Development of Ballistic Missiles in the United States Air Force, 1945-1960

During the Cold War, the United States Air Force met the challenge of organizing and leading a massive research and development effort to build ballistic missiles. This book concentrates on the first generation of ballistic missiles: the intercontinental Atlas and Titan, and the intermediate range Thor. The author describes the difficulties involved in the technological competition with the Soviets to be first to develop and deploy a ballistic missile force.