Local orchard owners combined forces to finance an unusual undertaking in the early 1970’s with a strange operation that had been attempted in other parts of the country with only moderate success. Their objective was, with the use of airborne aircraft, to seed the clouds with ionized particles in an attempt to cause rainfall to offset the arid conditions that existed in their fruit orchards. During the dry periods in the late summer months, the orchardists wanted assistance in watering their crops. Also strong thunderstorms would occasionally produce hail and cause heavy damage to fruit trees. That could be the cause of the loss of an entire crop for a season. A secondary mission for the cloud seeders was the targeting of a developing cumulonimbus cloud in an attempt to release its moisture early, thereby preventing it from becoming a hail producing thunderstorm. In addition to aerial seeding, ground generators were placed at various locations. These units produced silver iodide crystals and were similar to the airborne units, with activation by a central monitoring station. One such unit was located at Baker’s Air Park in Burlington, WV.
A financially supported effort by these orchardists resulted in a contract with an aviation company with experience in this unusual technique. Based at the Cumberland Airport was one North American T-6 previously used by our military forces. This T-6, commonly called a ‘Texan’, was the vehicle utilized in the project.
Strange as it may seem, there were local individuals who took an opposite view of this operation. Those folks indicated that it was their contention that they would observe an overhead cloud, an aircraft would fly over, and the cloud would disappear or follow the airplane in its flight. In their view, this was the exact opposite of the intent of the over flying pilot and aircraft. These agitated folks took the strong view that these aircraft were in fact involved in an operation that prevented any rain from falling. The natural rainfall process was being stopped, in the opinion of these angry, vocal citizens. Some of these misguided individuals even wrote letters to the local media voicing their complaint and dismay that this attempt was contrary to nature’s intent.
The contents of one such letter written to the Keyser Mineral Daily, and under the sub-title, ‘Weather’ is quoted exactly as submitted:
To the Editor: I knew clear back in spring that they was going to be big time with this weather. When they were going to get water out of Bloomington Dam to play in river with every one watch when clouds come up to see if these airplanes isn’t back in clouds. If this goes on there will be no water for humans or stock, no gardens, no pastures, no hay, nothing for wild life to eat since they have got control of weather to large extent. They have really brought destruction on people and country. This meeting with weather has brought more destruction on country than anything I know of. A war wouldn’t caused half of this destruction. The very best of our timber lay piled in rows for lack of nitrogen from thunderstorms. I seen in paper where some nit wits said thunderstorms stirred up pollution. If Lord didn’t know when he made this earth what he was doing, what did these lying snot noses know? This has also put factories out and people out of work, only on public pay roll. If these bunches can’t be stopped destroying our rain we are in for something we never seen that a famine. I believe this is worse looking time that any of us has ever seen. (The letter received was from a Mineral County, WV woman – who will, for obvious reasons, not be identified).
After a few years of this operation the T-6 caught fire when over Ft. Ashby. With flames spreading around the cowling, the pilot was able to return to Cumberland where he crash landed on the airport. The T-6 was destroyed, ending the seeding operations. The success of this cloud seeding operation was minimal and the project was short lived. The intent was certainly admirable and the fruit growers of this region did perhaps gain but little in their financial efforts at overcoming nature. The reaction of the pilots participating in their cloud seeding attempt is unknown, but was certainly peculiar to any of their other piloting experiences.
North American T-6 similar to one used by Rainmakers
The T-6 being prepared for a weather modification mission at Cumberland. Note the dispensing mechanism located on the side of the fuselage.
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Wings Over Cumberland 