HISTORY - Page 81
capability, they believed that the second squadron
would have to be manned by USAF personnel, as
well
120
.
Deployment plans were based on a "floating M date"
during the latter part of 1958. In other words, from the
time the agreement was signed, two missiles and
supporting GSE would be deployed to be in place 60
days later, and at T-15 readiness at the end of 75 days.
The remaining four missiles would be in place at M
plus 120 days, and in a combat readiness state at 135
days. This particular plan was of short duration, for in
early 1959 changes were made to the effect that the
total squadron of 15 missiles would deploy. Schedules
used a 150-day factor between the signing of a
technical agreement and shipment of the first
equipment, with first 1 March 1959 and then 1 April
designated as M-Day. The signing of the government-
to-government (GTG) agreement on 26-27 March
confirmed the 1 April date for planning purposes
121
.
With the signing of the document, it appeared that the
program was under way, but this was not the case.
Italy insisted that the GTG agreement lacked
sufficient detail and a technical agreement would
have to be signed between the IAF and USAF. Points of
contention involved funding matters, site
construction by Italian contractors, and some
component fabrication by Italian industry. Discussions
on these matters began to stretch out, and by June it
was realized that the 1 April M-Day was no longer
compatible with a realistic program. DOD rescinded
the date on 1 July and indicated that the new M-Day
would coincide with
_____________________________
120. JUP Prog Rpt for Nov 58, 8 Dec 58, Hist Off files.
121. Hist, ABMA, Jan-Jun 59; pp. 4-5; JUP Prog Rpt for Dec 58, 8 Jan 59, Hist Off files.