Commercial? No Country United Kingdom Key people Dwight D. Eisenhower | Type of project Missile deployments Prime Minister Harold Macmillan Established 1959 | |
Project Emily was the deployment of American-built PGM-17 Thor intermediate-range ballistic missiles in the United Kingdom between 1959 and 1963.
Contents
- RAF Strategic Missile SM stations and squadrons
- Missile launches by RAF personnel
- Listed status
- References
Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command operated 60 Douglas Thor Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles, dispersed to 20 RAF air stations, as part of the UK nuclear deterrent force.
Due to concerns over the buildup of Soviet missiles, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower met Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in Bermuda in March 1957 to explore the possibility of short-term deployment on UK soil, until more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles were deployed.
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, 59 of the RAF missiles, with their W49 1.44 megaton thermonuclear warheads, were brought to operational readiness.
Intended to remain in place until 1968, the missile force was disbanded in 1963, and the missiles were returned to the U.S., most for eventual use in developing hardware and techniques as part of the space race.
RAF Strategic Missile (SM) stations and squadrons
Originally conceived as a four-squadron deployment, with each squadron controlling five "flights" of three missiles each, these flights were subsequently reconfigured into separate squadrons. For example, on 22 July 1959, C Flight of No. 77 Squadron was redesignated No. 107 Squadron.
The subsequent deployment was based on 4 "Strategic Missile Groups", each comprising five squadrons, and each squadron being equipped with three missiles.
The groups were based at RAF stations at Driffield, Feltwell, Hemswell and North Luffenham, with their satellite bases in close proximity:
North Luffenham and Feltwell came under No. 3 Group RAF, Air Vice-Marshal Michael Harington Dwyer Air Officer Commanding. Feltwell was also home to Bomber Command Strategic Missile School.
To defend the stations from enemy aircraft, RAF squadrons were raised with the Bristol Bloodhound surface-to-air missile: No. 112 Squadron was based at RAF Breighton, and No. 247 Squadron at RAF Carnaby from 1960.
Missile launches by RAF personnel
Over twenty RAF crews visited the USA for training, culminating in operational training launches from Vandenberg AFB:
The RAF personnel were trained by the 392nd Missile Training Squadron of the 704th Strategic Missile Wing of the 1st Missile Division, (USAF).
Listed status
In October 2012 the former launch sites at Harrington and North Luffenham were granted listed status.