Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 2.2
Other agents and diseases of interest during the offensive phase
of the US program
Antipersonnel
Viruses
Smallpox virus (variola)
Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis
Yellow fever
Rift Valley fever
Fungi
Coccidiomycosis:
Coccidiodes immitis
Toxins
Ricin
Shellfish toxin
Staphylococcal enterotoxin Type B
Anticrop
Black stem rust of cereals:
Puccinia graminis
Rice blast:
Piricularia oryzae
pable of disseminating biological agents were the 4-pound bomb, the
British experimental bomb B/E1, the M114, and the E61 bomb. Later de-
velopments were the M33 and the 500-pound bomb. All of them were
found unsatisfactory in one respect or another. Later the Air Force sought
to replace the M114 bomb with the E61 bomblet, which would carry and
dispense
Bacillus anthracis.
Its advantages were its compact size, its carry-
ing capacity, and an extensive dispersal range. However, Miller notes,
“some questioned the advisability of putting so much emphasis on this
development. In the nuclear weapon the Air Force already had a devas-
tating strategic weapon. Their argument was: why not go after a con-
trolled debilitating weapon?”
72
In February 1953, becoming impatient, the JCS “directed the military
services to develop and completely test by 1 July 1954 a lethal munition
agent combination that could withstand a wide range of meteorological
conditions.” The agent of choice was
Yersinia pestis;
but since its develop-
ment was lagging, the JCS suggested
Bacillus anthracis
in liquid suspen-
sion. It would be placed in E61 bomblets placed in the E113 500-pound
bomb.
73
For antiagricultural operations, the favored munition was the feather
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