Was I frightened? Controversy still surrounds the early cloud-seeding experiments. That was that for the cottages - and for the three old people. Many countries now use the technology, which has considerably improved during the past 50 years. UK weather modification experiments at the time targeted 'super cool' clouds to increase the volume of freezing water vapour particles. On this day, August 15 1952, the cloud seeding experiments came to a sudden end, official documents have confirmed. The flooding … His navigator, Group Captain John Hart, remembers the success of these early experiments: "We flew straight through the top of the cloud, poured dry ice down into the cloud. Operation Cumulus was put on hold indefinitely after the tragedy. Thirty four people died in the flash storms that have become known at the Lymouth Flood Disaster as a torrent of 90m tons of water and thousands of tons of rock poured off saturated Exmoor and into the village destroying homes, bridges, shops and hotels.. Methods included firing particles of salt, dry ice, or silver iodide, into clouds, either from an aeroplane or from burners on the ground. Squadron Leader Len Otley, who was working on Operation Cumulus, told the BBC that they jokingly referred to the rainmaking exercise as Operation Witch Doctor. Survivors of the Lynmouth flood called for - but never got - a full investigation into the causes of the disaster. The testing was limited due to restrictions in place because of foot and mouth disease, and it is inconclusive. And it did about 30 minutes later, and we all cheered.". And more than one person observed that the clouds above North Devon and West Somerset were moving in completely opposite directions. The meteorological office has in the past denied there were any rainmaking experiments conducted before 1955, but a BBC Radio 4 history investigation, to be broadcast tonight, has unearthed documents recently released at the public record office showing that they were going on from 1949 to 1955. In 1955 questions were asked in the Commons about the possibilites of liability and compensation claims. It all went in the flood.". The Grecians are in the hat after their 3-2 win over Gillingham. All gone. The deaths included babies, children, teenagers, back-packers, husbands and wives and the elderly. But controversy still surrounds the efficacy of these early cloud-seeding experiments. But then they were always a bit like that - the sort who'd peer out from behind their curtains at you. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. The school was above where we lived and they were all there except three people who lived in one of the other cottages. "I'd lived by the river all my life and was used to hearing it roar. "You know most people have got something handed down from their mum, or their grandmother. But documents suggest that Operation Cumulus was going on between August 4 and August 15 1952. Very old. UK weather modification experiments at the time presaged current practice in the US. The event has become known as the Lynmouth Flood Disaster, and since 1952 we've come a long way when it comes to dealing with sudden, violent, inundations - … The scientists were based at Cranfield school of aeronautics and worked with the RAF and the MoD's meteorological research team at Farnborough. Unearthed documents suggest experiment triggered torrent that killed 35 in Devon disaster. The disaster was officially termed "the hand of God" but new evidence from previously classified government files suggests that a team of international scientists working with the RAF was experimenting with artificial rainmaking in southern Britain in the same week and could possibly be implicated. They refused to leave. Rumours persist to this day of planes … Most methods involved firing particles of salt, dry ice, or silver iodide, into clouds, either from an aeroplane or from burners on the ground. The BBC Radio 4 programme The Day They Made It Rain suggested that both the air ministry and the Treasury were aware that rainmaking could cause damage, not just to military targets and personnel, but also to civilians. Not all of the people killed were in Lynmouth. Declassified minutes from an air ministry meeting, held in the war office on November 3, 1953, show why the military were interested in increasing rain and snow by artificial means. RAF logbooks and personnel corroborate the evidence. • The Day They Made It Rain, Radio 4 , 8.30pm. The list of possible uses included "bogging down enemy movement", "incrementing the water flow in rivers and streams to hinder or stop enemy crossings", and clearing fog from airfields. There is no mention of cloud seeding. Devon Live looks at cases from Exeter, Torbay, North and South Devon. Significantly, silver iodide was claimed to cause a downpour up to 300 miles away. RAF logbooks and personnel corroborate the evidence. To target `` super cool '' clouds, and we all cheered. `` morning... To send you these newsletters three old people recently examined soil sediments in the district of Lynmouth to see any... Carried out by the RAF and an international team of scientists in August 1952 35. Surrounds the efficacy of these early cloud-seeding experiments target `` super cool clouds... 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