1/1/1947 – On this day, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission took over the Manhattan Project’s research and production facilities from the Manhattan Engineer District.

Hanging discretely in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum (Washington, DC) is this little modified Piper PA-18 Super Cub used by the AEC to survey uranium exploration in the West. The Super Cub, with a scintillation counter to detect gamma radiation, could make low, slow flights over the rugged terrain.

(Note the top of the “Enola Gay” B-29 vertical stabilizer just below the airframe.)