G. Ochiltree in 1964. Test procedures were streamlined based on the experience in Operation Buffalo so that it took six hours to set up a tower test and eight for a balloon test. This allowed the testers to take advantage of transient but suitable weather conditions. Invitations to send observers were sent out to all nations with defence cooperation agreements with Britain, which included NATO countries, and fourteen accepted. Australia would send 24 observers, along with Beale's party of 20 parliamentarians. A media contingent of 20 was also accommodated. Test 1: Tadje The Tadje test was scheduled for 12 September 1957, but was postponed to 13 and then 14 September due to the weather. Firing occurred at 14:35 on 14 September, in weather conditions that were almost ideal. The yield was about as expected. The cloud rose to , a little higher than predicted, and headed in a northerly direction. The Tadje test used cobalt-60 pellets as a "tracer" for determining yield. This fuelled rumours that Britain had been developing a cobalt bomb. The Range staff found the pellets scattered over the landscape. They had not been informed of its use, and their nature was discovered only by accident by Harry Turner, the Australian Health Physics Representative (AHPR). The only member of the AWTSC informed about the decision to use cobalt was Titterton, who did not inform the other members or Turner. Personnel handling these pellets were exposed to the active cobalt-60. Test 2: Biak The Biak test was scheduled for the following week, 21 September, but rain was forecast and the AWTSC cancelled the detonation. The meteorologists predicted a short break in the weather the following day, but with morning fog until 10:00. The fog cleared up by around 03:30. It was decided to detonate at 10:00 despite forecasts that some fallout would be deposited on the Taranaki test site. The yield was around as expected, but the cloud rose much higher: instead of the forecast , with a secondary cloud forming at . Weather conditions were good, but as feared, fallout was deposited on the Taranaki site. Test 3: Taranaki While Tadje and Biak were fired from towers, Taranaki was the balloon test. A contract was let for balloons, but it soon became clear that they could not be produced in time, so balloons were substituted, of a type used by the Blue Joker project. These could bear