Titan II: A History of a Cold War Missile Program

351 Pages·2002·13.773 MB·English

by  David K. Stumpf

Titan II

Titan II
A History of a Cold War
Missile Program
DAVID K. STUMPF
With a Foreword by
Lt. Gen. Jay W. Kelley, USAF, Retired
The University of Arkansas Press
Fayetteville

Copyright © by the Department of Arkansas Heritage
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
         
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• The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Stumpf, David K., –
Titan II : a history of a Cold War missile program / David K. Stumpf ;
with a foreword by Jay W. Kelley.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN ---(cloth)
. Titan (Missile)—History. I. Title.
UG.I S 
.''—dc -
Funding provided by a Department of Defense Legacy Program grant to the
Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
All photos are official U.S. Air Force photographs unless otherwise noted.
In Memory of Those Who Lost Their Lives
at the Operational Launch Complexes
308THSTRATEGICMISSILEWING
Launch Complex – August 
Lucian J. Adams Henry H. Hegi Aubrey E. Reynolds
William Q. Bailey Raymond Helton G. W. Richmond
Kendall Belote Sam C. Hicks Presley H. Sanson
Bill E. Bennett Thomas L. Hoggard Bobbie G. Scott
Jim S. Best William C. Holden Marion A. Sewell
Willis L. Briley William R. Kell Charles H. Shaw
Joe Cloud Sr. Hershell R. Linn Harold Shelton
Freddie Conway Archie A. Martin Kenneth W. Squires
Lowell H. Cook Charles P. McMahan James R. Stuckey
Donald A. Dean Herbert E. Melton William H. Stuckey
C. L. Dove William D. Merchant Cecil F. Taylor
John P. Elkins Jack Milan Echol Thurman
James F. Evans Junior E. Mobbs Odra M. Vaught
Harry H. E. Fisher Delphard H. Owens Herbert O. Wahrmund
Charles H. Fulson Gillis R. Patterson James T. Wallace
Archie Hamilton Foster W. Pemberton Yonley A. Williams
James C. Harvey Sidney S. Phillips Mervan H. Wood
J. D. Headley L. M. Phillips
308THSTRATEGICMISSILEWING
Launch Complex – January 
MSgt Ronald E. Bugge
308THSTRATEGICMISSILEWING
Launch Complex – October 
Sgt Larry G. South
308THSTRATEGICMISSILEWING
Launch Complex – September 
SrA David L. Livingston
381STSTRATEGICMISSILEWING
Launch Complex – August 
SSgt Robert J. Thomas
September 
AC Erby B. Hepstall

Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Foreword xv
Preface xvii
Introduction xxi
I The Air Force Strategic Missile Program 
II The First Generation: Atlas and Titan I 
III The Second Generation: Titan II 
IV Titan II Research and Development Flight Test History 
V Titan II Launch Complex Design and Construction 
VI Titan II in Context 
VII Manning the Titan II 
VIII Titan II Operational Flight and Evaluation Programs History 
IX Fatal Accidents in the Titan II Program 
X The End of the Titan II Era 
Epilogue 
Appendix I Titan I Launch Record;
Titan II Air Frame Serial Numbers, Fate; Launch Crew List 
Appendix II Soviet Union Counterpart to Titan II 
Notes 
Index 
vii

Illustrations
FIGURES
.. Locations of ICBMsites in the United States in . 
.. Atlas missiles in the General Dynamics factory in San Diego. 
.. An Atlas Eis ready for launch from a below ground coffin launch complex. 
.. Schematic of Atlas F launch complex showing the missile sheltered or
raised to the surface for launch. 
.. The Martin Company Titan factory in the Rocky Mountain foothills
near Littleton, southwest of Denver, Colorado, in the early s. 
.. Aerial photograph looking southwest at Vandenberg AFBand Titan I
Training Facility TF-, also known as Launch Complex A, B, and C. 
.. Aerial view of the aftermath of the December explosion at the
Operational Suitability Test Facility, Vandenberg AFB, California. 
.. View down into the launch duct of the Silo Test Launch Facility at
Vandenberg AFB. 
.. Titan I SM-(-), code-named Operation DAILYMAILlifts off on
September . 
.. LR87-AJ-5Stage I engine set for Titan II. 
.. LR91-AJ-5Stage II engine for Titan II 
.. Titan II engine test stand at the Aerojet-General facilities in
Rancho Cordova, California. 
.. Schematic drawing of the /th in-silo launch scale model giving the general
configuration of the launch duct, flame deflectors, and exhaust ducts. 
.. Construction of the /th-scale silo model. 
.. A Titan II Stage I is being positioned for placement in the D-test stand
at Littleton, Colorado. 
.. A Titan II assembly line. 
.. Missile B-(-) was returned to the Martin factory during Operation
Wrap-Up. 
.. Diagram of Titan II ICBMairframe showing assembled missile top and
exploded view of major structural components below. 
.a, b, c. Reentry vehicle evolution leading to the Mark . 
.. RVX-reentry vehicle being readied for transport after a successful recovery. 
.. General Electric Mark reentry vehicle being readied for transport. 
.. In the upper photograph, the ACSpark Plug “gold ball” inertial
measurement unit and the missile guidance computer are connected
to an air conditioner during testing in the guidance shop. The lower
photograph shows the Delco Universal Space Guidance System inertial
measurement unit and the missile guidance computer. 
.. Titan II N-(-) lifts off on March on a successful flight from
Cape Canaveral, Florida. 
ix