Visual Incapacitation of Aircrew by Nuclear Anti-Aircraft Weapons
Abstract
An assessment is made of the likelihood of visual incapacitation of bomber aircrew by the explosion of nuclear anti-aircraft weapons. The existing medical data upon which this assessment is based have been accepted uncritically and the subject treated as a problem in applied physics. It is estimated that for an average individual retinal burns may be produced at ranges up to 60 miles at an altitude of 50,000 ft, and that for night operations, a pilot may be blind to instrument levels of brightness for several minutes. The operational significance of the results is not considered. The accuracy of the existing data is believed to be questionable, and the various stages of the analysis are given in detail so that a re-assessment should be straightforward if further data became available.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1958
- Accession Number
- ADC960320
Entities
People
- B. J. Brinkworth
Organizations
- Royal Aircraft Establishment