Project Emily
Encyclopedia
Project Emily was the deployment of American
-built PGM-17 Thor
Intermediate-range ballistic missile
s in the United Kingdom between 1959 and 1963.
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 build up of Soviet missiles, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower
met Prime Minister
Harold Macmillan
in Bermuda
in 1956 to explore the possibility of short-term deployment on UK soil, until more powerful Intercontinental ballistic missile
s were deployed in the continental U.S.
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 eventually 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
.
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
The RAF personnel were trained by the 392nd Missile Training Squadron
of the 704th Strategic Missile Wing
of the 1st Missile Division, (USAF
).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-built PGM-17 Thor
PGM-17 Thor
Thor was the first operational ballistic missile of the U.S. Air Force . Named after the Norse god of thunder, it was deployed in the United Kingdom between 1959 and September 1963 as an intermediate range ballistic missile with thermonuclear warheads. Thor was in height and in diameter. It was...
Intermediate-range ballistic missile
Intermediate-range ballistic missile
An intermediate-range ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a range of 3,000–5,500 km , between a medium-range ballistic missile and an intercontinental ballistic missile...
s in the United Kingdom between 1959 and 1963.
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF) Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
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 build up of Soviet missiles, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
met Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Harold Macmillan
Harold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
in Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
in 1956 to explore the possibility of short-term deployment on UK soil, until more powerful Intercontinental ballistic missile
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
s were deployed in the continental U.S.
During The Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
, 59 of the RAF missiles, with their W49
W49
The W49 was an American thermonuclear warhead, used on the Thor, Atlas, Jupiter, and Titan I ballistic missile systems. W49 warheads were manufactured starting in 1958 and were in service until 1963, with a few warheads being retained until 1975....
1.44 megaton
TNT equivalent
TNT equivalent is a method of quantifying the energy released in explosions. The ton of TNT is a unit of energy equal to 4.184 gigajoules, which is approximately the amount of energy released in the detonation of one ton of TNT...
thermonuclear warheads, were brought to operational readiness.
Intended to remain in place until 1968, the missile force was eventually 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
Space Race
The Space Race was a mid-to-late 20th century competition between the Soviet Union and the United States for supremacy in space exploration. Between 1957 and 1975, Cold War rivalry between the two nations focused on attaining firsts in space exploration, which were seen as necessary for national...
.
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
No. 3 Group RAF
Number 3 Group of the Royal Air Force was an RAF group first active in 1918, again in 1923-26, part of RAF Bomber Command from 1936 to 1967, and part of RAF Strike Command from 2000 until it disbanded on 1 April 2006.-The 1930s and World War II:...
, Air Vice-Marshal Michael Harington Dwyer Air Officer Commanding.
Feltwell was also home to Bomber Command Strategic Missile School.
| Station | County | Squadron | Reformed | Operational | Disbanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feltwell Group | |||||
| RAF Feltwell RAF Feltwell RAF Feltwell is a Royal Air Force station in Norfolk, East Anglia that is currently used by the United States Air Forces Europe. The station is located about 10 miles west of Thetford, and is in the borough of King's Lynn at approximate Ordnance Survey grid reference .A former Second World War... |
Norfolk Norfolk Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county... |
77(SM) No. 77 Squadron RAF No. 77 Squadron RAF was formed on 1 October 1916 at Edinburgh, and was equipped with B.E.2 and B.E.12 aircraft. The squadron disbanded at RAF Turnhouse on June 13, 1919.... |
1 September 1958 | 9 January 1959 | 10 July 1963 |
| RAF Shepherds Grove RAF Shepherds Grove RAF Shepherds Grove is a former Royal Air Force base in Suffolk England 9 miles NE of Bury St Edmunds.The base was built for the United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force during World War II. However the facility was not used by the USAAF and was opened by 3 Group, RAF on 3 April 1944... |
Suffolk Suffolk Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east... |
82(SM) No. 82 Squadron RAF No. 82 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron that was first formed in 1917 and last disbanded in 1963. It served at times as a bomber unit, a reconnaissance unit and lastly as a Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile unit... |
22 July 1959 | 22 July 1959 | 10 July 1963 |
| RAF Tuddenham | Suffolk Suffolk Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east... |
107(SM) No. 107 Squadron RAF No. 107 Squadron RAF was a bomber unit in the RAF in both World War I and World War II and during the Cold war was operational on Thor Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles.-Formation and World War I:... |
22 July 1959 | 22 July 1959 | 10 July 1963 |
| RAF Mepal | Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west... |
113(SM) No. 113 Squadron RAF No. 113 Squadron was a unit of the Royal Air Force that served as a reconnaissance, army cooperation, bomber, fighter, transport and missile operation squadron during its existence.-Formation in World War I as reconnaissance unit:... |
22 July 1959 | 22 July 1959 | 10 July 1963 |
| RAF North Pickenham RAF North Pickenham RAF North Pickenham is a former Royal Air Force base near North Pickenham, in Norfolk. It was originally opened in 1944 and finally closed in 1965.-USAAF use:... |
Norfolk Norfolk Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county... |
220(SM) No. 220 Squadron RAF No. 220 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was originally founded in 1918 and disbanded in 1963 after four separate periods of service. The squadron saw service in both the First and Second World Wars, as a naval patrol unit, and finally as part of Britain's strategic nuclear deterrent.-First World... |
22 July 1959 | 22 July 1959 | 10 July 1963 |
| Hemswell Group | |||||
| RAF Hemswell RAF Hemswell RAF Hemswell was an airfield used by RAF Bomber Command for 20 years between 1937 and 1957 and saw most of its operational life during World War II. Later used by RAF Fighter Command as a nuclear ballistic missile base during the Cold War it closed to military use in 1967... |
Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders... |
97(SM) No. 97 Squadron RAF No. 97 Squadron, was a Royal Air Force squadron formed on December 1, 1917 at Waddington, Lincolnshire, first as a training unit, until moving to Netheravon in March 1918, and re-equipping with the Handley Page O/400 heavy bomber. The squadron served in France for the remainder of the war... |
1 December 1958 | 12 January 1959 | 24 May 1963 |
| RAF Ludford Magna RAF Ludford Magna RAF Ludford Magna was a Royal Air Force airfield operated by Bomber Command during World War II and the Cold War. The station lay on agricultural farmland immediately south of the village of Ludford, Lincolnshire and was sited 21.4 miles north east of the county town of Lincoln, Lincolnshire... |
Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders... > |
104(SM) No. 104 Squadron RAF No. 104 Squadron RAF was formed at Wyton on 4 September 1917 and was equipped with the DH 9. It then moved to Andover, prior to being posted to France in May 1918. The squadron later began re-equipping with the DH 10, however the armistice arrived before this was completed and the squadron returned... |
22 July 1959 | 22 July 1959 | 24 May 1963 |
| RAF Bardney RAF Bardney RAF Bardney was a RAF station situated near Bardney, in Lincolnshire, England. It was built as a satellite to RAF Waddington in 1943.-Time line:* Opened on 13 April 1943 as home to No. 9 Squadron... |
Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders... |
106(SM) No. 106 Squadron RAF No. 106 Squadron RAF was a Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force squadron active from 1917 until 1919. It was also operative during World War II and in the post war period until 1963.- Establishment and early service :... |
22 July 1959 | 22 July 1959 | 24 May 1963 |
| RAF Coleby Grange RAF Coleby Grange RAF Coleby Grange was a Royal Air Force station situated alongside the western edge of the A15 on open heathland between the villages of Coleby and Nocton Heath and lying due south of the county town Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England.... |
Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders... |
142(SM) No. 142 Squadron RAF -History:No. 142 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at RFC Ismailia, Egypt in 1918, flying a mixed bag of reconnaissance and bomber aircraft. On the formation of the Royal Air Force, on 1 April 1918, 142 Squadron was at RFC Julis in Palestine, becoming No. 142 Squadron RAF... |
22 July 1959 | 22 July 1959 | 24 May 1963 |
| RAF Caistor | Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders... |
269(SM) No. 269 Squadron RAF No. 269 Squadron RAF was a maritime patrol unit of the Royal Air Force that saw service in World War I, World War II, and the Cold War.-World War I:... |
22 July 1959 | 22 July 1959 | 24 May 1963 |
| Driffield Group | |||||
| RAF Driffield RAF Driffield RAF Driffield was a Royal Air Force station situated near Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.Situated between Kelleythorpe and Eastburn on the A614 road, there stands an aerodrome. In recent times, it was known as Alamein Barracks and used as an Army driving school... |
Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform... |
98(SM) | 1 August 1959 | 8 January 1959 | 18 April 1963 |
| RAF Full Sutton | Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform... |
102(SM) No. 102 Squadron RAF No. 102 Squadron was a Royal Air Force night bomber squadron in World War I and a heavy bomber squadron in World War II. After the war it flew briefly as a transport squadron before being reformed a light bomber unit with the Second Tactical Air Force within RAF Germany. Its last existence was as a... |
1 August 1959 | 8 January 1959 | 27 April 1963 |
| RAF Carnaby RAF Carnaby RAF Carnaby was an emergency landing strip that enabled crippled bombers a safe place to land near the English coast during World War II. It was situated two miles southwest of Bridlington.RAF Carnaby opened in March 1944... |
Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform... |
150(SM) No. 150 Squadron RAF No. 150 Squadron RAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Air Force during both World War I and World War II.The squadron was reformed - as 150 Sqn. - on 8 January 1959 as one of 20 Strategic Missile squadrons associated with Project Emily... |
1 August 1959 | 8 January 1959 | 9 April 1963 |
| RAF Catfoss RAF Catfoss RAF Catfoss was a Royal Air Force station during the Second World War. Located just to the West of Hornsea, Yorkshire, England. The nearest village is Brandesburton.-History:Originally used as a grass airfield in the 1930s. On 1 January 1932 No... |
Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform... |
226(SM) No. 226 Squadron RAF First formed on 1 April 1918 at Pizzone, Italy, by re-designating the Bombing School Pizzone, No. 226 Squadron RAF operated fast bombers and fighter aircraft and formed No. 472, 473 and 474 Flights within it in September 1918... |
1 August 1959 | 8 January 1959 | 9 March 1963 |
| RAF Breighton | Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform... |
240(SM) No. 240 Squadron RAF No. 240 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force flying boat and seaplane squadron during World War I, World War II and up to 1959. It was then reformed as a strategic missile squadron, serving thus till 1963.-Formation and World War I:No... |
1 August 1959 | 8 January 1959 | 8 January 1963 |
| North Luffenham Group | |||||
| RAF North Luffenham RAF North Luffenham RAF North Luffenham was a Royal Air Force station in Rutland, England, 1940 - 1998. It is near to the villages of Edith Weston and North Luffenham.... |
Rutland Rutland Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire.... |
144(SM) No. 144 Squadron RAF No. 144 Squadron, RAF, was a British aviation and missle squadron during World War I, World War II, and the Cold War.-World War I:No. 144 Squadron, RFC, was formed at Port Said, Egypt, on 20th March 1918... |
1 December 1959 | 12 January 1959 | 23 August 1963 |
| RAF Polebrook RAF Polebrook RAF Polebrook is a former World War II airfield located 3.5 miles east-south-east of Oundle, at Polebrook, Northamptonshire, UK. The airfield was built on Rothschild estate land starting in August 1940.... |
Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,... |
130(SM) | 1 December 1959 | 12 January 1959 | 23 August 1963 |
| RAF Folkingham RAF Folkingham RAF Folkingham is a former World War II Royal Air Force flying station in Lincolnshire, England. The airfield is located south west of Folkingham and due east of Lenton village, approximately due south of county town Lincoln and north of London... |
Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders... |
223(SM) No. 223 Squadron RAF No. 223 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. Originally formed as part of the Royal Naval Air Service , the Squadron flew in both World Wars.-History:... |
1 December 1959 | 12 January 1959 | 23 August 1963 |
| RAF Harrington RAF Harrington RAF Harrington is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located west of Kettering in Northamptonshire south of the village of Harrington across the B576 road, now the A14.-USAAF use:... |
Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,... |
218(SM) No. 218 Squadron RAF No. 218 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was also known as No 218 Squadron after the Governor of the Gold Coast and people of the Gold Coast officially adopted the squadron.-World War I:... |
1 December 1959 | 12 January 1959 | 23 August 1963 |
| RAF Melton Mowbray | Leicestershire Leicestershire Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire... |
254(SM) No. 254 Squadron RAF No. 254 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was reformed in 1959 as one of 20 Strategic Missile squadrons associated with Project Emily. The squadron was equipped with three Thor Intermediate range ballistic missiles... |
1 December 1959 | 12 January 1959 | 23 August 1963 |
To defend the stations from enemy aircraft, RAF squadrons were raised with the Bristol Bloodhound surface to air missile:
No. 112 Squadron
No. 112 Squadron RAF
No. 112 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It served in both the First World War and Second World War and was active for three periods during the Cold War. It is nicknamed "The Shark Squadron", an allusion to the fact that it was the first unit from any air force to use the famous...
was based at RAF Breighton, and No. 247 Squadron
No. 247 Squadron RAF
No. 247 Squadron was formerly a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was also known as No.247 Squadron in recognition of the donations made by the British colonies, which at the outbreak of the Second World War, were established on the Chinese coast...
at RAF Carnaby
RAF Carnaby
RAF Carnaby was an emergency landing strip that enabled crippled bombers a safe place to land near the English coast during World War II. It was situated two miles southwest of Bridlington.RAF Carnaby opened in March 1944...
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
392d Training Squadron
The United States Air Force's 392d Training Squadron is an intercontinental ballistic missile training unit at Vandenberg AFB, California...
of the 704th Strategic Missile Wing
704th Strategic Missile Wing
The 404th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. It is attached to Seventeenth Air Force [Air Forces Africa], stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
of the 1st Missile Division, (USAF
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
).
| Launch Date | Launch Pad | Code name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | |||
| 16 April | 75-2-8 | Lions Roar | attended by Air Vice-Marshals W C Sheen and Sir Augustus Walker |
| 16 June | 75-2-7 | Rifle Shot | |
| 3 August | 75-1-1 | Bean Ball | |
| 14 August | 75-2-6 | Short Skip | |
| 17 September | 75-1-2 | Grease Gun | |
| 6 October | 75-2-8 | Foreign Travel | |
| 21 October | 75-1-1 | Stand Fast | |
| 12 November | 75-1-2 | Beach Buggy | |
| 1 December | 75-1-1 | Hard Right | |
| 14 December | 75-1-2 | Tall Girl | |
| 1960 | |||
| 21 January | 75-1-2 | Red Caboose | |
| 2 March | 75-2-8 | Center Board | |
| 22 June | 75-2-7 | Clan Chattan | |
| 11 October | 75-2-8 | Left Rudder | |
| 13 December | 75-2-8 | Action Town | |
| 1961 | |||
| 29 March | 75-2-7 | Shepherds Bush | |
| 20 June | 75-2-7 | White Bishop | |
| 6 September | LE-7 | Skye Boat | |
| 5 December | LE-8 | Pipers Delight | |
| 1962 | |||
| 19 March | LE-7 | Black Knife | |
| 18 June | LE-8 | Blazing Ciders | |
Further reading
- John Boyes Project Emily: Thor IRBM and the RAF ISBN 0752446118
- Kenneth Cross Bomber Command's Thor Missile Force The RUSI Journal, Volume 108, Issue 630 May 1963 , pages 131 - 136
- Jim Wilson Launch Pad UK: Britain and the Cuban Missile Crisis ISBN 1844157997