PROJECT OXYGAS

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Animal Partners
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02384145
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: September 6, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2019
• Publication Date: June 6, 1967

6.2(d)
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MEMaaANDUK 1702.: Director of Research and Development, DDS&T
SUBJECT
mcnts
Project OXYGAS
We are grateful for the report which Drs.
and Stephen Aldrich made to the Technical :aequire-
oard (TBD) on 13 May l967, on the status of Project
3XYGAS. The guidance of the TEB was requested by them as
tc whether or not there was operational justification for
continuing the program and, if so, as to new tasks for
which animal training and systems design should be initiated.
2. It is the view of the Board that Project =GAS
should be oriented toward developing intelligence collection
systems rather than maritime abotage systems. It is our
_impression that Drs. and Aldrich understand and
concur in this. We have reflected at length on the more
significant question, namely, what we reasonably can expect
the future usefulness of trained dolphins to be. The Board
has been forced to conclude that it requires more specific
information than has been available to date before it can
arrive at a firm position in this respect. The information
most needed relates to our capability to guide dolphins over
a range of at least twelve miles in unfamiliar waters. Also,
the Board would like assurance that dolphins can be trained
to seek out and retrieve a "black box" submerged in shallow
water or floating near the shore the dolphins having entered
the water from twelve miles out.
3, The results of the short-term feasibility tasks,
wnch 3SD/ORD plans to undertake with dolphins prior to
31 October 1967 will be of high interest to the TRB and,
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a consic,er:,:ple ex:tet.7.t, reveal the potential
valuo of t2aillf_Ilg
tasks. Y,eanwhile, the "...L sthat ny1; r range
commitments sou a'neyance.,
Chairman
Technical Requirements 2.oard
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 CO2384145