1945 - 1950
Necah S. Furman
Prepared by Sandia Nlllfonal Laboratories Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 and Uvennore, California 94550 UnIted States Department of Energy COR1tract DE-AC04-7l!DPOO789 Issued by Sandia National Laboratories, operated for the United States Department of Energy by Sandia Corporation. NOTICE: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, nor any of their contractors, subcontractors, or their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government, any agency thereof or any of their contractors or subcontractors. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, any agency thereof or any of their contractors or subcontractors.
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Cover photo: In February 1946, the Z Division technical area was situated amid a graveyard for battle-scarred and obsolete airplanes. The base was a maze of abandoned hangars, warehouses, garages, and temporary buildings, one of which had been transported from Wendover, Utah to be used for assembly operations. Early attempts at building the stockpile are visible in the foreground. SAIMD88-0984 Distribution Unlimited Release Category UC— 13 Printed April 1988
Sandia National Laboratories: A Product of Postwar Readiness
1945 - 19SO
Necah S. Furman Sandia History Project Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque, MM 87185
Abstract The genesis and growth of Sandia National Laboratories, the nation's largest nuclear weapons lab, stands as a pertinent case study showing the oftentimes complex, but effective interaction of government, industry, and the growth of cooperative research. Originally a part of Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory under management by the University of California, Sandia traces its roots to Z Division, an ordnance-engineering arm located at Sandia Base on the desert outskirts of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in September 1945. For Sandia National Laboratories, the early postwar years— rather than representing a transformation to peacetime—were characterized by a continued mobilization of engineering and science in the name of national readiness.
1-2 Contents
5 Genesis......
8 The Impact of Crossroads ......
Assessing the Stockpile...... 10
The Manley Evaluation ...... 11
Z A Division Becomes Separate Branch ...... 14
Emphasis on "Road" ...... 15
The Integrated Contractor Complex ...... 15
Changeover to Industrial Management...... 17
Endnotes ...... 21
Sandia National Laboratories: A Product of Postwar Readiness
1945 - 1950
Genesis Nearly a half century ago, the events As part of Project Alberta, a secret leading to World War II resulted in the training and assembly operation had been set creation of the United States' nuclear up on the salt flats near Wendover, Utah, in weapons program. To activate this effort, the preparation for the bombing of Hiroshima government organized a vast complex of and Nagasaki. With the end of the war in special laboratories under the auspices of the sight, it was felt that a plan for the continued Manhattan Engineer District. An offshoot of production and assembly of atomic weapons this effort, Sandia National Laboratories should be continued at a site closer to Los stands as a pertinent example of the Alamos. Robert Oppenheimer, Director of Los oftentimes complex but effective interaction Alamos Laboratory, explained the rationale of government and industry, and the growth for this decision: "We wished to make of cooperative research. provision for the continuation of weapons During the 1945-1950 period, national development, especially in its non-nuclear and international events, such as the aspects, at a site convenient to Los Alamos— Crossroads Operation, the Berlin Crisis, and as Wendover was not—and immediately detonation of the first Soviet atomic device accessible to aircraft and air strips."3 convinced government and military leaders Oppenheimer also had more mundane that the United States was in danger of losing reasons for his decision. Los Alamos—never a its lead in the developing arms From this race. comfortable settlement at best—by June of time forward, a symbiotic relationship 1945 was bursting at the seams.4 "It was our between the United States and Russia would belief," Oppenheimer wrote, "that any major exist, namely, "the greater the perceived enlargement of activities there would not be power and weaponry of the opponent, the practical; and that it was important to make greater the need to expand military the non-nuclear side of things easily production at home." Thus the organization accessible to members of the military known today as Sandia National services."s Laboratories, although established to meet temporary needs, gained permanence as an General Leslie Groves, head of the integral part of an action-reaction cycle Manhattan Engineer District, concurred; "It resulting from the need to promote national was simply impossible to keep on increasing readiness.' the activities at Los Alamos," he said. "Relief Originally a part of Los Alamos Scientific was essential." Furthermore, Groves preferred Laboratory, managed by the University of to "separate, physically, production and California, Sandia began as a small production engineering from research and 6 engineering-production arm called "Z development." Division." The group was organized at Los Alamos, New Mexico in July 1945 and named Among other considerations were the after its first leader, Jen-old Zacharias.2 costs, difficulties, and time delays involved in Genesis of the division can be traced to transporting materials and equipment up to Project Alberta, implemented by Los Alamos the mountain top laboratory and the finished to integrate and coordinate all activities product back down to embarkation points. associated with combat delivery of the first Yet the new branch was not viewed as a atomic bomb. permanent solution—especially by the
Z DIVISION
September 1945
Jerrold Rheinach Zacharias, Leader
Z-l—Experimental Systems, Norris E. Bradbury
Z-1A—Airborne Testing, Dale R. Corson Glenn A. Fowler (Alternate) Z-1B—Informers (Telemetry), Jerome B. Wiesner B. Wright (Alternate) Z-1C—Coordination with Using Services, Glenn A. Fowler
Z-2—Assembly Factory, Colonel Lyie E. Seeman Roger S. Warner, Jr., Deputy
Z-2A—Procurement, Storage, and Shipment, Colonel Robert W. Lockridge Major Parker (Alternate) Z-2B—Production Schedules, Manuals Roger S. Warner, Jr.
Z-3—Firing Circuits, Lewis Fussell, Jr. Commander Stevenson; Earl Thomas (Alternates)
Z-4—Mechanical Engineering, Robert W. Henderson Richard A. Bice (Alternate) Frank Oppenheimer (Coordinator for Redesign)
Z-5—Electronic Engineering, Robert B. Brode R. B. Doll (Alternate)
Assessing the Stockpile had extended the laboratory's management University of California to A series of visits to the laboratories in contract with the July The the T946 and T947 caused Washington officials 1948. committee agreed that should be placed increasing concern over the status of the number one priority on testing Los stockpile—a concern that resulted in weapons development and at transformation of Z Division into an integral Alamos, although ordnance and production, Sandia facet of the nation's nuclear weapons they decided, should be transferred to conditions both the AEC complex. Initial visitors were the new AEC under acceptable to decisions a commissioners, who felt that their first order and the military. Further on "new be of business should be to inspect the collection course for weapon production" would a of plants and laboratories inherited from the delayed until after the committee got "firsthand of '3 military. On November 16, 1946, after an all- view the situation." day flight to Los Alamos, where they received a briefing on weapons research and To obtain this firsthand view. Chairman of production, the commissioners drove to the GAC Robert Oppenheimer, accompanied Sandia Base. Chairman of the AEC, David E. by the Weapon's Subcommittee, also made a Lilienthal, commented upon the "rather tour to assess the nation's weapons somber but highly intelligent scientists" he production complex. At Los Alamos, had met at Los Alamos and "the alert and Oppenheimer's successor. Director Norris handsome young West Pointers" at Sandia Bradbury, anticipated their concerns with a who seemed "eager to learn the art of comprehensive report. He commented on the putting things together." He noted that he implosion and gun-type weapons, recent "learned quite a lot" during his visit, improvements made by the Los Alamos particularly about "what has not been done scientists, and stressed that it would be in the way of planning, coordination, and the essential test stockpile models as well as '2 to like." new models under development. The Weapons Subcommittee came away Six weeks in early later, January 1947, convinced of the need for another scientific commissioner Robert also visited Los F. Bacher test of the atomic bomb in the spring of Alamos with the objective of assessing the 1948.'4 nation's stockpile. His report, presented to a meeting of the General Advisory Committee (GAC), three commissioners, and several On April 4, before returning to members of the Military Liaison Committee on Washington, Oppenheimer's group stopped February 1, 1947, gave those present a at Sandia Base. The facility was far from better—if more depressing—view of the state impressive. Among the few buildings was a of the nation's nuclear arsenal. quonset hut, brought from Wendover to house assembly operations. There, Sandia Among the topics of discussion at the technicians sorted weapon components from GAC meeting was the future of the weapons the wartime project, tested new ones, and laboratory at Los Atamos, including Z Division transferred them to the ordnance section at at Sandia Base. There was talk of moving Los Kirtland where high-explosive charges would Alamos from its isolated location. Before the be added when available. Completed meeting adjourned, however, committee weapons were to be stored in igloos located members agreed that Los Alamos should be in an arroyo south of the runways. revitalized and weapons research accelerated, particularly in view of the failure of various disarmament plans in United Nations As AEC historians Richard G. Hewlett and negotiations. Francis Duncan wrote: "To realize that the nation's vaunted power to wage nuclear war On the weekend of March 28th, at the rested on this slender reed must have been a next meeting of the General Advisory sobering experience." Although the visitors Committee, the Commission's general admitted that they saw "clear signs of manager, Carroll Wifson, announced that he initiative, enterprise, and even enthusiasm,"
10
Emphasis on "Road" these basic activities were "inseparable along The early focal point of the Lab, however, any clean line, and that any attempted remained on production, code-named "Road" separation would be impracticable [sic] and because of the secrecy surrounding Sandia's technically unsound." As Larsen explained, assembly and stockpiling tasks. The name was "Close technical coordination must exist appropriate because most of the weapons between weapon research and development, were transported via "Road" to storage sites. the ensuing production engineering phase There was also the connotation of "Let's get and the production and final acceptance of the show on the road."25 Meanwhile, on the the end products, to insure that they meet the original required and planned world scene, tensions were increasing 27 between the United States and the Soviet specifications." On the premise that the AEC Union. desired to centralize continuous responsibility for quality and performance of On March 12, 1947, Truman had called for weapons in the organization that originated emergency measures to bolster Greece and development, Larsen strongly objected to Turkey against Communist subversion, and on separation of research and development from May 31, the USSR ordered inspection of all production. military trains moving from West Germany to Berlin. The following March 1948, Jan In this respect, the results of the in Pacific in 1948 Masaryk, the Czechoslovakian foreign Sandstone tests the were minister, became the victim of an alleged significant. The operation gave the Lab a suicide. By June the USSR had blockaded sense of mission that had a unifying effect on Berlin.26 Such aggressive actions further personnel; furthermore, the tests were so focussed the attention of US policy planners successful in verifying the design of the new 4 on the readiness problem. Mk bomb that priority production of components for the new model superseded At Sandia, with organizational and the completion of current stockpile items. personnel problems under control, the AEC With the Mk 4, the era of handcrafted addressed the production issue—how to weapons had passed. Mass production of line convert from a handcraft job shop components and assembly techniques arrangement to a more effective factory became the order of the day. production mode. It soon became apparent that a separate weapons manufacturing facility would be desirable—partly to meet the need for ever higher production quantities, and partly to prepare for the The Integrated Contractor eventual divorce of production responsibilities Complex from Sandia proper. The Economy Act of 1932 established the original legal guidelines and restraints The Bendix Aviation Corporation, in a pertaining to cooperation between project known as "Royal," was requested to government and industry, although provisions take over production phases of the Sandia of the act were not converted into formal operation, thereby relieving the University of policy by Bureau of the Budget Bulletin No California of production responsibility under 60-2 until I959.28 Nevertheless, using the its contract. This move prompted the regents Manhattan Engineer District as a model, the to unanimously request release from AEC in 1947 began the process of setting up administrative duties as well, although it was a complex of integrated contractors to suggested that the University of California produce the various components, high- retain control over research and explosive castings, and pit materials for development. Study showed, however, that nuclear weapons.
15 THE INTEGRATED CONTRACTOR COMPLEX 1947-1958
CONTRACTOR PLANT LOCATION ESTABLISHED PRINCIPAL MISSIONS
UNION CARBIDE Y-12 Plant 1947 Production of test and stockpile assemblies; fabrication of heavy (Replaced by Martin Oak Ridge, TN case parts; fabrication and research in uranium; machining. Marietta Energy Systems in 1983)
MASON & Burlington Plant 1947 Fabrication of chemical explosives and assembly of nonnuclear HANGER Burlington, IA components; final assembly. (Silas Mason Co, Inc) (Consolidated with Pantex July 1975)
MONSANTO Mound Facility 1948 Fabrication of small HE units, explosive components such as deto¬ RESEARCH Miamisburg, OH nators, timers, transducers, firesets, and pellets; pyrotechnic de¬ CORPORATION vices; responsible for stockpile sampling on boost systems.
BEIMDIX, KC Kansas City, 1949 Fabrication and assembly of complex electromechanical and preci¬ (Acquired by Allied in MO sion mechanical devices, rubber, plastics, and nonnuclear compo¬ 1983) nents; heavy machining; electronic systems.
DOW CHEMICAL Rocky Flats 1951 Fabrication of beryllium, plutonium and uranium alloy; plutonium (Replaced by Rockwell Golden, CO recovery and research; fabrication of pressure vessels—e.g., International in 1975; boosting systems. curently Atomics International)
MASON & HANGER Pantex Plant 1951 Production of large HE units; assembly of final product; heavy Amarillo, TX machining; preparation for shipment to the military; disassembly and retirement of weapons.
AMERICAN CAR Albuquerque, NM 1952 Machining of case parts for the thermonuclear bomb. & FOUNDRY (ACF Industries)
DuPONT COMPANY Savannah River 1953 Production of tritium and plutonium. Plant Aiken, SC
GENERAL Pinellas Plant 1958 Production of neutron generators, thermal batteries, RTGs, light¬ ELECTRIC Largo, FL ning arrester connectors, capacitors, neutron detectors. COMPANY (GEND) Simultaneously, the Y-12 Plant at Oak number of bombs in the nuclear arsenal. In Ridge, Tennessee—originally operated by June 1947, the United States was still Union Carbide and currently by Martin producing fewer than one atomic bomb every Marietta—was contracted to fabricate test two months. One year later, in June 1948, and stockpile assemblies and to conduct there were "50 implosion type nuclear cores research in uranium. The Burlington Plant, and 53 Mk 3 assemblies available." Although also established in 1947, and managed by information on stockpile numbers beyond Mason & Hanger, fabricated and assembled 1948 remains classified, documents from the complex electromechanical devices, rubber, Joint Chiefs of Staff at the National Archives plastics, and non-nuclear components. The make some general estimates publishable. In following year, in 1948, the Mound Facility at 1947, for example, the Joint Chiefs had Miamisburg, Ohio, was in operation under established as their first production goal 400 management of the Monsanto Corporation. bombs in stockpile by January 1, 1951. A There, small HE units, explosive components, May 1949 report noted that the AEC fully pyrotechnic devices and nuclear arming expected to meet that goal. Spurred on by baskets were produced. During the fifties, Russia's detonation of an atomic bomb in four more plants were established under the 1949, the hydrogen bomb in 1953, and the direction of industrial contractors. Among outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, these was the Pantex Plant at Amarillo, US nuclear weapons production reached its Texas, where components from the entire peak between 1955-1967.32 While the complex were assembled into completed impetus for this accomplishment originated in weapons ready for military use and immediate postwar concerns, the eventually returned for disassembly and wherewithal to meet readiness goals had retirement.29 been provided to a considerable degree by Through this system of integrated the successful activation of the Sandia contractors, Sandia's products—largely ordnance branch of Los Alamos. designs and prototypes—were converted into military hardware. Within ten years, Sandia had been transformed from a factory-style ordnance facility to a research and development lab working closely with industry. The budget reflects this transition. In Changeover to Industrial FY51, the total operating budget was S62 M, split about 50-50 between Weapons Management Production and Research and Development. By 1948, Sandia operations had expanded This relatively high production emphasis beyond the purview of a purely academic continued through FY56. Beginning in FY57, institution; its parent organization, Los and thereafter, R&D and test activities took Alamos was also being scrutinized by the an ever-increasing portion of Sandia's University of California management and the budgeted resources, with production budgets AEC. The university had never been pleased generally showing corresponding decreases.30 with the de facto, but informal, extension of Similarly, between 1947 and 1958, the its contract with Los Alamos to manage the integrated contractor complex grew to ordnance activity at Sandia Base. Robert include nine plant facilities and was to have a Underhill expressed these feelings explicitly as significant impact on the American economy, early as June of 1947 in a letter to Bradbury. the success of Sandia Corporation, and the "This whole Sandia matter," Underhill said, "is growth of the nation's stockpile.3' one that seems to have gotten out of hand," In the postwar period, the effectiveness of explaining that the University could not the Sandia-AEC-Military-Contractor "protect its or the government's interests at interaction is shown in the increase in the branch stations." 33
17 Fellow regents agreed, maintaining that hand—despite the progress made in the University of California activities at Sandia development of the Mk 4—would be more should be limited to research and effectively operated as a production-type development, that in fact it was not proper organization under industrial management.38 for the university to be associated with the Although several organizations were ordnance aspects of weapons production. In considered initially, Lilienthal, as spokesman addition, Bradbury candidly expressed for the AEC, and representatives of the personal concern over his ability to handle military recommended to President Truman effectively the responsibilities relating to that the Bell System assume the task. On May Sandia. "Much of this concern comes from 13, 1949, Truman dispatched a letter to Leroy administrative responsibility and the strong Wilson, President of American Telephone and feeling that I actually contribute very little to Telegraph, asking that the organization the technical direction of the Sandia assume managerial responsibility for Sandia— activities," he said. "This comes from my a task the president considered to be "an preoccupation with Los Alamos problems, our opportunity to render an exceptional service geographic separation from Sandia, and from in the national interest." On July 1, 1949, our lack of appropriate engineering Wilson indicated that its manufacturing background."34 subsidiary. Western Electric, Inc., would the Because of a Scientists making up the Technical Board accept management role. pending antitrust Wilson at Los Alamos also favored breaking ties with suit, however, insisted that the operation should be Sandia. The conclusion was that "the best administered on a basis.39 interests of government would be served" no-profit, no-fee The and the operation strengthened by bringing central theme of the contract— specifically, that the operation be run on the to it "engineering experience and . . . simple commercial administration which the basis of "good industrial practice"—is University is not equipped to provide."35 and straightforward. On November 1, 1949, official academic industrial Subsequently,... the University of California the change from to management occurred. A press release issued formally requested separation as of July 1, 3& in July 1949 succinctly explained the public 1949, "or sooner." to a part of the rationale for transfer; namely, In the interim, Sandia Director Paul J. the growth of the Laboratory which, AEC a Larsen submitted to the proposal to according to the announcement, "has been form a New Mexico state corporation to the result of the Commission's effort to a operate Sandia Laboratory as non-profit integrate research, development and institution. Rather than accept this proposal production activities in accordance with the verbatim, the AEC began a careful study to best academic and industrial practice and determine the true state of affairs at the two with the most competent available 40 labs and to evaluate the feasibility of placing supervision in each technical area." What Sandia under industrial management.37 Mervin the press release did not mention, however, Bell Kelly, Executive Vice-President of was that the change in management also Laboratories, was retained by the AEC to signified the Commission's recognition of conduct the evaluation. Sandia as an integral part of the defense During March and April, Kelly spent complex and the overriding desire to ensure considerable time analyzing all the scientific, its continued success. industrial, and managerial phases of the Thus, for Sandia National Laboratories, operations at both labs. Ultimately, Kelly the early postwar years—rather than reported that Los Alamos was "the best representing a transformation to peacetime— government lab he knew of from the points were characterized by a continued of view of scientific capacity, spirit, and sense mobilization of science in the name of of the job to be done." Sandia, on the other national readiness.
18 Organization of Sandia Corporation
November 1, 1949
PRESIDENT ISLPRE)
George A. Landry*
TREASURER. VICE PRESIDENT PERSONNEL, SECRETARY DIRECTOR OF CONSULTANT TO AND AND AND DEVELOPMENT THE PRESIDENT OPERATING MANAGER PUBLIC RELATIONS COMPTROLLER (SLDD) (SLCP) (SLVP) (SLTR) (SLSEI
R. E. Poole" P. J. Larsen F. Schmidf F. B. Smith" J. A. Dempsfiy*
Rese arch Technical Technical Research Superintendent Road Purchasing Assistant Fiscal A ssistant Asso ciale Associate Staff Consultant of Manufacturing Department Agent Treasurer Administration S ecretary Dire ctor Director Engineer (SLRC) Engineering ISLR) (SLPAI (SLTA) d Business (SLR (SLTAD) 1SLTE) (SLSMt (SLY) AD) w. A. MacNair" F. H. Longyear, Mgr. H. G. Ross' C. Olajos r,Methods P R Henderson W. H. Pagenkopf* SLBMl R. P. eteison W. | E. W. Baldwin, Mgr. | | H. W. Sharp
Building Purchasing Business App lied Engineering Production Maintenance (SLPB) Manager Cost and Engineering Lab Phy sics Department Department W. F. Dietrich" Sandia Accounting Ac counting ISLZ1 La b (SLE) Department ISLBA) (SLCA1 onsultant 1SL Al (SLPE) R. A. Bee, Mgr. L. J. Heilman, Mgr. R. E. Roy SLAC) L. J. Biskner, Mgr. R. M. Nicol* Procurement and Supply Field Test Coordinator Administration Inventory Department Development Master Scheduling (SLP) Department (SL11 (SLT) Fabrication (SLMS) (SLX) D. B. Miller, Mgr. Hughes* Department M. J. G. A. Fowler, Mgr. J.W. Hook C, Campbell, Mgr. (SLF) W.
L. F. Yost, Mgr.
Expediting Military (SLPC) Document Liaison W. J. Madura Department Department Project 1SLD) (SLM) Royal S. Harris, Mgr. Liaison A. B. Machen, Mgr. (SLRL)
G. C. Buonagucio Contract Liaison Department Staff i Surveillance (SLCL) Development Department H. E. Sunde, Mgr. Department - (SLS) (SLSD)
• L. J. Paddison, Mgr. S. Harris, Mgr.
Financial Consultant (SLFC)
C. E. Russell*
•Western Electric Personnel **Bell Telephone Laboratories Personnel Endnotes In Bradbury's report to the AEC Commissioners in January 1947, he stated that: "The actual See Rone "Kremlin System Looks 1. Tempest, accomplishments of this division during the last Familiar/' Los Alamos Times, 10 July 1983, Part IV, year were seriously limited by the responsibilities discussion of the Russian Military-Industrial for placed on them by the Crossroads operation." See York and Alien Greb in "Military Complex. Herb G. Bradbury, "Weapon Program of the Los Alamos A History," Research and Development: Postwar Laboratory." 27 January 1947, Los Alamos Scientists 1977), Bulletin of Atomic [January p. 13, Archives. support the idea that major events taking place within the Soviet bloc "elicited long-lasting 10. Manhattan District History, Book VIII, Los programmatic and organizational responses on the Alamos Project (Y), Vol. 3, p. 8.48, quoting the SNL U. S. side." The authors contend, therefore, that "Report of the President's Evaluation Board," the "so-called 'action-reaction cycle' has, on the Archives, also on microfilm, Sandia Technical largest scale at least, played a fundamental role in Library. determining the course of events." 11. See United Nations Atomic Energy Commission, "Official Record of the First 2. Memo for record. Subject: "Z Division— Meeting, Remarks by the Provisional Chairman Bernard Ordnance Engineering," N. July 1945, Sandia A., 14 National Laboratories Archives, Albuquerque Baruch," Hunter College, New York, June 1946, The (hereinafter cited as SNL Archives). National Archives, Record Group 326, Records of the Atomic Energy Commission, Miscellaneous, 3. Robert Oppenheimer to F. C. Alexander, Relating to the U. N. Atomic Energy Commission Jr., Princeton, New Jersey, 25 May 1961, 1946-1949; and Gregg Herken, The Winning SNL Archives. Weapon, the Atomic Bomb in the Cold War 1945- 1950 (New York: Vintage Books, 1982), p. 172. 4. See photo caption in Peter Goodchild's J. Robert Oppenheimer: Shatterer of Worlds (Boston: 12. Richard G. Hewlett and Oscar E. I Houghton Mifflin Company, 1981), p. 170. Anderson, Jr., The New World, 1939/1946. Vol. (University Park: The Pennsylvania State 5. Oppenheimer to Alexander, Princeton, New University Press, 1962), pp. 633-42 (hereinafter Jersey, 25 May 1961, SNL Archives. cited as AEC History, I.); David E. Lilienthal, The Journals of David E. Lilienthal, II York: 6. Leslie R. Groves to F. C. Alexander, Jr., Vol. (New & 6 Harper Publishers, 1964), 106, entry Stamford, Connecticut, June 1961, p. 1, SNL Row, p. 16 Archives. dated November 1946. 13. "Conference Notes Re: Genesis of Sandia 7. Memo, R. M. Underhill to N. E. Bradbury, File 310.1 Z-Organization, Los Alamos Mail and Corporation," Kimball Prince with General James Records, SNL Archives. McCormack and Mr. Carroll Wilson (at McCormack's Office, M.l.T., Cambridge, 8. Hartley Rowe to F. C. Alexander, Jr., Massachusetts), 29 September 1959, SNL Archives; Newton Centre, Massachusetts, 24 November Richard G. Hewlett and Francis Duncan, Atomic 1961, SNL Archives; Memo, Robert W. Lockridge Shield, 1947/1952, Vol. II (University Park: The to All Concerned, Subject: "Transfer of Group Z-2A Pennsylvania State University Press, 1969), pp. 15, to Sandia," 26 September 1945, Los Alamos 30-32, 45-46, 58 (hereinafter cited as AEC History. Archives; Interview, Robert W. Henderson, 23 II). January 1984, SNL Archives. Henderson's Z-4 14. AEC History, II, 58; Bradbury, "Weapon Engineering Group was the last to make the move p. Program of the Los Alamos Laboratory," from Los Alamos in January 1947. 27 January 1947, Los Alamos Archives. 9. Memo, Dale R. Corson to N. E. Bradbury, 15. AEC History, II, 60-61. Subject: "Future Z Division Program," 11 April pp. 1946, Los Alamos Archives; Memo, N. E. Bradbury 16. David E. Lilienthal, "The Kind of Nation to All Division Leaders, Subject: "B-Division," We Want." Colliers, 14 June 1952, p. 49, 23 January 1946, Los Alamos Archives. SNL Archives.
21 17. "Report to the President of the United 24. "Sandia Branch of the Los Alamos States from the Atomic Energy Commission Laboratory," Report by the Manager. Office of January 1-April 1, 1947," and "Appendix C, Santa Fe Directed Operations and the Chief of 2 April 1947," US DOE Archives, Collection: Engineering, 5 August 1948, p. 6, US DOE Energy History, Germantown, Maryland. The Archives, Record Group 326, US Atomic Energy report to the President had been drafted Commission, Collection: Secretariat, Box 1235, previously with blanks provided for the actual Folder 601 LASL, Germantown, Maryland. number of bombs in stockpile. On April 16, 25. Alexander, History of Sand/a, 16. Lilienthal met with the President and orally p. supplied the stockpile figures. See AEC History. II, 26. Good secondary source material on this p. 53 and Bradbury, "Weapon Program of the Los period includes the aforementioned Gregg Herken, Alamos Laboratory," 27 January 1947, Los Alamos The Winning Weapon: The Atomic Bomb in the Archives. Cold War 1945-1950. See pp. 245-46, 251, and AEC History, II, p. 158. 18. F. C. Alexander, History of Sand/a Corporation Through Fiscal Year 1963 27. Paul J. Larsen to C. L. Tyier, 11 January (Albuquerque: Sandia National Laboratories, 1949, Los Alamos Archives; AEC History, II, p. 175. 1963), 12-13; Interview, R. Henderson, pp. W. 28. Science Policy Research Division, A Case 7 March 1984, SIML Archives; Memo, Dale R. Study of the Utilization of Federal Laboratory Corson to IM. E. Bradbury, Subject: "Future Z Resources [Washington: USGPO, 1966), pp. 34, Division Program," 11 April 1946, Los Alamos 38-39. Archives.
19. J. H. Manley, "Report on Z-Division 29. According to the Ninth Semiannual Report (Prepared for the General Advisory Committee)," of the AEC, January 1951: "To carry out necessary 10 November 1947, Los Alamos Archives. production and research operations, the Commission has followed the Manhattan Engineer 20. Ibid. District's practice of using contractor-operators. 21. Lilienthal, "The Kind of Nation We Want," Contracts are made with industrial concerns, p. 49. universities, and other scientific organizations to carry out the principal research operations." See 22. Memo, E. Bradbury to Distribution, N. page 5. Subject: "Z Organization," File 310.1, Los Alamos Mail and Records, SNL Archives; Teletype, Roger The Burlington Plant was eventually Warner (describing background of Paul J. Larsen), consolidated with Bendix in July 1975. USAEC to AEC Santa Fe, New Mexico, Los Alamos US Atomic Energy Commission, The Story of Mail and Records, File 322, SNL Archives; P. J. Albuquerque Operations (Washington: USGPO, Larsen to C. L. Tyier, AEC, 11 January 1949, Los 1961), pp. 17-18; Interview, John Sundberg, Alamos Archives; Memo, Dwight D. Elsenhower to Nuclear Weapons Lab, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Chief Naval Operations, Subject: "Organization of 30 April 1985. of Armed Forces Special Weapons Project," 8 July 1947, SNL Archives. The TX-5 Steering Committee 30. SNL Budget History, p. 29, and held its first November 1948. meeting 3, accompanying documents: Temporary SCI 3036, 10 1950; SCI 23. Memo, Paul J. Larsen to All Concerned, November 3506 in ref: "In reviewing Subject: "Z Organization," Los Alamos Mail and some of my SCI's, it seemed that SCI 3506 was in I Records, File 310.1, SNL Archives; "Conference need of ... elimination. discussed it with Cost Notes Re: Genesis of Sandia Corporation," Kimball Division and we agreed that in view of the fact Prince with General James McCormack and Carroll that we no longer do any manufacturing, this SCI Wilson, SNL Archives. should be eliminated—ERW 9/2/60."
22 31. David C. Morrison, "Energy Department's Laboratory—Report of Mr. Men/in J. Kelly," Weapons Conglomerate," Bulletin of Atomic (Notes by the Secretary), US DOE Archives, Record US Scientists (April 1985), p. 35. Group 326, Atomic Energy Commission, Collection: Secretariat, Box 4944, Folder 635.123, 32. Robert T. Duff, Director of Classification, Sandia Branch LASL, Germantown, Maryland. "Declassification of Early Stockpile Data," Bulletin 12 February 1982, DOE, #WNP-46A, 39. Ibid.; Carroll L. Tyier to President Robert Washington, DC. G. Sproul, University of California, Berkeley, 9 Los 33. Memo, R. M. Underhill to M. E. Bradbury, March 1949, Alamos Archives; David 24 June 1947, File 310.1 Z Organization, Los Lilienthal to Leroy Wilson, 6 July 1949, AEC Files, Alamos Mail and Records, SNL Archives; Robert M. Series 199, ALO Archives, Kirtland AFB, Underhill to Carroll L. Tyier, Manager Santa Fe Albuquerque; President Harry Truman to Leroy Operations Office, Los Alamos Mail and Records, Wilson, Washington, DC, 13 May 1949 (copy), SNL File 322. SML Archives. Corporate Files; Memo, Brigadier General James McCormack, Director of Military Applications, to E. Bradbury to President Robert 34. M. G. Carroll L. Wilson, General Manager. AEC, Subject: of California, Sproul, University Berkeley, "Sandia Laboratory Forms Attachment to AEC," 18 1948, Los Alamos Archives. November p. 4, 15 June 1949, Staff Paper, 199/7, SNL Archives. 35. Ibid.; Robert M. Underhill to Carroll L. 40. "Conference Notes Re: Genesis of Sandia Tyier, Manager Santa Fe Operations, Los Alamos, National Laboratories," Kimball Prince with New Mexico, 31 December 1948, Los Alamos General James McCormack and Carroll Wilson, Archives. SNL Archives; Sandia Corporation Contract 36. Robert M. Underhill to Carroll L. Tyier, AT-|29-1)-789 between U. S. Atomic Energy 31 December 1948, Los Alamos Archives. Commission, Western Electric Company and Sandia Corporation—Correspondence: 1949, Folder 1, 37. Ibid., Paul J. Larsen, "Information SNL Corporate Files. The contract was executed Presented to Sandia Laboratory Department 4 October 1949, although the "Takeover Managers, Division Leaders and Staff Assistants at Agreement" between the AEC and Western Sandia Base Theater on May 12, 1949," p. 2, Los Electric had been negotiated at Los Alamos, Alamos Archives. August 29, 1949. See also "Press Release by the 38. Larsen, ibid.; Men/in J. Kelly, Executive AEC," 12 July 1949, SNL Archives; "News Briefs Vice President of Bell Telephone Laboratories to for Western Electric Management," 13 July 1949, President Robert G. Sproul, University of New York, SNL Archives; "Private Firms to Run California, Berkeley, 29 July 1949, File 322 Sandia, AEC Plant at Sandia," New York Times, 12 July SNL Archives; "Administration of Sandia 1949, SNL Archives.
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