Tuesday, February 18, 1947, was the last day of work for many CEW/TEC workers at Y-12. The following day my father sent the original signed copy of the Memorandum shown below to one "Dr. Riley," with copies to G. A. Strasser, Y-12 Plant Shift Supervisor, and H. W. Saylor, Department Superintendent, Building 9206.
He kept the original file copy, not in his office at Y-12, but among his personal papers at home. Dad must have turned in dozens of reports during his work as a foreman during the Manhattan Project, yet this was the only one he kept at home. Why did he do that, and what compelled him to preserve it for more than sixty-five years?
The "Dr. Riley" in question was Dr. E. F. Riley, of the Experimental Radiology Research Section, Biology Division, CEW, and the Memorandum is a response to his request for:
The identity of every individual who "worked in the 'Q' and Calcining operating areas of 9206, where known air borne 'T' concentrations existed", and the period of time worked:
Six months or less,
Six months - one year, or
One year and over
"T" was the code word for "tube alloy" or "tubealloy", which in turn, were code words for Uranium 235 (U235). The question itself is an admission by the Experimental Radiology Research Section, Biology Division, that they knew that concentrations of Uranium, in the form of dust, existed in several areas of Building 9206.
Besides providing the requested information, the Memorandum includes the following apparently unsolicited remark:
"The data on air 'T' concentration and alpha radiation is compiled by the medical Department and any implications or conclusions must be drawn from that department."
The remark seems odd for three reasons:
It seems to be nothing more than a statement of the obvious,
It has a defensive and/or exculpatory tone, and
Its reference to the Medical Department.
Did Dad confuse the Experimental Radiology Research Section of the Biology Division with the Medical Department, or was the reference to the Medical Department intentional?
NOTES:
"T" = "tube alloy" or "tubealloy"? (code name for U235)
"Q" = U238 recovered from receiver carbons. (Manhattan Project History, Book V - Electromagnetic Project, Volume 3 - Design, page 3.34.)
Here are the names of the workers:
"Bailey, R."
"Bass, M. (Mary Lou Bass)"
"Bible, L."
"Bishop, C."
"Brown, M."
"Burgess, B."
"Butler, R."
"Carnes, R."
"Carr, H."
"Castle, A."
"Clapp, L."
"Cortner, E."
"Cox, E."
"Cox, M."
"Cunningham, E. V."
"Dale, M."
"Davis, D. W."
"DeBord, J."
"Dennis, R."
"Drum, F."
"Grubb, D."
"Hall, A."
"Heidel, D."
"Hilton, K."
"Hinkle, J."
"Holt, J."
"Hubble, M."
"Hurst, R."
"Kaylor, L."
"Kincaid, J."
"Kittrell, E."
"Layne, H."
"Lindsay, W."
"Loy, F."
"Massey, N."
"May, E."
"McKnight, D."
"Montooth, G."
"Montz, J."
"Musick, M."
"Nash, C."
"Osborn, C. (Claudia Osborn)"
"Qualls, M. C."
"Reid, R. (Roscoe Reid)"
"Roberts, B."
"Stewart, D."
"Stonecipher, N."
"Susong, R."
"Swallows, H."
"Teffeteller, W."
"Turner, J."
"Valentine, C."
"Walker, R."
"Wells, W."
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