Thor

Thor. . , The SM-75/PGM-17A Thor intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) was the product of the early Cold War race to deploy nuclear armed missiles before the Soviet Union. The Thor Missile was designed to be an interim nuclear deterrent while the United States Air Force (USAF) developed long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) as a top national priority. The IRBM concept called for a missile with a range of about 1,500 miles that would be based in Europe. Three companies, Douglas Aircraft Company, Lockheed Corporation and North American Aviation submitted bids for the contract to build the Thor missile. On December 27, 1955 the Douglas Aircraft Company was awarded the prime contract., British Involvement , The British Government was approached with the idea of basing Thor missiles in Britain as Royal Air Force (RAF) missiles. The U.S. would provide the missiles, spare parts and training. The British would provide the bases, infrastructure and personnel. A formal agreement was reached in June 1958. Sixty missiles were deployed to 20 RAF stations. Each missile was designed to fit into the USAF, C-124 Globemaster Il transport aircraft for delivery to Britain., Service History , The Thor on exhibit was manufactured at the Douglas Aircraft Company plant in Santa Monica, California in 1958. Later that same year it was shipped to Britain as one of the 60 missiles assigned to the RAF. In 1963 it was returned to the Douglas Santa Monica plant and was refurbished. It spent the rest of its service in various testing programs. On March 15, 1994 it was transferred to the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History., Termination , Under the agreement with Britain, the USAF paid the cost of maintenance for the missiles for five years. After this, funding would fall on Britain, which would have to take over their logistic support. With new ICBMs becoming available, there was no reason to continue the Thor program. On May 1, 1962, the United States announced that it would not provide support for Thor after October 31, 1964. At about the same time the British announced that they were ending the program. The last Thor squadrons were inactivated on August 23, 1963., Technical Notes: , Engines: One Rocketdyne LR79-NA-9 of 150,000lbs. thrust; two Rocketdyne LR101-NA vernier engines (for small thrust and direction adjustments) of 1,000 lbs. thrust each , Guidance: All-inertial , Length: 65 ft. , Diameter: 8 ft. , Weight: 110,000 lbs. (fully fueled) , Source: National Museum of the United States Air Force