Ultraviolet observations of peculiar B and A stars from OAO-2

Plotted photometric data in two far-ultraviolet bandpasses at 1550 and 1430 A for both normal and peculiar stars are compared for flux distribution. It is shown that the ultraviolet flux distribution of an A sub p or B sub p star is consistent with its spectral class and is notably inconsistent with its UBV colors. It is assumed that the helium line strength suppression mechanism is related to an abnormal atmospheric structure in the peculiar stars.