Florence in Lauderdale County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

The “Honest John” Rocket

Photographed By Sandra Hughes, October 22, 2013

1. The “Honest John” Rocket Marker

Inscription. The M50 Honest John was the U.S. Army’s first nuclear-armed surface-to-surface rocket. It was an unguided 762mm artillery rocket, powered by an M6 solid-fuel rocket engine.

The Honest John was developed at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1950, and first fired at White Sands Missile Range in 1951.

Later versions carried a high-explosive warhead instead of an atomic payload. The Honest John weighted in at 5,800 pounds and had a range of 25 miles. Production ended in 1965, after more than 7,000 rockets had been built. In was replaced by the MGM-52 Lance in 1973.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Military. A significant historical year for this entry is 1950.

Location. 34° 48.717′ N, 87° 37.43′ W. Marker is in Florence, Alabama, in Lauderdale County. Marker is on Veterans Park Drive, 0.3 miles east of South Cox Creek Parkway (Alabama Route 133), on the left when traveling east. Marker is located south of the Veterans Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Florence AL 35630, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Hawk Missile (a few steps from this marker); W.W. II Anchor (a few steps from this marker); 16” Projectile (a few steps from this marker); “Gooney Bird” Propeller (a few steps from

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this marker); Anti-Tank Gun (a few steps from this marker); Don Leslie Michael (within shouting distance of this marker); 75mm Field Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); Vietnam War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Florence.

The “Honest John” Rocket image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sandra Hughes, October 22, 2013

2. The “Honest John” Rocket

Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2013, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 816 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 23, 2013, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.