[alexander_busek]

Yes, thackney, I was aware of what Cherenkov radiation is / how it is formed / how to google.

But since chiefly neutrons (which are uncharged particles) were released by the reaction, I was wondering what would have caused the Cherenkov radiation.

Regards,

[thackney]

Being released at an energy level high enough to to exceed the speed of light in air.

Maybe I don’t understand your question. I suspect you know this already but here is a brief description of the cause in water.

http://reactor.mst.edu/cerenkov/

I would expect the direct contact in the second incident produced a similar result in air.

[thackney]

It would not be solely neutrons being released. There would be Beta radiation released as well.