CHEMICAL WEAPONS HAZARD FROM CRASHED AIRCRAFT

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CHEMICAL WEAPONS HAZARD FROM CRASHED AIRCRAFT

Filename:0179pgv.00d
[   (b)(2)   ]

26 AUGUST 1700   [   (b)(6)   ]

SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS HAZARD FROM CRASHED AIRCRAFT

1.  THE IRAQI HAVE SEVERAL AIR DELIVERED CHEMICAL MUNITIONS WHICH 
POSE A THREAT TO US PERSONNEL IF CARRIED BY IRAQI AIRCRAFT SHOT 
DOWN OVER FRIENDLY POSITIONS. THESE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING CHEMICAL 
MUNITIONS.

MUNITIONS TYPE 		CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS

					GA	GB	GF	HD

250kg bombs			X	X	X	X

500kg bombs			X	X	X

90-mm ASM*			X			X

GA = TABUN, SEMI-PERSISTENT NERVE AGENT
GB = SARIN, NON-PERSISTENT NERVE AGENT
GF = GF, SEMIPERSISTENT NERVE AGENT
HD = MUSTARD (SULFUR), PERSISTENT BLISTER AGENT

*UNGUIDED ROCKET DELIVERED BY HELICOPTER

2.  DURING THE IRAQI-IRANIAN WAR MANY IRAQI CHEMICAL ATTACKS WERE 
CONDUCTED BY FIGHTER-BOMBERS CARRYING CHEMICAL BOMBS OR BY 
HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS FIRING 90-mm CHEMICAL ASM.  REPORTS HAVE 
INDICATED THAT IRAQI AIRCRAFT ROUTINELY CARRIED BOTH CONVENTIONAL 
AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS.  IRAQI PILOTS WERE NOT GIVEN ADVANCE 
NOTIFICATION OF TARGETS OR TIMES TO DROP THE CHEMICAL  WEAPONS.  
THEY WERE NOTIFIED BY RADIO TO DROP THE BOMBS AND THEM CHOSE A 
TARGET IN THEIR CURRENT AREA.  US PERSONNEL SHOULD THEREFORE 
ASSUME THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY THAT ANY DOWNED IRAQI FIXED 
WING OR HELICOPTER AIRCRAFT COULD BE CARRYING CHEMICAL WEAPONS.  
US PERSONNEL WILL FACE A POTENTIAL CHEMICAL HAZARD UNEXPLODED 
(DAMAGED) MUNITIONS AT AIRCRAFT CRASH SITES AND FROM SECONDARY 
EXPLOSIONS OF CHEMICAL MUNITIONS DURING IMPACT OF ANTI-AIRCRAFT 
MUNITIONS.

3.  [   (b)(6)   ]