ATM aerial camera lens

[Bobrobbob@aol.com]

has anyone play with aerial camera lenses for scopes.
one in particular, I picked up a what is labeled 36 in FL F8 kodak aerial 
camera lens RM718 for a fairchild k 38 camera. It is in the shutter assembly, 
and lens con now.
The front element is 6in + area behind retaining rings. rear element is about 
4 3/4in
I am guessing some sort of tessar setup with four elements, all air spaced. 
My questions are as follows

how is the shutter fired? 
Can it be used as an F6 lens by removing diaphrams between the two lens cells?
how old might it be?
any radioactive doping of the glass in it?

thanks in advance
Barry Freedland
BOBROBBOB@aol.com