HISTORY - Page 35
operational requirements (GOR) would be drawn up
and submitted to Air Research and Development
Command and USAF headquarters for release. ABMA
complied.
While waiting on the agreement to transpire, General
Medaris, in a March visit to WDD, sought to resolve the
problem more speedily. He pointed out to Maj. Gen.
Bernard A. Schriever, WDD's commander, that ABMA
needed information on over-all system design
requirements. General Schriever agreed, but
stipulated that authority to furnish such information
would have to come from USAF. Also, he promised to
discuss the problem with USAF during a forthcoming
Washington visit.
In late March, word came from General Ritland that
the GOR had been forwarded through Washington
channels; and, on 12 April, after a four-month lapse
from the original request, ABMA received the
documents. The material, however, was unsatisfactory
as it was devoted to THOR development and could not
be construed as a GOR. ABMA was still without
guidance to proceed with the JUPITER design. Thus, the
Army had to revert to the channel routine once again.
By May 1957, there appeared some promise that the
development program could proceed. At that time
WDD had sent messages to all potential users
concerning the possible use of the JUPITER by the Air
Force. ABMA reacted quickly and suggested that a
briefing be given at the end of the month. Additionally,
ABMA provided a list of assumptions as to JUPITER
requirements to satisfy USAF operational needs. This
was not what WDD had in mind. They desired to be
briefed on the JUPITER program as it had been
conceived, so a
_____________________________