polyethylene balloon and its protective ground cloth to be removed from a launch vehicle and laid out on the ground prior to inflation. Another procedure described by the witness was an apparent reference to a balloon recovery practice of recording the names of civilians who observed high altitude balloon recoveries.¹⁶² The witness stated that military personnel “took everybody’s name and everything,”¹⁶³ which was a procedure to ensure payment of a $25 dollar reward to persons who assisted in the recovery. This procedure was also necessary to settle future claims of property damage caused by the balloon, payload, or recovery vehicles.¹⁶⁴
Fig. 80. Witnesses described a “tanker,” “military ambulances,” a “6x6,” and a “wrecker”—probable references to (from left) a helium tank trailer, a M-43 ambulance (converted to a communications vehicle), a M-35 cargo truck (partially obscured), and a M-342 wrecker. These vehicles were used for off-range launch and recovery operations of anthropomorphic dummies for Project HIGH DIVE/EXCELSIOR. Shown here is a May 29, 1957 dummy launch near Hatch, N.M. (also see figs. 23, 28, 64, 71, 81). (U.S. Air Force photo)
Fig. 81. Scene typical of a mid- to late 1950s off-range high altitude balloon launch. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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