SEQUENCE OF PROCEDURE FOR TENT AND FRAME ASSEMBLY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP74B00752R000100020001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 11, 2008
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 16, 1956
• Content Type: REPORT

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ct? 77
CO'
March 16, 1956
George:
Please pass the enclosed Progress Report on to
We are trying to set up a mechanism to get daily activity
reports to you. This is beginning to amount to publishing
a daily newspaper.
RMS/dmg
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STAT
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'SEQUENCE OF PROCEDU
Unfold floor canvas and spread on ground..:
Z. Erect bottom half of frame on top of floor ?cariya.,
. canvas, so that the flat aluminum bar
aluminum tube
Flat Alum, Bar 0?
place.
. Erect top half of frame, (o
legs
n place; place nylon. tent...in?pi;,sitxpiio
?Of tent through tie down posts
?
Struts
Place top half of frame in bottom half of frame
5. Place supports designated by numbers (1 throUsh-5),in pro
to bottom half of frame.
,6. , Pull. down nylon cover and zip to flociraiiyas.
. Entry frame can now be attached to main frame i;lacing.flat.altimitiUM bar attached,
on the ground and bolt entry to base of main frame
?posts mounted on main 'frame. Bolt .struts-InAilace,.
?,?,, ?
entry.frame slides onto
,
8. Nylon covering is then placed over entry frame, zipPing'sit:.to main frame and canvas
flooring.
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"Vii 9.1118 OpTla
To:
From:
Subject: Engineering Report - Installation Shelter
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agc UI
?
Enclosures:. "A" Shelter Assembly Instructions
"B" Photographs (3 pages)
Appendix. I ? .
Objective
Date 24 May 1957
STAT
1.1 This reporl;cOvers,the. ?quirementsforand the field evaluation
of the Photo Systems Installation Sheller, Part No. 735915,,, as
delivered and tested under .Contract 44, S6hedu1eI, Item No. 8.
Also included is the report of damage Incurred by the shelter due to
high velocity,winds:it the project test site.
I/. Requirement for Installation Shelter
2.1 The intent of the installation shelter is to provide an easily portable,
quickly errected, 'dust and temperature controlled facility for the
installation and removal of Photo Systems where a hangar or other
suitable enclosure is not accessable. The nature of this program and
the required ultimate product of high quality photography, consistent
with reliability, demand that utmost consideration be given for proper
installation techniques, and facilities. The prime factors necessitating
use of such an enclosure are:
a. The intricate instrument type mechanics of the configurations
must at all times be in a dust free environment to assure proper
operation.
b. The exposed optics such as lenses, mirrors, windows and filters
must be protected from dust during installation to assure high
resolution photo quality.
c. Protection from adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow,
wind, heat and cold is required for the photo configurations, the
A/C equipment bay, hatches and installation personnel.
d. To exercise maximum security precautions.
III. General Discussion
3.1 The installation shelter was first errected at the factory (Plant 3)
during March 1957. After initial inspection for proper assembly of
the frame and fit of the nylon cover, the item was shipped to the test
site for operational field use and evaluation. On 3 April 1957, under
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Subject: Eng. Report to WAS from DMT, 24 May 1957 - Installation Shelter
the direction of the acting site supervisor, the shelter was assembled.
Because of adverse weather conditions prevailing that date, namely
20 knot winds with gusts up to 25 knots, a total of nine (9) men were
required to raise the structure. Assembly was accomplished in
accordance with the instructions as outlined in.Enclo sure "A". Due to
the wind, it was necessary to utilize two (2) fork-lifts in pulling the
top cover into place.. With the following noted exceptions, the shelter.
was found to assemble with a minimum of difficulty. It was indicated .
by the assembly crew that if personnel were more familiarized with the.
errection procedure and special techniques were developed for quick7".
assembly, that a crew of four. (4) men could easily accomplish set up
. .
or disassembly in several hours. The Appendix to this report outlines
some of the minor problems encountered during field evaluation
. .s .
IV.Darnage to Installation Shelter.
4.1 Weather Conditions - On 6 April 1957; -weather conditions at:the'teSt
site were extremely adverse:' 'The site weather station reported high
wind velocities in a SSW direction of 45 mph shortly.afterniketi'.:
In-
creased wind gusts were reported up to 55 mph as measured by.the-
weather recorder. The wind direction shifted to the North several
hours later. At approximately 1530 two very strong gusts were reported.
It was at this time that the installation shelter broke free.
4.2 Visual Observation of Shelter During Storm - Being Saturday, there
were no Photo Systems personnel present at the test site. Therefore,
only the control tower operator, security guards and several A/C
line personnel were able to observe the shelter during the storm. A
tape recording was made concerning their observations and comments
on damage which is on file at the factory.
4.3 The following is a brief disc ription of the events that led up to and
during the break away of the shelter. Realizing that the wind intensity
was increasing, a gasoline truck and trailer was positioned next to the
shelter to serve as a wind break. Due to a quick shift of the wind to the
North however, this precaution was not fully effective. Because of the
great amount of dust in the air, the shelter was not clearly visible at all
times. After an exceptionally large wind gust (possibly over 55mph),
arid when the dust had cleared, it was observed that the shelter had been
carried away. In it's path were A/C 371 and A/C 367, both of which
received damage. In order not to further damage A/C 367, a crew of
ten (10) men proceeded to slash the cover material and beat the frame
structure to allow the wind to spill. After this they succeeded in pulling
the frame from the A/C wing section. The stabilizer on A/C 367 was
damaged. Damage to A/C 371 was in the area of aileron and flap.
These items were replaced with parts from A/C 363 which was being
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Subject: Eng. Report to WAS from DMT, 24 May 1957 - Installation Shelter
shipped back to the factory for modification. The Enclosure "B" photo-
graphs clearly indicate the resultant condition of the shelter after the
storm.
4.4 Factors Attributed to Failure - The shelter was designed to specifications
which required that it with stand wind velocities up to 65 mph. There is
the possibility that the sudden gusts to which it was subjected were
approaching or passed this limitation. From the visual reports and )...
photographs, it is evident that the steel stakes held securely, howeVer,
two (2) of the cast aluminium snaps holding the tie down lines broke.:
(Ref. Enc "B" Photo No. 28) It is believed that the continual jerking
and strain on these snaps resulted in 'Metal fatigue and ultimate .
breakage. After the two snaps had failed, the Wind Was Olen able to
get Under the shelter and lift it from the ground...: The remaining tie
down lines then pulled free of the 'securing eyelets onthe nylon covering;
until the complete Shelter was free.
V. Disposition of Shelter
5.1 The shelter was disassembled and returned to the Factory where damage
assessment is being determined. Re assembly of the frame structure,
will be attempted to evaluate the extent of repair necessary.
VI. General Evaluation and Summary
6. 1 Due to the very limited operational experience with the installation
shelter (only one (1) configuration removal), it is difficult to evaluate
its adequacy. However, indications thus far show that it will fulfill
all of the basic intended requirements as follows:
a. will effectively provide protection to equipment and personnel
from the elements.
b. affords a relatively dust free environment in which to work.
c. can be easily transported and assembled on any flat area with
a four (4) man crew in several hours.
d. could be easily camoflaged if necessary.
e. dimensions of the structure are adequate for installation and
removal operations.
f. provides a visually secure work area.
g. the "A" frame hoist proved very satisfactory.
h. no difficulties were encountered with regard to positioning the
A/C nose into the shelter and obtaining a dust free fit. ?
i. with proper interior lighting and airconditioning, installations
can be made under most any environmental conditions.
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Subject: Eng. Report to WAS from DMT, 24 May 1957 - Installation Shelter
6.2 It is recognized that there are several areas of redesign necessary
to make this shelter unquestionably substantial within the limitations
perscribed. The main redesign consideration would be to secure the
tie down lines through the eyelets in the nylon cover material to the
aluminium frameWoi.k. In addition, a heavy duty type snap would be
substituted in place of the type which- failed. The other points out
lined in Appendix ?I are all quite minor and Can easily be corrected.
ft
DMT:bc
cc: B. Marcus (Less Enclosure "B")
E. Evans (Less'Enclosure "B")
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Subject: Eng. Report to WAS from DMT, 24 May 1957 - Installation Shelter
APPENDIX I
1
3.
The errection instructions were found to be somewhat lacking in sufficient
data, such as base dimensions and tie down methods. Also the assembly
sketches were diffieult to interpret.
?
The bottom panel which zippers around the A/C was not cut to accomodate
the landing gear, doors...This?part-was supplied by the A/C manufacturer
and corrective action was initiated,. ?
?.
The '?'T" braces would be more easily secured if pip-pins were used in
, ?
lieu of the large roll pins which require tools for installation.
, , ? ,
The framework which runs along the bottom of the tent had a tendency
to buckle toward the center. To correct this and also to secure the
bottom corners, ropes were tied about the frame at the critical points and
run outside to steel tip down stakes., It Was required that holes be cut in
the nylon covering to accomodate these lines.
5. The equipment door entrance had a tendency to buckle upward when the
cover snaps were fastened. To prevent this, small stakes were driven
into the ground to hold it flat.
6. The tie down stakes provided' (12") were too short to secure in the sandy
soil. Therefore, substitute steel stakes were utilized which were
approximately 3' in length.
7. One of the tie points on the nylon cover pulled out during assembly.
The hole was covered with gun tape. This indicates the possibility that
the fabric is not rugged enough to serve as a tie down point. Con-
sideration should be given to securing the lines directly to the frame.
8. An interference problem was encountered with the pip-pins securing the
framework corners. Both pins could not be installed from the inside
at the same time. This required that one be installed from the outside,
and therefore necessitated padding to prevent damage to the nylon cover
material.
9. One of the welds on the framework gave way during assembly. This point
was temporarily wired securely in place. (Ref. Encl. "B" Photo No. 18)
10. The plywood floor provided was to thin and had a tendency to warp when the
weight of a configuration was on it. The small casters on the carriage
would catch when moved across the floor. There was insufficient plywood
to give complete coverage of the entire floor rea.
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Subject: Eng. Report to WAS from DMT, 24 May 1957 - Installation Shelter
APPENDIX I Continued -
11. The nylon covering was found to be slightly undersize for the frame ,thus
necessitation considerable stretch in order to properly fit.
, 12. The tie down lines were too short and required lengthening.
t.?
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