58
28, 1959, when a Thor-boosted satellite lifted off a Vanden-
berg pad and soared into the southern skies on a heading of
approxinateny 182 dagress: For some time after the launch
only sporadic and random signals were received from the ve-
hicle, leading to speculation that the satellite had not
gone into orbit. However, by March 4 forty-one random track-
ing reports were received, allowing refinement of orbit in-
formation which fixed the satellite's apogee at 605 miles
above the earth, its perigee 99 miles and the orbital period
95 minutes. a ° :
Discoverer I was followed by nine more launch efforts
during 1959 and into the early months of 1960. Six of the
nine satellites went into polar orbits (See charts on the
following. pages). During these operations the imagination
of the world wae particularly stirred by the Air Force plan
to recover the space capsules from'the orbiting vehicles.
This plan involved a triggering device to eject the re-
entry capsule somewhere over the Pacific, following the
satellite's seventeenth pass around the earth. A parachute
was to lower the capsule through the atmosphere where an "air
snatch" attempt was to be made by Hawaii-based C-199 aircraft.
Although no capsitles were recovered during the first ten



ie blem

In the sumer of 1957 one of the earliest problens
facing the Division was the lack of trained Personnel, a
condition resulting partly from the fact there were few
qualified missile Personnel in the Air Force not already
assigned to the Ballistic Missile Division's critical re- -
search and development Program. One solution that offered
itself was to provide new Pergonnel on-the-job training at
AFBMD's headquarters or the Air Force Missile Test Center,
Patrick Air Force Base and at missile contractor facilities.
The concept of on-the~job training was adopted and became a
key element in the missile training program for the opera-
tional squadrons.

stringent manpower sontrols placed upon the military sery-

ices in the sumer of 1957. at Vandenberg the shortage was
such that an integrated organization was formed, Pooling all
Personnel assigned to the Division, Wing and the Combat Sup-

Ded te A Base ip vas lator Taormina al Peles
ated the 392d Combat Support. Group (January 1, 1959).


STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND

URCLASS,

HISTORY OF THE
18ST MISSILE DIVISION

by
Carl Berger

fore

a]

UNCLASSIFIED
VANDEWBERG AIR FORCE
GOALIPORNIA

BASE

Vso p>


6&7
‘iich would move at random over the nation's vast rai] net-
work. Obviously, mobile missile force such as this will
Compound an eneny!s targetting problens—thus further
Anereasing the ability of our missile force to survive an
enay's surprise attack”?

“ith three ICBM weapon aystens at Vandenberg, the Ist
Missile Division's Operational mission wae certain to expand
in the decade of the 19608. While training SiC crews to men
the various weapon systens sited avound the country, the
Rivision aleo would have the capshility of launching three.
different types of ICBMs in a war situation, Vandenberg,



Sep 9 1959

Sep 17 1959
Sep 22 1959

Sep 23 1959

Oct 6 1959

Oct 21 1959
Nov l 1959

Nov 4 1959

Nov 7 1959

a1

The first Atlas ICBM was succes: launched
from Vandenberg Air Force Base by a SAC crew,

The fifth RAF Thor launch from Vandenberg.

launchings.

she RAF launched a sixth Thor IRBM, which also
ronstituted the first combat training launch

the seventh RAF Thor launched.

The 644th Stra C Missile Squadron (IREM-
Seulement Se to

n vated ai
Redstone Arsenal.

Construction begun on an Atlas silo launcher,
General Wade announced the Atlas at Vandenberg
had vem notated into the sac emergency war
Plan . .

Discoverer VII successfully launched and
orbiteds the satellite was not recovered,


nu
weapon system ( manned bombers ) that could deliver payloads
“accurately on target, whereas missiles fired over great
distances were at the time not considered technologically
feasible. However, by 1951 enough kmowledge had been accu-
mulated on the subject for the Air Fores to award a contract
to Convair for continued study and design of an ICBM; but
only very conservative developmental policies were followed.
The destructive power of a hydrogen warhead entirely
changed this picture. Pinpoint accuracy no longer was a
major consideration. The thermonuclear breakthrough of
1952-1953 provided the impetus leading directly to the Air
Force's current ballistic misaile Program, and to the crea-
tion and activation of the lst Missile Division.

125k: he Air Force Begins the Atigs Program

The prediction concerning posaible future nuclear war-
head development was followed by creation of an Air Force
Strategic Missiles Evaluation Committee, composed of leading
scientists and engineers. This committee reviewed the Air
Force's various missile programs and in February 1954 recom-
mended that, in view of the thermmuclear breakthrough, the
United States “redirect, expand end accelerate” the



%

Nov 28 1955
Sep 1 1956
Jan 25 1957
Mar 18 1957

dpr 15 1957

Jun 7 1957
Jun 11 1957

Jul 1 1957

Jud 16 1957

Aug 11957

dug 25 1957

Sep 15 1957

AFEMD was directed to proceed with the devel-
opment of an intermediate range ballistic mis-
sile (Thor IRBM). The Army also was directed
to Proceed with @ similar development, the
Jupiter.

Secretary of the Air Force Donald Quarles ap-
Proved the location of ‘the ICEM/IREM opera-
tional training site at Camp Cooke, California.

The first ‘Thor IREM was launched in a test at

Patrick AFB, Florida.

The lst Air Division was redesignated the Ist
Missile Division, and the 392d Base Headquar—
ters and Air Base Squadron was redesignated

and reconstituted as the 392d Air Base Group.

The lst Missile Division and the 392d Air Base
‘Group were activated. Colonel William A. :

Sheppard named the first. commander of the
Division.

The Air Force portion of Camp Cooke renamed
Cooke Air Force Base.

the first test launching of an Atlas ICBM was
conducted at Patrick AFB, Florida.

The 704th Strategic Missile Wing (ICEM-Atlas)
was activated at the base.

ters, lst Missile Division changed its

‘ operational location from “Inglewood, California

to Cooke,
The lst: Missile Division assumed operational

‘control of the 70sth Strategic Missile Wing.

The Soviet Union announced launching of its
first: successful ICEM. :

ape 2724 Miseile Training Squadron was actiy-
a °


These feats had a tremendous impact on world public
opinion. In Washington ‘the U. S. government now reacted and
the reaction was soon felt across the continent at Vanden--
berg by the lst Missile Division.



35
developmental program created an Unusual situation for the
Division. The program had been Proceeding along the lines
of AFBMD's famous Policy of “concurrent actions," i.e.,
conducting research, development, test, ‘production, manpower
training and base construction almost simultaneously. Under
the original plan the first Thor operational squadron (Thor
was the most advanced of the U..S. ballistic missiles under
development) was not scheduled to begin training until late
1958. Facilities construction was hinged on that date.

But with the operational dates revised it became
apparent to the Division and other participating Air Force
agencies that training would have to begin without benefit
of adequate equipment.

The Royall Air Force Gunes to Vandenberg

the missile training Program, as it developed during
1958, involved two phases: individual on-the-job training by
students at various contractor factories, the Air Force Mis-
sile Test Center.or Ballistic Missile Division headquarters;
and Integrated Weapon System Training (IwsT) at Vandenberg
Air Force Base. ~

That the earliest and some of ‘the most important "crew


6&3
To launch these vehicles two ARDC organizations were actie
vated at Vandenberg in 1959, the 6594th Launch Squadron, and
the 6596th Instrumentation Squadron, with personnel provided
by the Division from its Thor and Jupiter training resources,

The Discoverer, Samos and Midas satellite programs

were the beginning of an expansion of the Vandenberg missile
complex into a national aerospace center,”

Titan and Minuteman [CBMs

In addition to the Thor and Atlas, two of the newer
ballistic missile systems were scheduled to make an appear-
ance at the base---the giant two-stage Titan ICBM and the:
three-stage solid-fueled Minutemen, the nation's third in-
tercontinental missile,

A Titan organisation was created at Vandenberg on Feb-
ruary 1, 1959, with activation of the 395th Missile Training
Squadron under the lst Missile Division, Pive days later, at
Cape Canaveral, the first Titan was successfully fired in an
encouraging beginning to the test progrant!

Several National AeDonautics and Space Adainistration (MASA)
scientific programs---including Tiros, the weather satellite
project---also were scheduled to utilize Vandenberg air
Force Base launch facilities,



Major Generel David Wade, Commander of the lst Missile
Division; former Chief of Staff of the Strategic Air
Command. :

le



66
Protection against a nuclear blast.

In addition to this facility, in June 1959 construction
was started on the first Titan operational silo training en
Placement for use by the 395th Missile ‘Training Squadron in
the INS? progra’? Other Titan test and launch facilities at
Vandenberg aleo were echeduled to make a later appearance,

Wiile Titen is considered somewhat complementary to the
Atlas ICEM (both use liquid fuel), the newer generation Min-
uteman, because of its solid Propellant, promised important
advantages in terms of faster reaction, econony, mobility
and ease of maintenance, handling and storage. In its mobil-
ity features alone the lst Missile Diviaion found the oncom-
ing Minuteman to be unique. General White, the Air Force
Chef of Staff, touched briefly on this aspect during an
address given in Washington in Novenber 1959,

“Our studies show," he said, “that it will be entirely
feasible to deploy Minuteman missiles on railroad cars-—
a 80 WAS 8 to go underground at

Construction of an Atlas R&D silo to test feasibility of
thie "hardened" co: ‘was begun in 1960.


CHAPTER V

19592 Thor and Atlas Become Operational

‘The achievement of a first Thor launch from Vandenberg
in December 1958 preceded highly important developments at
.. the base. During the twelve months that’ followed progress
"Mas made in the Integrated Weapon fysten Training progren
for operational, RAF squadrons, whose creve fired ten Thor
missiles during the year. But perhaps more important for
the nation, the 1st Missile Division achieved an operational
status with the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile
following the first successful lamoh of that missile by a
SAC crew oni September 9, 1959.

The BAF Thor Tyaining Progren

The first Royal Air Foroe trainees, as noted in the pre-
Vious chapter, had been forced into an "interim" IWST progran
at Vandenberg due to lack of launch facilities. After much
additional effort was expended by the contractors and the Air
Force, @ clase of 118 RAF students entered training on March
2, 1959 using operational equisment for the first tins. The
trainees were from the 96th Strategic Missile Squadron (RAF).


ATLAS INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE

RANGE - Over 6,000 nautical miles.

FRAME - 12 stages. First booster consists only of
Malt stage ap earate from main fuel tanks,
Main stage consi of sustainer engine
fuel tanke, and airframe. ,

GUIDANCE - Radar. Doppler Command on first opera-
.tdonal models. later models to be all
inertial, as with the THOR,

FOWSRFIANTS - Rocketdyne liquid-fueled.

2 Liguid (102) and RP-1,
ee 308,000 ene for first stage. 60,000
Pounds for .

WARHEAD: - Contains nuclear materials.

Designed to impact a target more
nautical miles distant with an error of les:
two-tenths of one percent, the ATLAS is


as

~~
ulin
Y



‘The Atlas Program

at Vandenberg. 2...

Troubles at Cape Canaveral... 2...
The "Noise of a Hundred Freight Traine". ,
The 576th Goes Operational . . oe ceos

We sthe Air Force Satelli
Titan and Minuteman .
Midas and Samos, .

Titan and Minuteman ICBMs

te Programs and
@eeeeeevene
cere rece ne
eo eevee
eee eee ecae
ecco.

eevee recee

Appendix 1 ~ Impact of Vandenberg on the Surrounding

Communities . .
Appendix 2 = Technical Descr:

launched Missiles and Satellites. ......

ee ee eceerreves

iption of Vandenberg~

eee

wees

Bibliography and Motes 66... eee eee ene

iv

FSSS

8332 8 8S segey


38
request, arrangements were made for intensive launch crew

training of six personnel from the 392d Missile Training
28

Squadron.
Through the sumer and fall of 1958, while these men

were studying missile launch techniques and procedures, con-
struction was speeded on the Thor emplacements. When the
contractor at last reported he could have at least one pad
in a near-operational configuration towards the end of the
year, the Division initiated final planning for the launch,
to be conducted first in November and then in December when
installation difficulties cropped up. °

As the December launch date approached a number of dress
rehearsals were held for the special crew, who included: Capt.
Bennie Castillo, 35, launch control officers capt. John C. Bon
Tempo, 35, systems monitors; Senior M/Sgt Charles E. Gifford,
49, launch monitor control officers M/Sgt Max L. Meyer, 27,
guidance alignment tecknician; M/Sgt William L. Hodges, 45,
missile technician; and M/Sgt Michael J. Aueri, 44, missile
technician.

All personnel involved in the exercise recognised the
importance of a first successful launch. ‘Thus it was with
much relief and satisfaction when, on December 16, 1958, the



4ng 7 1950

Jan 1951

Nov 1 1952

Feb1 1953

Samer 1953

Feb 1951,

Aug 1951,

Sep 5 1955

ed to make the best prediction could
as to the weight and yield. relationseip® of
Thy septa atom on of te decade
They repo: appeared probable that high
yield/low weight warheads, capable of fitting
into an ICEM, could be achieved by 1959-1960.


Vi ‘ce the

Goamnt ti.es*

Since 1957 the cities and towns in the vicinity of Van-
denberg Air Force Base in northem Santa Barbara County,
California, have experienced trenendous economic grovth,
traceakie to the rapid buildup of the aerospace center, The
most dramatic example of this was seen in the community of
lompoc, 10 miles south of the base, where a "population
explosion" doubled its residents between 1957 and 1960.
From a figure of 6,500 in 1957 the population of the tow
Sumped to more than 14,000 persons by early 1960.

Senta Maria, 20 miles to the north, increased 43
Percent during the sane Period. By 1960 the population
stood at 20,050 persons, a rise from 24,000 in 1957.

In both cities a housing boom developed. From only 16
building permite valued at $441,000 issued in Sante Maria in
1956, construction rose to $2,041,000 4n 1957 (76 permits),
to $12,339,096 in 1958 (1,203 permits), to $22,070,840 in
1959 (415 consolidated Permits).

"ise Server oa the "Boones Tapas’ on Toeal Eanays pa
Pared by D/Comptroller, 1st Missile Division, Decoder 1959.


|

KeDve Ie He x}
/t41- 190° |

semnt nantes

RETURN TO:

gk san

‘ ‘Director eed
_ Rereupes Studies Tnstitate

dl oaks, Alaparaa

Sha t-1A.

NBE

VANDE

AIR FORCI-HQ. 15AF, MARCH 14038


CONTENTS

Foreword by Major General David Wade... . .

dathor's Note se cee ee te eee eens

TI Rearmament and the Ist Missile Division .

eeeee

IV Transfer to the

19542 The Air Poros Begins the Atlas

PrOgreM cee secre ene csc ecee

Selecting a

eeeee

. ee eee

ir

E

goa.

eee ee

a Misslié Base
Toe Froth or nena Pro
© eee.
Technical Construction Begins eee
Effect of Soviet Missiles and Sputaiks on
the Air Fores Program... 005 0c oe
Strategic Air Command...
Activation of the Missile Squadrons . . .
ihe Integrated Weapon System Training
The Royal itr Fores Cones to Vandenberg
fandenberg Launch

The First v,

1959: Thor and Atlas Become Operational.
The RAF Thor Training Program... . .

Thor Becomes Operational in Britain

eee.

eens

SGEE YES BBN SNARE ERE S Our HE


26

By late 1959 they told of nearly 2,000 structures newly
built or renovated; 20 miles of new roads built and 30 miles
of roads rebuilts 20 more miles of shale-top access roads
constructed; paved parking space laid dom for more than
2,000 caras 10 miles of drainage ditches dugs 30 miles of
water pipeline raids a- completely new airfield built, in-
cluding an’ 8,000-foct. runway} -and 13 miseile launching
stands completed.

the quantities of materials used were equally imposing:
the airfield runway and the 13 misaile launchers alone con-
sumed more than one and one-quarter million bags of cement;
While the nails used to renovate one group of 100 structures
amounted to a full load of 40 pickup trucks.

The Vandenberg construction story became one of the
greatest in Air Force history-—-a combined effort of mmer-
ous agencies. including such key organizations’ as the Army
Corps of Engineers, the Air Force Ballistic Misalle Divi-
sion, the Air Materiel Command and, of course, ‘the civilian
contractors. ‘The latter were Tepresented by . “such, famous
aviation names as Douglas, Convair, Martin, Tocttived and
Bosings “aaa Geneir‘all Electric, Kellogg Coummnications, aneri-
can Machine and Foundry, Aerojet General Corp., Avco Corp. ,


91
MINUTEMAN INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE

Height: 55 feet,

Weight: on ear, emaller and lighter than Atlas
or \.

Resign range: 6,500 nautical miles.

Three-stages using solid propellant with all-inertial
guidance, A tow-noszle system will perait control of

pi yaw and roll. Third-stage power sill cut off be-
fore burnout if desired”


86

month and the gas bill, $19,000,

4. Almost $1 militon Per month was spent on food.

The Vandenberg commssary alone bought over $0,000 wrth of
milk and bread.

5+ Over 23 times a3 many dwellings were authorised

in Tompoc during 1958-59 as during the previous 12 years
(2,520 units versus 938). ;

6. As many dwelling units were authorised for con-
struction in Sante Maria 4n 1958-59 as during the 12 prior
Years combined (1,92) unite versus 1,918),

, te Thirty-seven Percent of the *pproximately 12,000
Personnel who worked at Vandenberg lived on base. Fifty-one

percent lived in Lompoc and Santa Maria,
&

These Vandenberg-connected People had 25,830
dependents,

22,659 of them physically Present in the area.


scientific and: military launch program to be initiated at
the, White Sands Proving Grounds, New Mexico, in the post-war

ete

Lived : th
-besiveh tev:

: _o However, Math the war over America's interest in mili-
tary matters all, -but qgllapsed. ‘The ist Air Division was

2

inactivated in England.en O¢tober 31, 1945- Camp Cooke on
the California coast, qoon.was closed down and becme a ghost
facility, ,reclained dy the persistent morning fog. At White
Sands the Any, with the help.of the German and later Aneri-

can.pcientists, begane-leiqurely Siring program with the

to think,.a new,war would not come again for at least 20 or
» Yoarse gras wk enkt



53

Then the shout came from the observers, just
9,200 feet from the launch pad. “There's fire in
the tail. :

eee(It) quickly exploded into a large orange
ball. Slowly the powerful engines, capable of de-
Veloping 360,000 pounds of thrust, raised the
250,000 pound missile Upward. Gradually it began
to gain speed, and as it cleared the gray hase it
Sppesred as a huge silver bullet pushed by a ball
of flame.

and higher it went, straight up into

the heavens as gasps of admiration and amazement
escaped from the onlookers.

As it cleared the horizon the noise, like that

of a hundred freight trains, increased in intensity.

There were sharp cracks in the thumderous sound, and

then the noise washed over the observation site and

ail that was left was the silver bullet and the ni

of flame. 39

The missile Plunged towards its selected target 4,400
miles away near Wake Island. he Commander of SAC, at the
scene with General Wade, declared the successful operation
to be "a tremendous milestone" in the history of the Air
Force ---4 team effort by American science and industry, the
Air Research and Development Command and the Strategic Air
Conmand.

General Wade told a gathering of - newamen he was "more
than satisfied" with the missile and the performance of the
Personnel of the 576th. ‘The ‘launch control officer was Cap-

tain Gerald J. Winchell, 30; the guidance control officer,


“1

ig.

19.

Headquarters ARDC, General Order No. 17, March 27, 1957,

Historical Division, "History of the lst Missile Division,
April-June 1957," p. 16,

Ltr, Col. William Sheppard to Lt. Col. Nicolaus Gaynos,
May 2, 1957.

Cited in “A Briefing on Cooke Air Force Base,* undated
paaphlet,

Historical Division, “History of the 704th Strategic Mis-
sile Wing, July-December 1957." See Document No. 5,

Historical Division, "History of the lst Missile Division,
April-June 1957," p. 68,

Baile Gonest, Technical Lisieon Officer, U.S, Corps of
Engineers, in the SAC Miseileer, Novenbter 19, 1959, p. 1.

The Soviet announcement’ may be found in The World Almanac
for 1958, p. 117.

Historical Division, Ha SAC. A Missile of the
Strategic Air Command, 6 October 1555 Fe spaname oF ine 1958.
Ltr, General Thomas Power to Major General David Wade, sub-

ject: "Command of the lst Missile Division," December 17,
1957.

Historical Division, "History of the lst Missile Division,
January-Decenber 1958," p, 118,

bid., p. 19.
qbia., Pe 91.
abid., p. 98.
dbid., pp. 107-08,
Ibid., pp. 113-14.

Historical Division, “History of the lst Missile Division,
January-June 1959," p. 18,


Oct 4 1957

Oct 23-1957

Nov 3 1957
Nov 23 1957

Nov 29 1957

Janl 1958

Jan 2 1958

Jan 15 1958

Feb 1 1958
Feb 21, 1958

Feb 28 1958

7

The Soviet Union launched the world's first
artificial earth satellite into successful
orbit,

Ground was broken for the first increment of
880 Capehart family housing units on dase.

The Soviet Union launches its second artifi-
cial earth satellite, weighing 1,117 pounds
and carrying a living dog.

The Departament of Defense authorised peace-
time launchings of ballistic missiles from
the base.

General Thomas D. White, USAF Chief of Staff,
announced plans to transfer the 1st Missile
Division, and Tesponsibility for develo

General
mander-in-Chief of SAC, named Major General
David Wade, SAC Chief-of Staff, to head the
1st Miseile Division.

Headquarters 1st Missile Division, its subor-
dinate comands, and the base were transferred
from ARDC to: SAC.

Major General David Wade assumed command of
the 1st Mstle Division.

Activation of the 864th Strategic Missile

n (IRBM-Jupiter) at Redstone Arsenal,
Alabama, with assigned to SAC under lst
Missile Division.

The 704th Instrumentation Squadron activated
at the base.

Detachment #1, 704th Strategic Missile Wing,
is organised at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

The Secretary of Defense directed the Air Force
to assume all research and development responsi-
bilities for al] land-based IRBMs and ICBMs.


32
deployment planning was being speeded up.

f the Mis: 8

The first of the several key missile training unite,
the 392d Missile ‘raining Squadron (IREM-Thor), had been
activated at the base on September 15, 1957, Several months
before SAC entered the scene. When on December 31° Head-
quarters USAF revised activation and operational dates for
IRBM and cB squadrons, in the carly months. of 1958 the
pace of - activations quickened. _ among” the “organisations
establinted under the lst Miscile ‘Division were: -

2. The Sith Moctites) Thatnine Smusdron (meee
Jupiter), originally ‘a strategic missile ‘equatron activated
January. 15; 1958, with duty station’ at “Redatone : Arsenal,
Huntsville, Alabama. It was. followed by activation of two
“more Jupiter units, the 865th and ebétn. The Jupiter mis-
sile, an Atay -developed RBM, was assigned to the air Force .
by the Secretary of Defense on February 2B, 1958.

* ie 70th Instrmentation squadron, activated

on Fetruary 1, 1958. This unique Air Force organization was

*The lst Missile Division monitored the training
Program at Huntsville. Inthe spring of 1959 the U. S.
signed an agreement with a North Atlantic Treaty Organisa-

tion (NATO) ally, Italy, to deploy Jupiter to that country.


LIONS ROAR, the historic first launch of a Thor missile

by @ crew of the
1959.

Royal Air Force at Vandenberg, April 16,


Atlas prior to static firing acceptance
test at Vandenberg, August 22, 1959.

Senior M/Sgt Vernon I, Tannheiner
Missile Squadron, at one of the At.

576th Strategic
Jas consoles,


45
operation proceeded smothly; the three-man crew successfully
fired the first nar Thor into the Pacific Missile Range. As
the American and British airmen congratulated each other,
even the formerly critical newemen spoke epprovingls

the months that followed the launch much was eared
about long-range ballistic missiles by the Division and the
Bevel Air Force. As training protlens developed the Division
Ant the 3924 Miselle Training Squadron improvised solutions
or adopted new approaches. Some repetitive training exer-
cises, found to be unnecessary, were decanted; others, hew
ones, were added. From lessons learned from the Thor train-

compressed developmental /operational situation, missile faii-
ures were thoroughly aired for the American People through
Publicity given to mishaps at Cape Canaveral,



80
Jun 1 1959

Jun 3 1959
Jun 16 1959

Jun 25 1959

Jul 1 1959

Ju. 23 1959
dng 3 1959
dug 7 1959
aug 13 1959
Aug 14 1959
Aug 19 1959
Ang 22 1959

Sep 1 1959

Detachment #1, 704th Strategic Missile Wing,
discontinued at Redstone Arsenal.

Discoverer ITI launched successfully from
Vandenberg, but failed to achieve polar
orbit.

A second RAF. Thor Launched, but failed to
program as planned. missile was des-
troyed by missile flight safety officer.

Discoverer IV successfully lawiched but
satellite failed to achieve an orbit.

Detachment #1, Headquarters 1st Missile
Division, was designated and organized
at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. ‘The ‘701th
Strategic Missile Wing was inactivated
at Vandenberg.

Construction begun on semi-hardened (25 psi.
oyer pressure) launcher in Atlas complex

A third RAF Thor launch from Vandenberg Air
Force Base was successful.

Basic construction completed on Atlas complex
576-Bs installation and checkout Phase began.

Discoverer V launched from Vandenberg, attained’
orbit, ‘he satellite was not recovered.

Fourth RAF Thor successfully launched from Van-
denberg. .

Discoverer Vi succéssfully lamched into a polar
orbits the satellite was not recovered.

First static firing of an Atlas accomplished
at complex 576-4 at Vandenberg.

Complex 576-A, the first Atlas IOC launchers
wore formally asceed ty tia Lov eae ,
The




39

==) los Angis Times 9am

A]

LAUNCH THOR MISSILE
FROM NEW CAL BASE

Big Thor Missile. Blasts Off to Open West Coast Base

(SPST COAST BOAT Tos rg ven emsner shat ths Ths pee matte, th fat hed by sence

PACIFIC MISSILE SOARS

First Fired 9 =—="=-
By AF Crew



FOREWORD

The lst Missile Division is currently playing a major
role in building the aerospace power of the Strategic Air
Command. ' This brief history, prepared by the headquarters
historian, tells the story of the Division and what it has
accomplished in the recent past to develop America's opera-
tional missile strength. ‘he vital missile programs being
conducted by the Division at Vandenberg Air Force Base, and
its growing mission in support of the Air Force satellite
programs, constitute in a very real sense the beginning of
an aerospace capability for the nation and the Strategic Air
Command.

Major General, USAF


65

Toaqucs punowdzepun ey wosz BUT]

*quemeoeTdue Supyouney, oTys 94} 09 JeqUe.
Peet xeTdmos weIT] y-S6E 043 Jo Teuun, upEH



Troubles at Cape Canaveral

Meamdile, at Cape Canaveral important Problems also de-
Veloped in the missile test program. During the spring of
1959 several attempts to launch the Series-D operational at-
las ended in well-publicized failures’

The public and private concern that was expressed led
General. Schriever, while appearing before a congressional
committee in July 1959, to attempt to reassure members that
there was no cause for alam. Such setbacks, he said, were

tional status at Vandenberg.
General. Schriever's faith was vorne out the same day he
appeared before the Comittee, when a Series-D missile was

At Vandenberg in the sumer of 1959 AFEMD and the mis-
sile contractors were working feverishly to complete the
first operational lameh facilities. On August 22 the con-
tractors, helped by personnel from the Atlas squadron who
had been integrated with the civilian crews for training


22
: 18
resumed their separate identity.
“The Problem of Housing
Related to the shortage of people was the problem of
getting Air Force officers and men interested in the missile
program. At Vandenberg, in view of the primitive housing

in living conditions, few ARF" porce personnel, especially

ee

those with families, would "be ,motivated to stay in missiles.

With no on-base housing ‘tr family men, the few rentals
in the two nearby commnities of Lompoc (population 6,500 in
1957) and Santa Maria (population 12,000) were soon filled.
As the demand for housing rose steadily, rents aleo started
to rise. Many airmen, unable to complete for the limited
private housing, began to spread out through the area, some
being forced to commute daily to the base from as far as
Santa Barbara, 65 miles amy.

Realising that on-base housing was essential, the Air
Force quickly obtained congressional approval for construc-
tion of new three-and four-bedroom Capehart family quarters.
The Capehart program became one of the early priority con-
struction projects which began in 1957. The first increment,

¥4 housing boom soon developed in the county. See
RY this study, "Impact of Vandenberg Air Force Base
the Surrounding Communities."



le
formative stage on missile methodology. . .No pattern has
been estaniishea®

The lst Missile Division was to become the pattern-
maker.


x

Since the Division was to be the first SAC ballistic
missile organisation, General Power provided some guidelines
to Wade pending publication of an official mission state-
ment. General Wade was to:

“1. Mxereise command jurisdiction over all units,
facilities and personnel assigned to or attached to the
1st Hissile Division.

2. attain and maintain a combat capability with
assigned ICBM units.

3. ‘Train assigned ICBM units to meet programmed
requirements. :

4. Train assigned IRBM units and prepare those
units for overseas deployment as required: ;
The transfer of the Division to SAC became effective on
January 1, 1958. The next day General Wade arrived at Van-—
denberg to assume coumand and there now followed a quick-
ening of operational planning and actions. New funds were
made available and newly-assigned Air Force Personnel began
arriving at a faster pace. Initial tasks to which General
Wade turned his attention included manning and organisation
of the operational missile squadrons to be activated, and
training plans. Meanwhile, at higher headquarters,


CHAPTER VI
The Air Force Satellite Programs

In the early months of 1959 the attention of the world
was drawn to Vandenberg by the famed Discoverer program, con-
ducted by the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, which
produced history's first polar orbiting vehicles. ‘The let
Missile Division early became associated with the Discoverer,
providing through special agreements with AFEMD the satel-
lite launching sites and logistical/operational support of
the base.

The program's objectives were detailed for a congres-
sional committee in February 1959 by a Department of Defense
official, Roy W. Johnson, who explained that:

The launch vehicle utilises a modified Thor as

the first stage and a new rocket...(called Agena) as
ihe. second stage. This combination can Launch satel-

8 weighing approximately 1,300 pounds, including
the weight of the second-stage vehicle, which will
orbit as an integral part of the satellite. ‘he
initial launching primarily will be to test the vehicle
iteelf, especially its propulatori and guidance. Later
the satellite will contain biomedical experiments to
seek data on environmental conditions and recovery of
those experiments will be undertaken. 43

The first launch in the series took place on February

57


78
Apr 1 1958

May 1 1958

May & 1958

May 12 1958 -

dun 1 1958

dul 25 1958

Jul. 31 1958

dug 5 1958

dug 13 1958

dug 20 1958
Sep 1 1958

Sep 4 1958

Sep 19 1958
Oct 4 -.1958

"Deo 8 1958

The 576th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-At1as)
is activated at the base.

The 4315th Student Squadron designated and or-
ganised.

The first missile, a non-operational Atlas, was
delivered to the base.

The first. Air Force family moved into the Cape-
hart family housing development.

The 865th Strategic Missile Squadron (IRBM-Jupi-
ter), activated at Redstone Arsenal.

- the 51st Aviation Depot Squadron wated. A

acti
contract awarded the. same day on the second

‘group of Atlas launchers,
: Construction begun on prototype Tten facility,

an Operational System Test Facility, at the
base. ‘

The first RAF students arrive to begin Thor
integrated weapon system training.

The first operational Thor IRBM was delivered
to the base.

The first Thor Iwet class begins.
the 866th Strategic Missile -Squadro in (IREM-Jupi-
ter) was activated at Redstone Arsenal,

USAF directed all Jupiter training be conducted
at Redstone Arsenal. ~ ‘

The first Thor class completed TWST.

Cooke is renamed Vandenberg Air Force Base in
honor of the late General Hoyt S. Vandenberg.

: Be first 25-ton/day Liquid caygen (LOX) and

‘Fogen generator plant becomes operational.


24
and technical support facilities, liquid oxygen (10X) plants
and missile assembly buildings (MABs).

On the base Proper a number of necessary support pro-
Jects, which began in 1957, saw rehabilitation of office
buildings; renewal of the road network; and restoration of
the water plant and communications facilities. Hundreds and
later thousands of construction workers, carpenters, plumb-
ers, Plasterers, electricians, and technicians svamed over
the mesa and the base was filled with the noise and dust of
huge construction machines and trucks carrying equipment and
building materials to work sites. ‘the Lompoc-Casmalia Toad,
running through the heart of the base, became weighted dow
by a huge rise in traffic,

In time the new architecture of the missile age began
to rise out of the sandy soil of Burton Mesa: the gantry
towers to hold the first Atlas missiles; the radar cars and
telemetry antenna, cocked toward the heavens; the block-
houses and missile buildings. Later the mesa itself was
attacked by huge earth-moving machines, to gouge out Slant
silos for the oncoming Mtan ICBM.

The statistics on. the tremendous construction and re-

novating job on Vandenberg began to pile up impressively.



96

Major General Bernard Schriever, "Guided Missile Research and
Develorment in the U.S, Air

sr rorees" 4n Address at the
annual mesting of the Institute o: f seronautd.cal
Sciences, New York, January 29, i957,

"A Briefing on Cooke Air Fores Base," undated,


ne

5
@ total of 291 B-17s it and the 3rd Bombardment Division
sent against that heavily-—defended target, 60 planes failed
to return. One wing of the lst dir Division, the 40th, lost
29 planes. Despite the heavy loss the raid was considered
one of the most important of 16 the Division made against
Schweinfurt---inflicting the most damage and slowing German
production’ ,

In the immediate Pre-Normandy invasion period during
the spring of 194, the Division devoted its entire re-
sources to attack on industry and airdromes supporting the
German Luftwaffe. Following the D-day landings it gave sup~
port to Allied ground operations, bombing enemy troop con-
centrations near St. Lo and facilitating the Allied breakout
and race across France to the German frontier.

‘The German V-2 Program
Even while the Division ws successfully penetrating
the eneny's air space, down below German scientists. led by
Major General Walter Dornberger and Werhner von Braun were
working feverishly against time to ‘perfect the V-2 ballistic
missile. The key dates in “the development of this fanous
weapon were: (a) October 3, 1942, when the V-2 flew


Dec 15 1958

Jan 15 1959

Febl 1959
Feb 28 1959

Mar 2 1959

Mar 26 1959

Apr 9 1959

Apr 13 1959
Apr 15 1959

Apr 16 1959

| May 25 1959

79

The first thor missile launched from Vanden-
berg Air Force Base.

to SAC after
don; installation end checkout of ground
Support equipment Commenced.

The 395th Strategic Missile Squadron (IceM.
Titen) activated at Vandenberg Air Force
Base.

Discoverer I, the first Polar-orbi ting

artificial earth satellite launched from
Vandenberg Air Force Base’

the first formal t~oriented IWsT
Class began for Thor Seen orten

The United States/Italian tal
agreement signed on d, yment of ter
missiles and technical peveent ° Pa .

statis HU Sploded on its stand during «
static firing test at Vand .

Discoverer rr launched from Vandenbe: Air
Force Base into Polar orbit, Setelite re-
covery attempt failed.

Th th Stra! Misail,
ile) lec dns, om
Re

Training

SGA Stew launches their fi ret Thor IRBM
down the Pacific Masile Range.

The 865th Strategic Missile Squadron (Rpm.
Jupiter) Tedesignated the a65th Technical
Training Ne


85
The impact on all municipal facilities was son felt,
In the case of the local Schools, some 7,800 Vandenberg-
Comected children were added to the population in the three
“year period. Fifty-four Percent of these children attended
Classes in the Lompoe school district, 31 Percent in Santa
Maria. ‘the other 25 percent were Spread out in schools in
the maller communities of Orcutt, Guadalupe, Arroyo Grande
and elsewhere. To help ease this situation, federal funds
in the amomt of $3,000,000 were Provided for school con-
struction in Lompoc, and $400,000 provided Santa Maria,
Other federal finds for the schools aleo were granted.
Some additional briet facets of the Vandenberg-created
booms
1. Sante Maria taxable sales rose to almst 41
million in 1959, an increase of almost 60 Percent over 1958
and more than double 1957. 1958-59 sales were equal to
sales during the Previous four years combined.
2. Over eight million miles were driven monthly to

3. Over $250,000 Per month was spent on utilities,
For the base alone, the electricity p12 was $46,000 per


CHAPTER I
Burton Mesa and the let Air Division
dn World War It

Although the lst Missile Division is a relatively new
organization, it has origins which go back to World War IT,
One of ite beginnings involves the command's ancestral, unit,
the Ist Air Division, which played an important role in tie
ascault against Cermny's industrial and military power. A
second involves Vandenberg Air Foros Base, located on burton
Nom, © dry platem on the Pacific coast 168 miles nortinest
of Los Angeles. Vandenberg originally began ite miiitery
career in 194] as an Aray _ tank and infantry training camp.
A third element from the war involves Germany's famous bel-
listic missile, the ¥-2, one of the great technological de-
Velopuente of recent military history. °

The Moo

Tn May'1941, when Ary surveyors arrived on Burton
Mesa, few dnerisans could have foreseen the dramatic events
which now are being enacted on the’ sandy soil, Hamed after
& one-time Tennessee trapper, Teuls F. Burton, who crossed



Appendix I

IMPACT OP VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE ON THR
SURROUNDING COMMNITIES


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books

Churchill, Winston, Closing the Ring, Boston, 1951.

Gants, Lt. Col. F., ed.

Dornberger, Walter, Y-2. New York, 1954.

USAF Historical Division. ‘Brief History of 1st Bombardment
Division, 1943-1957." Maxwell Ahir Force: Base.

ist Missile Division Historical Office, “History of the lst
Missile Division, April-June 1957."

¢ “History....July~Decesber 1957,"
¢ "History....January-Decenber 1958,”
¢ “History....Jamary-June 1959,"

——_______» "History... .July-December 1959."

- “History....of the 70sth Strategic Missile
Wing, July-December 1957,"



fg.
wn

RE-CAP OF DISCOVERER FERFOP“4NCE
SATELLITES I THROUGH .

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pequeastd eousnbes uopzeredes oy pus zemos YT ONY Joy xzomod pepyaard YOTUM seqTeAUT UB Jo amMTPAl “4
seseyd uopoefuT paw qewoo SyoUNeT NIUy PTTOe @ren UOTyTETHbow wyep pus FuppEry ‘suoTywoTUNMMID °C
*SBuTQUsTS TeNsTA ON *°UCOBEd LTEACOI WAIT PEATSOST GION STRUTS OTPEI ON °Z

*eTatesod sem Lreacoer yozeus-sTe ON “UesTeqegTdg aeA0 peystrdmoooe queufotdep eqnycereg ‘“pereque-sy °T

POMTOY TON SAPIOSTGO (a) PeMsTPOV SAPIOOTAO (x)

woRy Te boy vqeq
pue Supjoer, ‘suopy eo puTuMCD

& peydmoggy 20N _Lzencoeg
peqdmasy 70N uopgecedeg..eTusde)
poxdmegay 9°N = GAO UO pusmMKD puY UOPESTT INS

quowmrpegqy 44700724 47Q20

Supyndmoy puswmoy
pue ucts FURL eBeyg pucoeg

eFeqg5 pucoes Jo uopyeredeg
FFOUSFI puw Unopyzumo)

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on 66 : ood zteg
sf we Ore S09 eevody
ady €T 65 Id Bz younwl Jo e407

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uy
could launch its missiles with little or no overfly dangers.

Still another reason for Cooke's final selection was
its proximity to manufacturers ‘involved in the missile pro-
gram, and to AFBMD's Inglewod, California, headquarters.
On, September 1, 1956, ‘the Secretary of the Air Force, the
late Donald Quarles, accepted General Schriever's recoumen-
dation of Camp Cooke. Several weeks later Secretary of
Defense Charles Wilson directed that the portion of Cooke
lying north of the Tompo¢ branch of the Southern Pacific
Failroad—64,,000 acres—be transferred to the Air Force
for use in the ICEM/IREM program. The Navy was later given
control of the southem portion of the old camp area, which
it redesignated the Naval Missile Facility, Point Arguelio.
The Arny retained use of the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks near
Lompoc (now. Federal Correctional Institution).

In January 1957 the Air Force obtained a use permit for
ite new facility (formally transferred by the Army effective
dune 21, 1957), and the following month. the first airman
EL
San “Franeiseo. ° % protect passing trains during missile

» special "hola" Procedures were worked out in-
cooperation with the railroad in 1958-1959.



Squadron Leader Peter G, Coulson, launch
control officer, who fired the first RAP
from Vandenberg Air Force Base,

Thor missile

ft

is

Thor being raised into a firing position,



49

The completion of the Thor IWST program was not, how-
ever, the end of the British presence at Vandenberg. RAF
Missile crews were scheduled to return periodically to con-
duct Proficiency firing exercises.

the Atlas Program at Vandenberg
‘While the success achieved during 1959 in the Thor pro-
gram added strength to the free world, from the viewpoint of

The initial ICBM squadron, the 576th, had been acti-

vated at the base on Abril 1, 1958 and, in time, was as-
signed a dual mission: operations and training. Soon after
its activation, the squadron sent 4ts personnel to the con-
tractor plants and other facilities to begin the ind{vidual
Phase of their training. . This phase was to last almost a
year, while at Vandenberg construction men worked under
reat pressure to complete the first operational launch en-
Placements,


82
Nov 22 1959
Nov 20 1959

Dee 1 1959

Dec. 14 1959

Jan 1 1960

Jan 21 1960

dan 26 1960
Feb 4 1960

Feb 19 1960

Mar 2 1960

The eight RAF Thor was launched from Vandenberg.

Discoverer VIII successfully launched and orbited;
the satellite was not recovered.

A ninth RAF Thor was launched, the second com-
bat training launch. It also constituted the
first night launching from Vandenberg.

A tenth RAF Thor was launched at night. After
149 seconds of flight the missile destroyed
itself over the ocean.

The 866th Stra‘ Missi (RBM
Jupiter) redechoeten the 866th gn Totes
Training Squadron.

dn eleventh RAF Thor was launched from Van-
denberg, marking the end of the formal INST
program.

The second Atlas was successfully launched from
Vandenberg.

Discoverer IX successfully launched and orbited.
The satellite was not recovered. -

Discoverer X became unstable shortly after

liftoff and was destroyed after approxima’
56 seconds of flight. :


CHAPTER IT

Rearmament snd the lst Missile Division

If the let Missile Division's ancestry goes back to
World War II, the inmediate post-war. period 19/,5-1950 also
was.a time for the command's incubation. ‘This was: the
Period. when the United States unilaterally disarmed while
the Soviet Unton, continuing to maintain the largest mili-
tary, forces in.Burope, entered into a research and develop-
ment program to. develop. :the atomic bomb and to extend the
range.of the German V-2 wissiles os

The United States. did.not begin to take . significant
steps to rearm until after.the Russians turned the Cold War

hot with the Commmist invasion of South Korea on June 25,
1950. .. One: small phase in this rearmament effort was reac-
tivation of: Camp .. Cooke: to again train armored and. infantry
diyisions. to fight.in-the;new war in Koreas, 212

in
developed four
the Russian version

of the latter called the R-UA. This super V-2 generated
Biss 000, pounds: of terest at on devel see. Donal. J. Ri-

¢ 8 Exploit German Technology, ssiles
and Rockets, Decenber 7, 1959, ppo 17-19, ,


5h
Captain Dewey M. Garwood Jr., 353 and site commander, Major
Ernest E. Bankey Jr., 38, an Air Force ace who shot down 11.
enemy planes in Europe in World War ITI.

‘The 576th Goes Operational

In the weeks that followed the launch, a certain amount
of "tidying up" was to be done, and the men of the 576th
eagerly pitched in. Morale in the squadron, whose members
were "in missiles because they want to be in missiles,"
high. Convinced they were making important contributions to
the prevention of another World War, they also were proud in
their belief that they could perform effectively vith the
Atlas if war cute

In October, after completing their “tidying up," the
576th entered an alert status and, on November 3, General
Wade formally announced to the world: "The Atlas squadron
at Vandenberg is now integrated into the Strategic Alr Com-
mand's emergency war plan and is ready to lawich on 15 min-
utes notice." The alert was to continue from that time on.

(

*an Atlas launch crew developed into a basic unit of 13 men:
A lmmch control officer, missile systen analyst, power
distribution system technician, missile electrician, three
ry maintenarrce techni clans, a moped engine a ahaha,
gro’ support equipment specialist > sion tech-
nician, guidance system analyst and hydraulics technician.
The number of guidance ert personnel varies with the
type of system used.


ILLUSTRATIONS
Frontplece, see ec cee e sce cccee

Map of the Vandenberg Area... 0.00000,
The late General Hoyt S, Vandenberg... . .
Now forus of the missile age at Vandenberg. . .
Major General David Wade. 2... 000000.
Organisation chart, 1st Missile Division... .
The Los Angeles Times, Decenber 17, 1958. . .

who launched the

.

Teeter Peter Coulson,
RAF Thor; the Thor raised into firing position.
Tions Roar, the historic first RAF lamch..... .
The aixth and ninth RAF launches from Vandenberg.

Atlas prior to static firing tests Senior
V.I. Tamnheimer at one of the Atlas perce

The second Atlas launch from Vandenberg . . oe

Re. of Discoverer performances, Satellites

Discoverer V at lift-off; Discoverer VIII being
Prepared for launch

Ld

Main underground tunnel of the 395-A Titan complex.
atlas on alert at Vandenberg, October 1959... . .



%

CHRONOLOGY OF THE 1ST MISSILE DIVISION AND

May 1941
Sep 1941
Oct 5 1941

Oct 3 1942

Aug 17 1943

Sep 13-1943
Sep 6 1944

Sep 8 1944

Oct 31 1945
Mar 15 1946

1946-47

VANDENBERG ATR FORCE RASE

Army surveyors arrive eon Burton Mesa,
Ground broken for Camp Cooke construction.

Camp Cooke activated as an amored division
training installation.

The German V-2, Bredecesstor of modern bal~
listic missiles, in its first successful
test firing travels 118 miles. .

mundo, Gorey iat boabers attack Peene-
munde, Germany's Canaveral, and devel-
opment site of the V-2, ’

ist Air (originally Bombardment) Division
activated in England.

The first two operational ¥-2 missiles are
fired against je

Two V-28 strike London, marking the begin-
ning of the German ballistic missile as-
sault on that capital.

ist Air Division inactivated in England.

Beginning this date, and continuing until
June 27, 1950, the Army Ordnance Corpe con-
ted a V-2 firing program at White Sande.
Some 52 of the V-238 were fired in a con-
bined scientitic/military test progres.

The Air Force initiated a long.
Tange ballistic missile development, Prose
Contracts negotiated with North American for
rocket propulsions with Convair for study of
missile guidance and control, etc,


23
820 units, was followed by approval of two more housing
inerements to bring total on-base housing (when completed by
1961) to 1805 units.

For married men not eligible for Capehart quarters
(airmen in the lower grades), trailer court sites were set
aside on base and the first ones were soon filled. For the
unmarried airmen mobilisation-type barracks, which once
housed 74 men, were converted into modern dormitories with
separate two-and three-man rooms. Bachelor officer quarters
also were converted into spacious apartment units. ‘

This important housing effort, to retain and motivate
Air Force personnel to follow the critical career of mis-
silemen, became one of the foundations of Vandenberg‘ s
future.

Technical Construction Begins
Qn May 1, 1957 an Army Corps of Engineers. contractor
began bullding the first technical facility, the Mod IT
Atlas guidance station. Other construction contracts were

let in the weeks and months that followed-~--to build the
first Thor and Atlas launch emplacements, the blockhouses

Wp total over 100 when completed:


Rn
was a certainty, and that Vandenberg would Play its role in

that ultimate achievement.


62

*youney soy peunderd Suyeq IITA UAUTAOOST

“JIOWIL IA ummcogra



Vandenberg Air Force Base was
General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, second Chief of Staff of the -
Air Force (1948-1953),

named in honor of the ‘late


' 33
made responsible for installing, maintaining and operating
the missile flight safety system at Vandenberg. ‘

3. The 576th Stratecic Masile squndron (Tomi
Atlas), activated April 1, 1958---to become the first air
Force squadron to achieve an operational capability with
the nation's first ICBM.

4. The Gist Aviation Depot Squadron, activated
July 25, 1958, and assigned responsibility for receiving,
inspecting and maintaining re-entry vehicle systems and
associated warheads at Vandenberg, and conducting integrated
training for specialists assigned to the operational
squadrons’ *

(A list of missile organisations assigned to the ist

Missile Division as of December 31, 1959, will be found on
the next page).

he Intesrated Weaton Syaten Training Progran

The 1958 speed-up of an already fast-moving missile



56

The Christmas of 1959 for the first time found SAC missile-
mon eating holiday dinners in the shadow of their towering
missiles, 1 the same manner as SAC air crevs elseuhere were
eating their dimers within sprinting distance of their B-47s
and B-52s. , .

In the months that followed, wile the operational
crews remained. on alert (and lauiched a second Atlas on
Jamary 26,°1960), instructor persomel of the 576th inits-
ated the second phase of the squadron mission: treining the
first of thousands of Atlas ICSM personnel to man the 12
other squadrons being emplaced around the nation.



CHAPTER IZT

Building 9 Missile Base

The cantorment, lying silent and deserted, was a
depressing sight when the Divieion arrived on the ecene. ‘The
old yellow mobilisation-type World War IT Aray barracks,
weather-beaten and forlorn, were sunk in weeds and overgrown
brush. ‘The few roads that existed, mostly gravel and dirt
traile, were broken in places or so covered xith growth that
it was difficult to distinguish them from the fields. The
water treatment plant ws in a ctate of disrepair; commni—
cation facilities were neglected; and living quarters
scarcely existed. Into this bleak scene came the first
officers and men of the 3924 Air Base Group, the 7Okth stra-
tegic Missile Wing, and the lst Missile Division to begin
the enormous task of building a missile base. .

‘Formal ground-breaking ceremonies to mark the start of
construction were held on May 9, 1957, In a brief dedica-
tory address to a gathering of press, radio and civilian
dignitaries from nearby communities, Major General Osmond J.

ihe Wing, an operational am oF the Division, was activated
on duly 1, 1957. In the spring of 1959, following a reor-
ganization, its functions and Personnel were absorbed by
the Division. It was inactivated duly 1, 1959.

19



92
THE DISCOVERER TEST VEHICLE CONFIGURATION

Height: 78.2 feet.

Tr - Amodified THOR IREM

Height: 66.7 feet (uith adapter).
Weiaht: Over ioovose pounds.

Thrust: Approximately 150,000 pounds.

SBOCOND STAGE - Special orbital vehicle.

3 18.8 feet. :
3 Approximately 7,000 pounds. Orbitel weight, after
fuel exhaustion? approximately 1,700 pounds.

Diameter: 5 feet.

PAYLOAD

"gta ogulpecct ne oa need it dein, eh tay toch
equipment. 8 anced edreut! -
niques and miniaturisation. It operates on 15 chanale -
10 continuous and 5 commted - which relay about 100 pieces
of vital information on the performance of the vehicle
and its systems.

An additional feature of this vehicle is the Infrared
Horizon Scanner, which sends continuous signals to the
guidance system, orienting the satellite in an exact
horizontal position.


—

40

Jeunch. crew assumed control of the weapon system for the fi-
nal Seminute countdown and suckenafully fired Thc misatle
Qe

151 some 1,500 miles over the Pacific Ocean. lift-off was at

ASMLGh5 Pacific Standard Time. “General Wade, inva follow-up

Heport to General. Fower on the operation, listed a muber of

historic hrirsten _Tewalting £ from the launch. It constituted,
he” Feporteds a

Ye Spaatethonial” ‘palidstie welts sting normal roc Jameh-
ing Procedures. : '

DM an Ae Tho first ballistic ntsstie i be Innched by

a Strategic Air Command operational crew.

With this important success behind them, the officers and
men of the lst Missile Division, the 392d Missile Training
Squadron and other organisations on base turned their atten-

tdon to the new year, planning for a rapid rise in opera-
tional launch activities.



. .
MISSILE AND SPACE VEHICLES A’ VANDRNEERG
A TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION ;


seh gt etehtate nga ea ari
earth, an important advance. ‘s
waa sod moe

tpt ef, ee me no i
upon to provide support to two new ‘satellite programs as-
signed to the Air Force by the Secretary of Defense in Sep-
tember 1959. These programs were designated Midas (missile
detection alarm systen), which involved an infrared early
warning satellite for ballistic missile detection, and Senos,



THOR INTERMEDIATE RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILE

RANGE - Over 1,500 nautical miles.
FRAME - = Single stage.
Hetehnt: 65 feet.

POWERPLANT ~ Rocketdyne Miquid-fueled,
Eropellante: Liquid yeen (102) and a Liguia hydrocarbon
Thrust: Over 150,000 pounds.

WARHEAD: - Contains muclear materiale,

The THOR is a eingle-stage ballistic missile capable
of being transported. by air ona rter-erector
Which also serves as the misalle erecting arn.

The THOR has been used as the main pro;

Propulsion systen
for several space experiments. It is the prinary vehicle
in the DISCOVERER program.


27
Phileo, Burroughs Corp., Bethlehem Steel, Thickal Chemical,
RCA, Rocketdyne.
4 cross-section of American industry cane together to
build at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Effect of Soviet Missiles and Sputnike
on the Air Force Program

In the sumer of 1957, while the lst Missile Division
was still in the early stages of its organisation, a start-
ling claim was made by the Soviet goverment. It reported
on August 27 that it had, a few days earlier, launched "a
super long-distance intercontinental multi-stage ballistic
missileTM which had flow "at a very high, unprecedented al-
titude." ‘The results showed, reported Moscow, "that soly-
ing the problem of designing intercontinental ballistic mis—
siles will make it possible to reach remote areas without
resorting to a strategic air force...

The Soviet announcement of August 27 had little imme-
diate effect on the U. S. missile Program. Several months
later, on October 4 and on Novenber 3, 1957, ‘the Russians
dramatically lamched history's first two earth satellites--—
the second vehicle weighing a reported 1,120 pounds and car-
rying a live dog.


3
Camp Cooke, in honor of a Civil War Union general. Begining
in 1942 the 5th, 6th and lth armored Divisions, the 97th
Infantry Regiment, and the 2nd Philippine Infantry Regiment,
Se wah Mf "Pesial ‘roope much as combat engineers and nedt-
cal personnel, received training at Camp Cooke.

Activation of the Jet Air Division

While the dust of Burton Meas was being raised by the
lumbering tanks and marching feet. ‘of armored and infantry
units, thousands of miles away the Army Air Force's let Air
Division was activated on Septeuber 13, 1943, at Brampton
Grange, England. Shortly thereafter the Division, composed,
of the 1st, 40th and List Combet Bombardment Wings, struck
at Frankfurt, Germany, on October 4, 1943, and at the German
sutmarine and warship works at Brenen on October 8°

In one of its most important raids against the
Schweinfurt ball-bearing works on October 14, 1913, the
Division was bedly mauled by German fighter planes, Out of

*Philip St. George » S&native of Virginia. General
Cooke's family split over the war and his son and more
famous son-in-law, Jeb Stuart, served as officers in the

aruy,

designated the 1st Bombardment Division, the
command was renamed the Ist Air Division on Jamary 1,


42

From this first formal Class five launch crews were
formed and later the best one was chosen to attempt the
first British launch of the Thor. This select crew consisted
of: Squadron Leader Peter G. Coulson, 37, launch control
officer; Master Pilot Maurice H. Sloan, 35, launch control
Console operator; and Chief Technican Roy M. Carpentier, 35,
Missile maintenance technican. ‘The launch was to be consid-
ered & graduating exercise which ended eight weeks of inte-
grated training.

In April, as the. graduation day approached, command
techniques developed by the let Missile Division in coordina~
Sion with SAC and the British Bomber Command, were set = in
motion. The launch was scheduled for April 14, 1959. Un-
fortunately, the day of the Planned exercise technical dirti-
culties with the weapon eystem forced a postponement. ‘the
following day unfavorable weather conditions caused a sscond
24-hour delay.

There was disappointment and come uneasiness over these
delays, not only among the RAF and USAF Personnel but also
mong & group of British newspapermen who were Visiting the
base to cover the operation for the English press. However,
on the third attempt.on April 16 all phases of the launch


2
@ near-empty continent to settle in southern California in
ig31, the mesa was the home of wild animals, deer herds and
bob cats, living among the mesquite and scrub oak. As time
went on ranchers stocked the area with domestic animals
which, ty the year 1881, consisted of 40 horses, 500 cattle
and 10,000 sheep.
, Tn the months before the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor in Decenber 194], propelled the United states into
World War IT, the Army found Burton Ness to be an ideal site
to train tank divisions, infantry and other troops. Rising
217 feet from the sea, the land was surrounded by the
Comalia hills to the north, the Purisina hills to the east
and the Sante Thes mountains to the south. From the view-
point of safety for tank and ‘other firing exercises, the
mmerous nearby canyons offered a perfect setting. The ter-
rain also had the advantage of teolation, the nearest comm
nities of consequence being Lompoc, 20 miles to the south,
and Santa Maria, 20 miles to the north.

The goverment purchased the ‘and-—86,000 acres in
122 tracte——and construction of a cantoment began in Sep-
tember 1941, ‘The name selected for the new Army post was


36

training should begin, not with U. S. missilenen but with
officers and men of the Royal Air Force (RAF) was the result
of an unusual dnglo-dmerican agreement signed in the spring
of 1958. This agrement called for the United States to tesin

In May 1958, within -weeks after final agreement was
Feached, the first group of British aimen began arriving in
the United States to start individual training at the Douglas
Aircraft Company's facility at Tucaon, Arisonas the A.C. Spark
Flug Division (General Motors) Plant at Milwaukee, Wisconsin;
and the Rocketdyne (North American Aviation) facility at Van
Nuys, California.

Oa July 8, 1958 the firet RAF officer, Flying Officer
Cyril D. Quinton, arrived at Vandenberg to ontablish a
liaison office for the Division and the British trainees, who
began appearing on base in early August. Then, on August 20,
1958 forty-seven British and ten USAF trainees entered - the
Division's first Integrated Weapon Syston Training clase.

These students faced certain handicaps since no opera-
tdonal training facilities were available at the time. The

ihe agroanent agroanent grew out of initial discussion between Preai~
Bermeda Conterean te aoe inister Harold MacMiTlan at the
Bermuda Conference in March 1957,


15
arrived at the cantonment, Temporarily renamed Cooke Air
Force Base, the facility was formally rededicated on October
4, 1958, in memory of the late General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, |
the second Chief of Staff of the Air Force (1948-1953), who
also had served during World War IT as Commander of the
Ninth Air Force in Europe.

Activation of the 1st Missile Division

Selection of the base to be the ICBM/IRBU training site
and location of the first Operational Atlas squadron, was
followed by several organizational improvisations leading to
activation of the 1st Missile Division at los Angeles on
April 15, 1957. One of these involved establishment of an
office of "Special Assistant, to the Commander ( General
Schriever ) for I0C" in February, with Colonel Willian A.
Sheppard assigned primary duty.

In March, after Colonel. Sheppard took up his new du-
ties, AFEMD decided that an Air Division should be activated
to serve as the command headquarters "for administrative and
operational control of the Zone of Interior strategic force
(ICBM) and the Zone of Interior strategic missile training
site (ICBM-IREM) " The lst Air Division, then in inactive


10

America's rebuckling on of its shield was largely along
conventional lines—~planes, tanks, artillery, naval and in-
fantry weapons. However, while the Korean War was being
fought with weapons only slightly advanced from those used
in World War II, U. 8. scientiste detonated history's first
hydrogen bomb device at Eniwetok atoll on November 1, 1952.

Within a short period of tine such important progress
was made in nuclear weapons technology that it appeared
likely the United States (and the Soviet Union) could even-
tually produce small, high yield warheads that could fit in-
to a missile. Tn the sumer of 1953 the Air Force was in-
formed by a panel of scientific experts that high yield,
low weight warheads could be developed by the 1959-1960
period.

This Prediction Completely changed the Air Force's ori-
ginal attitude towards long range ballistic miesiles. Sev-
eral years earlier the Air Force had initiated developmental
studies on an intercontinental ballistic. missile (ICEM).
But in 1947 the project ‘was. dropped, partly for economic
Feazone and partly because the U. 8. had superiority in a

panel inelaied « Edward and the’ fessor
- dohn von Neumann.- .


AUTHOR'S NOTE

Tits study is based on materials contained in the sexi-
ammal historical narratives of the let Missile Division,
supplemented by histories and reports of other Air Force
missile and aircraft organisations. Published worke—books,
magazines and newspapers and similar sources—-also have
been dram upon. ‘he reader will find the cited footnote
references and & selected bibliography at the end of the
narrative. In addition, there has been included @ chronology
and special appendix prepared by 7/sgt Brace Pollica of the
Historical Division. ‘The manuscript was typed ty Miss Lor-
raine Olivares.

Carl Berger
Comend Historian

Vandenberg Air Force Base
épril 11, 1960


70

pads, where several dosen intermediate range and inter-
continental ballistic missiles and Discoverer satellites
were launched to help restore America’s prestige in the
space race, and to build the free world's first long-range
missile power.

For the lst Missile Division and the Strategic Air Com-
nand, the achievements of the recent past were simply « pre-
Jude to a mre important and exciting future. The Division's
key training mission would continue—and thousands of Amer-
dean missilemen would come to Vandenberg to train and launch
their missiles. Yet even as the ICBM program expanded, it
was clear that Vandenberg's role in space was going fer be-
yond the attainment of an operational and training capabili-
ty in the ballistic missile field. Vandenberg vas becoming
america's aerospace center on the Pacific, a vast. missile
and space complex in which the Discoverer, Midas and Samos
programs were but a beginning.

For those officers and men of the lst Missile Division
who looked to the end of the 1960s, the conviction aleo grew
that both the ballistic missile and the satellite were
transitional vehicles——that development of true . American
space craft capable of manned flight outside the atmosphere


2

Ritland of the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division spoke of
the vast increase of activity that was to follow. Substan-
tial mmbers of contractor personnel and technicians, as
well as growing mmbers of military persomel, were sched-
Uled to arrive on base to begin extensive rehabilitation and
modernization of barrecks, mess halls, chapels, ani other
support facilities. Concerning the missiles thenselves,
General Ritland said new construction of facilities total-'
ling millions of dollars also was to be started. A modern-
ised rumay and airfield to support ‘the missile progran was
Planned. Dollarwise, he predicted the total basic construc-
tion program, would be “roughly in the vicinity of
$200,000,000."

conservative. Subsequent wrld events gave such impetus and
importance to the missile Program that, by the end of 1959,
more than £200,000,000 had been expended at Vandenberg, with
the end not in sight.

WBasic construction and installation progres costs. the

cad tranapertation oe cone eg Mears Lor foods, wid lities
tion, or costs of equipment, inne ant

sdesndtretion Taken together with future pro, Ss a

. x planned, bring Vandenberg* Bick etoo ost
oe te an sn ermal $008 000 ° -


6
successfully for the first tine, travelling 118 miles; (b)
August 17, 1943, when more than 500 British heavy bombers
attacked Peenemmde, Germany's Cape Canaveral, causing in-
portant delays in the V-2 program and (c) Septenber 6, 19k4,
when the first operational V-2s were fired against Paris
(going unreported) and September 8.vhen two more Y-2s struck
London, marking the beginning of the German ballistic mie-
sile assault against that city.

For the Germans the V-2 had cue too late. Neverthe-
less, they managed in the eight reuaining months of the war
to fire about 1,500 V-28 against London and southern England,
more than 2,100 against Antwerp and others against the
liberated city of Brussels. Only the Allied seigure of the
enemy-held coastal areas and the drive into the heart of
Germany ended the fearful bombardment.

Although the V-2 carried only a ton of explosive and
Proved to be highly inaccurate, the missile was one of the
outstanding weapon developments of the war. Iiquid-fueled
and with a redio inertial guidance system, V-2 stood 16 feet

Woruberger’s Figures. The British reported LUIS oF the
rockets actully feli in thelr comtsr cr within sight of

the shore. see [ewe missile tp Killed 2,724 persons 7
and wi number oo:
sonatioe Sang t t Se es


New forms of the missile age break the skyline at Van-
denberg Air Force Base, Above an Atlas launch facility
under construction; below a missile assembly building.





BIBLIOGRAPHY AND NOTES

93


7
high (only 19 feet shorter than the Air Force's current Thor
intermediate range ballistic missile), weighed 44,000 pounds
and had a range at the end of its development period of up
to 225 miles. It achieved a speed of Mach 5 coming in on
its target-——the fastest machine man ever devised.

With the collapse of Germany a race developed between
the Soviet forces and the U.S. Amy to seise as mich of the
V-2 equipment as they could find. The Russians gathered in
& great deal of equipment and facilities in the part of
Germany they overran, including « battered Peenammde. Thou-
sands of German rocketmen, consistly largely of the ¥-2 pro-
duction and engineering staffs, fell into Russian hands.
The Soviets aleo collected many of the German blueprints
including, it would seem, a plan for a two-stage rocket that
could span the Atlantic and strike the coast of Americal

The United States was helped by the fact that Dorn~
berger, Yon Braun and other Peeneuunde scientists decided to
surrender themselves to the American Army ( they fled to
Bavaria in the face of the Russian advance ). The Army also
eeized the underground V-2 factory in the Hars mountains and
Cleaned it out in the sumer of 1945, shipping tons ov Y-2
components to the United States. These were to be used in a


31.
32,
33.

35.
36.

38,

39.

Ibid. p. 27.
Ibid., pp. 29-30,

Santa Maria ines, Decenber 2, 1959, pe 1,
New York Times, December 20, 1959,

SAC Missileer, January 22, 1960,

des Angeles Tines, June 7, 1959,

New York Ties, July 29, 1959,

Historical Division, “History of the 1st. Missile Division,
july-December 1959," See Chapter ry,

Sante Maria Tine, Septeaber 9, 1959,
Jes Angeles Tines, Septeaber 10, 1959,

See Colonel John J, Easton's remarks in the Jompoe
Record, September 10, 1959. Colonel Easton was com=
mander of the 576th,

Santa Maria Tines, Novenber 3, 1959.

See Johnson's testinony, February 17, 1959, in Hearings

Before Committee on Seience and Astronautics on "Missile
pment and Space Sciences (86th Congress, let Sess,),

House No. 11, p, 316,

Historical Division, “History of the ist Missile Division,

dJanuary—Juné 1959," Pe 166,

Santa Barbara News-Press, November 3, 1959,

Historical Division, “History of the lst Missile Division,

January-June 1959," Pe 106,

dbid., p. 109,

General Thomas S. White, USAF Chief of starr, Address be.

fore NATO Parliamentarian Conference, Washington, D.Cs »
November 16, 1959,


Training the 395th

By early spring the military instructor program of the
395th was begun with the assignment of individual squadron
members to study at the various contractor facilities and the
Air Force Missile Test Center. When technically qualified,
these personnel would provide an "all Air Force" instructor
capability at Vandenberg at the start of IWST for the opera-
tional Titan units, which involved 1, squadrons sited at
various locations around the nation.

While this instructor training program was being imple-
mented during the last half of 1959, the Division's attention
was centered on developing plans for Titan integrated weapon
system training, and on the unusual construction being ac-
complished—-the huge missile silos and underground support-
ing facilities. Construction of the first Titan silo emplace-
ment, an Operational Systen Test Facility, was started in
July 1956. ‘This R&D site, to be operated by the Air Force
Ballistic Missile Division, included a main silo 165 feet
deep and 40 feet wide. It contained an intricate maze of
steel and cables to elevate the missile to ground level for
the launching. ‘The silo was covered by two enormous steel-
and-conerete doors, weighing 283 tons each, to provide



CHRONOLOGY



12
development of the intercontinental ballistic miosile.

With a growing sense of urgency the Air Force took “a
eries of steps which was‘to Place responsibility for de-
Veloping the ICBM on’a’ ‘single Gentral manager. ‘ide was
Acoouplisted 4H ‘August 1954 idth the oreation of ‘the “Air
Force ‘Ballistic Missile Division’ (are) of the dir Research
aiid’ Developmetit ‘Conmind (4nDC): Subsequently, the Air Force
also riagotiited’a coutradt “ata ‘a private corporation” Ramo-
Wolartaje, to mnie td Wetman aiidetin aoa a araitne
setniiing 155 te Te ign, i *

“By the end 6£°195i; the
ofginisstion was 3 Saat

nid aipaiici tags to
Side YsoP ate Sitdeiaduiite Rese Gaetan) “ipae” "E55
Bivet*the ‘added sid cance '3$ Denis eves tas sada st
CapatdLity “(106) ‘vei thi “this Gnddccing wai bene “er

tia Ganly ateBe Hoge
ado ydguors
Sorighaby, ecient

*# In cooperation with the strategic Ar comand, the eventual
operational command.



7
status, was selected as the headquarters. However, effect—
ive March 18, 1957, it was renamed the lst Missile Division’

To head the new Divieion General Schriever chose Colo-
nel Sheppard, who was assigned the following mission:

1. Achieve a capability to train IRBM and ICBM
crews and units.

2. Train assigned ICEM units to meet progranmed
requirements.

3. ‘Train assigned IREM units and prepare these
units for overseas deployment as programmed.

4. attain and maintain a combat capability with
assigned ICBM units. 15

Concurrent with the activation of the Division at Ios
Angeles, a supporting organization, the 392d Base Head-
quarters and Air Base Squadron, was reconstituted and re-
--.. mamed as Headquarters, 392d Air Base Group. Ite duty
station at Vandenberg became effective April 15, 1957.

It was not until several months later that the lst Mis-
sile Division began its move to its permanent home on Burton
Mesa. The new commander, Colonel Sheppard, was well aware

that he was embarking on a unique voyage. He wrote to one
of his newly-assigned officers in May 1957: ‘We are in the

*At the time the base still was referred to as Cooke. How-
ever, hereafter in this narrative the Vandenberg designa-
tion will be used.



*6S6T *T sequen

“Tyesosons TuITH *6c6T fg 7090420
WSU warty ayy

festosexe youney SuyuTesy yequoo yeaTz 613
Paw Suequopue, woxs youneT avy WaxTe om,

as
if
Fe



1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.
8.

NOTES

Yda Adda Storke, A Memorial ent Biographical History of
es a, San Ob: Ven-
fara, California (Chicago, 1891 » Pe 106,

“Vandenberg Missile Base is a Far Cry from the Dreams
of Past," Santa Barbara News-Press, October 5, 1958,

USAP Historical Division, "Brief History of 1st Bombard=
ment Division, 1943-1957," pp. 1-2,

W.F. Craven and J.L, Cate, eds. Europ
blank, August 19 o Dec 43 TH
RLD WAR IT

Chicago, > PRs 699~70h,

Winston Churchill, Glosing the Ring (Boston, 2951), pp.
232-33,

Willy Ley, 3, Missiles ace Travel (New York,
1959), pe 237. See : Walter rger's Va2 (New
York, 1954) and Joseph Angell. "Guided Missiles Could
Have Won," Atlantic Monthly (January 1952), pp. 57263,

ley, SPs cit., p. 239,

Maj. Gen, Bernard Schriever, "Guided Missile Research ani
pment in the U.S. Air Force," An Address at the ane

It. Col. Kenneth FP. Gants, ed, States Air Force
Report on the Ballistic Missile New York, 1958), pp. 27-30,

Historical Division, “History of the lst Missile Division,
April-June 1957." See Document, No. 2,

Bag.

Historical Division, “History of the 70hth Strategic Miss
eile Wing, July-Decenber 1957," See Docusent No. 69,



CHAPTER IV

Transfer to the Stratecic Air Command

‘The launching of the Soviet sputniks, whirling around
the earth at 18,000 miles per hour, had obvious military
implications. They resulted in an almost immediate accelera-
tion of the Air Force ballistic missile program, with one
important aspect of this acceleration being the transfer of
the lst Missile Division and its subordinate units to the
Strategic Air Command. The transfer was announced on Novem~
ber 29, 1957 by General Thomas D. White, the Air Force Chief
of Staff. General White directed the head of the Strategic
Air Command, General Thomas S. Fower, to take over from
AFEMD the responsibility for attaining the initial opera-
tional. capabilites

To succeed Colonel Sheppard as commander of the lst
Missile Division, General Power selected his Chief of Staff,
Major General David Wade. In a letter to. Wade in December,
the SAC commander described the transfer of the I0C respon-
sibility as "an opportunity for a combined Air Force effort
for the early incorporation of ballistic missiles into the
operational inventory."



3
a training site, which also could serve as the location of
the nation's first operational Atlas ICBM squadron.

In January 1956 Major General Bernard Schriever, the
Commander of AFEMD, established a committee to select a
site. ‘The committee included representatives from Head-
quarters USAF, SAC, ARDC, and the Air Materiel Command and
began its work with a review of. 200 possible locations,
areas already under the control of the three services. The
list was eventually reduced to 15 sites in California, Ne-
vada and Oregon, which were visited and studied, and then
reduced to four possible locations. One of thése was Camp
Cooke, which had been inactivated by the Amy once again
towards the end of the Korean Ware

Tt soon became evident to the committee that Cooke was
the best possible location for several of the same reasons
that had led the Amy to select the area initially. Tsola-
tion and the rugged surrounding areas provided excellent
safety features. In addition, the mesa had the advantage of
fronting on the vast Pacific Ocean into which the Air Force

Wiow a Weutenant general and head of GQ



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The first Atlas launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base,
September 9, 1959.



Articles
Angell, Joseph W. "Guided Missiles Could Have " ptlantic
ately” (demas 1952). ; ‘ee

Baar, Ji and William E. Howard. "AF Training 14,000 ICEM
“crewmen,” Mosilen aid stints, Jamary 4, 1960,

Baker, Norman L. "Vandenberg... Base,"
Tocketa, August 25, 1956077700" Bases" Mlestlee and

Ford, and Je je | Bo: if the bal
|, Carey james Ferkins. 3, oe Missilenen,

Miller, Ea Meck. "Springtoard to the Stars," diz Force

Neeson, John Y. "Vandenberg," Space Age, November 1959,

Reed, Willi s, ‘Vandenberg Trains USAF Missile Crews,"
“bvtatiion Meek, October Gr lane, ,

Ritchi: Donald J. Soviet Rockets Exploit German Technology,”
Misaile and fockets, Demestee Tes" ,

Face of t Cooke, *
“Men, Machines Changing thet tale " Sante Parbere

“Vandenberg Misnile Bese is a Fer from the Dreams of the
Past," ante Barbare Heve-Brese, October's Tans,
"Missile Man," Skyline, vol. 16, No. 2 (Sumer 1958).

Miscellaneous

Historical Division, SAc.
‘ALE Coumand, 6 Oatober ISAS Sy SuUuELaA of the Stratecte ~ 15 January i9s8,

General Thomas S. White USAF. Address Before NATO Parlisnen-
tartan Conference, Washington, De Car Boreas 16, 1959.


6S6T teqmeseq TE
JO SB UoTQesTUEZI0

dnosp -TeoTpey ae6e,,



3
best the Division and AFBMD's contractors could do, as class-
room lectures began, was to allow students to observe "over—
the-shoulder" as installation and checkout of the Thor en-
Placenents continued.

The lack of launching facilities---one of the conse-
quences of the accelerated Program---was. unfortunate and
troubling to both the Division and the Royal Air Fores.
Nevertheless, a certain amount of training was accomplished
and, by the close of 1958, a total of 245 British mi ssilemen
from the 77th and 97th Strategic Misaile Squadrons (RAF),
completed this "interimTM IWST and returned to their home
bases. Not until March 1959, following final turnover to
the Division of the first Vandenberg Thor emplacements, was
® proper setting provided for operational training. (See
Chapter V) .

The First Vandenberg Launch

Shortly after he assumed comand General Wade expressed
the desire that the first Thor IRBM launch from Vandenberg
be an Air Force, rather than a contractor launch, A first

functioning properly, Now, on the basis of General Wade's