USAF’s Ballistic Missiles—1954-1964

May 1, 1964

This article comprises 65 pages over 12 chapters. It is presented here as a single, searchable PDF file (13MB) and in two parts, Missile 1 (chapters 1-7) and Missile 2 (chapters 8-12).

USAF’s Ballistic Missiles—1954-1964

Missile 1

Missile 2

Article Contents

From the Author

Chapter 1: Dawn of the Missile Age

Chapter 2: Scientists, too, Are Fallible

Chapter 3: Early Efforts Toward Missiles

Chapter 4: Scientific Barriers to Missiles

Chapter 5: The Great Awakening

Chapter 6: The Rejuvenated Missile Program

Chapter 7: The Race With Time

Chapter 8: Command and Control

Chapter 9: The Growing Missile Program

Chapter 10: The Collossal Facilities Task

Chapter 11: Preserving the Delivery Capability

Chapter 12: USAF and Space

Dr. Ernest G. Schwiebert, Command Historian of the Air Force Systems Command, did graduate work in history at Ohio State and Chicago Universities, and earned his doctorate in Modern European History at Cornell University in 1930. After serving as Professor of History for several years, he accepted a position with the State Department during the Occupation of Germany (1948-50) in the department of Education and Cultural Affairs. During this tour, he served both as University Adviser and Visiting Professor of the University of Erlangen in Bavaria. Upon his return from Germany, he became the first Command Historian of the Air Research and Development Command, later the Air Force Systems Command, where he organized and has directed the historical program for more than twelve years.