1 November 1960. This plan was based on an assumption that the starting date of the program would be
October 1955 with the first flight test of a REDSTONE to support research mission assignments for
development of the 1,500-mile missile. Fifteen such vehicles would be used in the first stage of the
program. Thereafter, a 50-missile prototype test program was contemplated. For strictly R&D purposes,
there would be 40 missiles. The other 10 missiles would serve the dual purpose of R&D and engineer-user
testing and would be instrumented to satisfy both requirements. This planning was based on experience
in the REDSTONE development program, and was the basis for OCO's $240 million estimate
12
.
Department of Defense Decision
Now that It was generally conceded that a requirement existed for a 1,500-mile range ballistic missile, the
matter at hand was the adoption of the specific technical development pursuit from the several existing
plans. For example, the development plan proposed by the Air Force in January 1955 was still active, and
OCO as late as September was suggesting that the team at Redstone be used to accomplish the work. Air
Force officials indicated that they would like to see the team broken up and assigned to its various
activities to effect development, but Secretary of the Army Wilbur M, Brucker objected to such
fragmentation. At this point, the Secretary of Defense, Charles E. Wilson, decided there would be two
IRBM’s developed, one of which would cover land- and sea-based requirements
13
.
______________________________
12. Memo, OCRD to D/CS for Plans and Resh, 1 Aug 55, subj: 1,500-mile Msl Costs, R&D; Pam 70-10, p. 119; RSA OML Study, 7 Sep 55, subj: OML Ball GM Props for Range of 1,500 NM.
13. Hist, ABMA, 1 Feb-30 Jun 56, p. 3, Hist Off files; ABMA Ref Book, Part I, JUF, Tab A-4; House Rpt Nr 67, op. cit., p. 23.
HISTORY - Page 9
1 November 1960. This plan was based on an
assumption that the starting date of the program
would be October 1955 with the first flight test of a
REDSTONE to support research mission assignments
for development of the 1,500-mile missile. Fifteen
such vehicles would be used in the first stage of the
program. Thereafter, a 50-missile prototype test
program was contemplated. For strictly R&D
purposes, there would be 40 missiles. The other 10
missiles would serve the dual purpose of R&D and
engineer-user testing and would be instrumented to
satisfy both requirements. This planning was based
on experience in the REDSTONE development
program, and was the basis for OCO's $240 million
estimate
12
.
Department of Defense Decision
Now that It was generally conceded that a
requirement existed for a 1,500-mile range ballistic
missile, the matter at hand was the adoption of the
specific technical development pursuit from the
several existing plans. For example, the development
plan proposed by the Air Force in January 1955 was
still active, and OCO as late as September was
suggesting that the team at Redstone be used to
accomplish the work. Air Force officials indicated that
they would like to see the team broken up and
assigned to its various activities to effect
development, but Secretary of the Army Wilbur M,
Brucker objected to such fragmentation. At this
point, the Secretary of Defense, Charles E. Wilson,
decided there would be two IRBM’s developed, one of
which would cover land- and sea-based
requirements
13
.
______________________________
12. Memo, OCRD to D/CS for Plans and Resh, 1 Aug 55, subj: 1,500-mile Msl Costs, R&D; Pam 70-10, p. 119; RSA OML
Study, 7 Sep 55, subj: OML Ball GM Props for Range of 1,500 NM.
13. Hist, ABMA, 1 Feb-30 Jun 56, p. 3, Hist Off files; ABMA Ref Book, Part I, JUF, Tab A-4; House Rpt Nr 67, op. cit., p. 23.
