Flights 13, 14, 15, 16 and 20: Made in September, 1947, they had as their primary purpose the testing of external balloon appendices to prevent excessive dilution of the lifting gas with air.
On three of these flights the loose polyethylene tubes twisted shut during the balloons' ascent and caused the cell to burst as it became full. The unsatisfactory models tried are seen in Figure 10, as well as the skirt
[figure]
Figure 10
stiffened with external battens which was developed on Flight 20 and used successfully thereafter.
On most of these flights, radio direction-finding equipment (SCR-658) was used, as well as theodolite and aircraft for tracking and positioning the balloons. A system of air reconnaissance and ground recovery was developed using a radio-equipped jeep to move cross-country at the direction of the aircraft observer. Several satisfactory recovery missions were made on these and later flights using this technique.
-16-