijinTiradek
initiate' the construction of an air filter to dotes?TiaTlishe particle radiation
In the air. "lame believes that Kuhn develoeed the dea with trig-nelp of
either Dr. Sleuka (fnu) or of an official of the State 7.4ines nanaeement who
,ats connected with the Jnchymov mines and who nay have been Dr. Koblic. -
Kletecka (fm') actually constructed the apparatus andcompleted the greater
part of the installation. Ing. Khent took part in the experiments as an ob-
server only. In Bradnn also had knowledge of the purpose of the experiment.
The installetion was operated by Kletecka? and Kuhn determined the time and
duration of the experiments.
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The installation consisted of a strong ventilator equipped with annAtas9.,
node), air fan having 100 r.p.m and of a rotor with a renovable part con-
taining a filter consisting of fine paper -wool (manufactured by the Horak Come.
panyiPrague-Strasnice). The air drawn in by the ventilator passed through this
filter. The whole apparates was about 1200 mm long, the diameter of the venti-
lator being about 500 nm. The filter was an ordinary neesanicn1 filter
used to purify air from nechanical particles such as smoke and dust, and was made
by the Uorak firm in Praeue-Strasnice, Two sizes of filters were used, one having
a diameter of 100 mm and the other a dianeter of 120 mm. Source believes
that eventually only the smaller filter was used. There -as only one air intake
'Slaving a dinmeNarof 100 or 120 mm Which was set to face the direction of the pre-
vailing -winds-, i.e. E-M? but the direction was adjestable. The apparatus ma
fixed in a tree in front of the plant at a height of about twelve meters. The
installation was purely experimental, in order to dincover whether such tests
,e0e1d be carried out successfully and with poeitiam results. Source believes
that it was assuned that any traces of radioactivity would be the rerun of
American experinents? since, there were certain indications that the Russian .
wexe net yet earryina out experimental-explosions. The interception of arkra'
radionativearticlea desponded sail4ron their dissemination in tllo eireatream)
therefore-no question of raeeatenteted into KUhials experiment. The-roaability
of a propagation of the radiation by eaane of a chain reaction was discussed,
but the original hypothesis of particles being simply disseninated in the air
was accepted.
Kuhn first stated that he lied made positive testa between the end of nay and tl
beainnina of Jene 1948. On twooccasions he said that he had obtained inf
as to the date of an explosion set up On one of the islands in the Pncif
CLASSIFICATION
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SEC-ET/cONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS OVLY
CEPTRAL IHT.ALIGENCE AGVICY
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25X1A
that four days after the date of the explosion he had neaaured a considerable
quantity of cathm particle radiation in the filtera. He further stated that
the presont% of alpha particle radiation proved that the filters had inter-
coptod nechanioal particlea.which, at the explosion, were diffused
to the atmospheae and carraal ay in the cloud. a These wore the only
times, knoun to source, when alpha particle radiation was actual3y measured.
Source believes that aftorthie time no further positive measurements wore
obtained and that the filters wore removed for measuring every morning and
every night. Kuhn, hoviVer, frequently ordered the installation to be stopped
and then later started alain, which would indiaate that 'after 4uneahe-wasatiakiag
sudexassful readings and that he had the installation stopped only during the
periods abon no readinas were obtained.
4. At a later date, in June 1948, Kuhn set up two more installations, one at the
house of his father-infamy B. Suk at Kralupy and the other in the villa of
Dr, H. Slouka atTrague VIII, Pod VlachovkOu #9. Source believes that Kuhn
did not obtain arty positive asanuraments from these installations. Kuhn die-
cussed the possibility of building a network of theme installations with the
toopeaation of meteorological stations in Order to try to obtain an indication
of the direction or the location of explosions, bat this plan was not carried
out.
5. The follooina persons had knouledge of the fact that alpha particle radiation
had boon detected:
a. Ing. Pcelnikov of the. Russian Commercial Mission in Prague..
b. IngaTosik, Russian pbyticist at the Jachymov mineo.
c. Ing. Hudak', Departmental' Chief. of the Ministry of the Interior, who claims
to be charged with the Supervision of the Hradok plant. Source believes
that Budik was later trantferred to the Ministry Of National Defense *ore
he is in a high poSitica.
da The following men etployed at the plant in Hradek: Kuhn, KMent? lad, Kleteckl,
Boren, Bradna, and Dr. Slouka, After the early part of June 1948 Kiihn did not
reveal the results of his measurements and eXperlmento even to his closest co-
workers, and probably not ovento the ilussians. Source believes that KUhn's
secrecy was due to. reasons of prestige rather than due to distrust.
6. Kuhn tried to persuade the Russians to build a modern scientific laboratory,
having aa highaVoltage installation, in order to carry out experiments in the
field of atemic physics. Kuhn discussed this patter with Ina. Pcelnikov and
Ina. Nikoforov, both of Nhom belonged to the Russian Commercial Mission'at
Praue XIX. Kuhn was asked to ',fork out adcbailod plan. This plan, as uell
ae photographs of .the location Where Kahn was planning to set up his laboratory
near Hradek near uoti nad Orlicil were taken to Moscow by Fierlinger (fnu), Coma
mercial Delegate for Trade with Russia.
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