1962 (Jan - Aug)
1962 Development of Missile "B", later renamed the LANCE, began during this year. The Army planned to replace the HONEST JOHN, LACROSSE, and possibly the LITTLEJOHN with the new system.
January to June 62 AOMC closed out activities on the JUPITER missile system as the USAF took control of it.
January to June 62 A fixed price incentive contract was negotiated for the HAWK guidance section. This was the first such contract in the HAWK system, as well as the first of any size that AOMC had entered into.
January to June 62 Trailer-on-a-flat-car (TOFC), a new mode of transportation for missiles and rockets, was developed during this period. TOFC made possible delivery by truck, without additional handling of the commodity, to the user and storage activity not serviced by rail spurs. The benefits included reduced handling, increased safety, bigger loads, reduced cost, and unrestricted rail interchange without special handling.
January to June 62 The Missile Intelligence Office revised and updated the Soviet SS-1 (SCUD) Missile System Study originally prepared by Aerojet General Corporation. The office submitted the study for review to the Ordnance Technical Intelligence Agency (OTIA) and the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (ACSI). Also, computer runs were started to determine various SCUD trajectories.
1 January 62 WSMR was removed from AOMC's jurisdiction and placed directly under the Chief of Ordnance.
3 January 62 The first SPEEDBALL target missile to use live first and second stage solid propellant motors was successfully fired at WSMR.
10 January 62 Three companies--Hughes Aircraft Company, Martin Marietta, and McDonnell Aircraft Corporation--were awarded 6-month contracts to design and fabricate prototype hardware for a flight demonstration of the technical feasibility of the proposed TOW missile concept.
11 January 62 The Missile Planning Office, a field staff office of the Chief of Ordnance located at RSA, was abolished on this date because AOMC had gradually assumed its functions.
15 January 62 The AOMC Liaison Office at the Naval Training Devices Center in Port Washington, New York, was discontinued.
26 February 62 The last launch position in Turkey was turned over to the 7231st Technical Training Group, U.S. Air Forces, Europe, marking completion of the JUPITER overseas deploy-ment program.
March 62 The Redstone Scientific Information Center (RSIC) was established as a joint venture between AOMC and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). The center was designed to hold the largest collection of rocket, missile, and space literature in the free world.
7 March 62 The Public Information Office dropped the word "public" from its name. Not long before, it had relinquished to the Protocol Office those functions pertaining to arranging the AOMC Commander's tours and speeches, as well as furnishing production support for such tours and speeches.
14 March 62 After this date, project offices were called project management offices.
21 March 62 A contract was let to Quantatron, Inc., for a 12-month applied research effort toward the development of an ultraviolet LASER device.
April 62 The AJAX Disassembly Program began this month. The program was designed to effect the recovery of certain common repair parts by disposal as a result of the NIKE AJAX phaseout.
11 April 62 The AOMC Information Office absorbed AOMSA functions pertaining to publication of the Redstone Rocket.
18 April 62 The AOMC Liaison Office at the Lockheed Plant in Sunnyvale, California, was discontinued.
May 62 The AOMSA Community Relations Division sponsored a monthly television program on local channel 31 featuring RSA's 55th Army Band, with guest appearances by local musical groups.
2 May 62 The first SHILLELAGH missile was fired at a moving target.
8 May 62 As part of the sweeping reorganization of DA during 1962, the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) was activated and assumed the missions and functions of the Office, Chief of Ordnance and certain other technical services which lost their statutory status at this time.
17 May 62 The newest version of the FIREBEE target (called 124-E by the Army) set a world endurance and altitude record for this type of target. The 124-E achieved 94 minutes of powered flight between altitudes of 55,000 and 58,000 feet.
23 May 62 The U.S. Army Missile Command (MICOM) was established at Redstone Arsenal. However, the command was not actually activated until August 62.
26 May 62 MG Francis J. McMorrow became AOMC Commander.
June 62 The first battery of the first Army PERSHING I tactical missile battalion--the 2d Missile Battalion, 44th Artillery--was activated.
June 62 The SERGEANT missile was first deployed during this month. However, the system's readiness date was met with less than full support capability.
3 June 62 Collins Radio Company shipped the first production radio terminal set for PERSHING to Aberdeen Proving Ground. The second production set was shipped on 7 June to Fort Bliss to be used in operator training.
5 June 62 MG Francis J. McMorrow assumed command of MICOM as well as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, the latter unit being activated on this date.
14 June 62 The Installations and Services Office was created as a new staff office to bring the AOMC structure into line with its AMC counterpart. The office served as the focal point for coordinating and evaluating designated logistical, master planning, administrative, facilities, repairs and utilities construction, family housing, and welfare and morale activities of subordinate installations, including coordination and consolidation of the command Production Base Program (PEMA 4200).
30 June 62 A contract for R&D of the SHILLELAGH missile subsystem was let to Aeronutronic, the prime contractor.
30 June 62 All artillery ammunition stored in earth-covered igloos by the Redstone Depot was completely evacuated by this date.
1 July 62 Procedures for implementing DOD Procedure, MILSTRIP (i.e., Military Standard Requisi-tioning and Issue Procedure) were prepared and personnel were trained so MILSTRIP could be operational by this date. MILSTRIP would standardize forms, codes, and legends throughout DOD to eliminate confusion and duplication of forms and records. MILSTRIP affected about 150 computer programs at AOMC as well as all EAM procedures and machine panels, which had to be retrieved.
1 July 62 The Army Stock Fund for missile repair parts was established and became operative.
12 July 62 As one of his last official acts, the Chief of Ordnance designated the MICOM Commander as the weapon system manager for the TOW/HAW.
26 July 62 Watertown Arsenal in Watertown, Massachusetts, was put under AOMC's jurisdiction. This Class II installation previously had been a part of the Ordnance Weapons Command.
1 August 62 MICOM was activated as a Class II activity under AMC's jurisdiction. At this time, AOMC was officially discontinued.
Building 5250, MICOM HQs
The ABMA/AOMC Era:
Introduction,
1956,
1957,
1958,
1959,
1960,
1961,
1962
