The Douglas Thor Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile was developed in 9 months under a crash programme in 1955-6. Up to April 1962 144 were fired and 114 were successful. 47 of these were used to launch US satellites and space probes. In 1957 the new British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan visited UD President Eisenhower both in Bermuda and Washington as part of his efforts to patch up Anglo-US relations after Suez. The Americans were fearful that the Russians were setting up missiles aimed at the USA and wished to base Thor missiles within range of the Soviet Union. Britain was offered 60 missiles without cost, although they would have to provide the sites, but the warheads would remain under US control with a US officer attached to each launch team. He held the second key to arm the nuclear warhead, ensuring that Britain could not launch a missile without US approval. The offer to supply IRBMs was later extended to all NATO countries but only Italy and Turkey accepted the basing of Jupiter missiles.

The Thor was 64 feet 10 inches in length and 8 feet diameter with a weight of 109,330 lbs. The range was 1,725 statute miles and the maximum speed was 10,250 mph. The maximum altitude was 390 statute miles. The missiles took 15 minutes to fuel, align and fire and were deployed at dispersed sites to reduce the risk of a pre-emptive strike.

The first Thor was delivered to 77 Squadron at RAF Feltwell on 19 September 1958 and deployment was completed by March 1960. Each of the 20 squadrons had 3 missiles and they were divided into 4 complexes around Driffield, Feltwell, Hemswell, and North Luffenham. The Thors were air transportable and were delivered in C-124 Globemaster IIs and C-133 Cargomasters. The missiles were flown into Driffield, Hemswell (later Scampton), Lakenheath (for Feltwell), and North Luffenham, and transported by road to the outer sites. All the bases used had been on care and maintenance and some had not been used since wartime. The RAF crews were trained in the US and the first live firing by an RAF crew was on 16 April 1959 at Vandenberg AFB, California (Vehicle no.161, USAF serial 58-2272).

The Thor missile force was designed to attack targets in the Soviet Union with the missiles arriving before the V-Bomber strike force reached their targets. In one exercise it was reported that 59 of the 60 Thors were operational and ready to launch. The 15-minute delay in launching made them vulnerable on the ground and this was the reason given when it was announced on 1 August 1962 that the Thors would be withdrawn in the following year. However some commentators have suggested that the withdrawal of the Thor, along with the Jupiters in Italy and Turkey, was part of the solution to the Cuba crisis. Unfortunately the Cuba crisis did not start until October 1962 but maybe their impending withdrawal was part of the plot. The recent release of Cabinet Papers of the period confirms that Prime Minister Macmillan and President Kennedy spoke on many occasions during the crisis.

The last Thor was taken out of service on 15 August 1963 and the missiles returned to the USA in the Globemasters and Cargomasters and many were used in further programmes. The squadrons disbanded, none of them to reform. Most of the bases reverted to care and maintenance and subsequent disposal although Feltwell and North Luffenham are still in use for non-flying activities. Most sites have the evidence of their past with 3 substantial concrete pads still in situ. If you want to see a Thor there is one on display in the Royal Air Force Museum and another at the USAF Museum, the latter displayed vertically. The Thor continued to be used as a satellite launcher with a total of 574 built, the last one being launched in 1972.

107 Squadron was formed from ‘C’ Flight of 77 Squadron so it is possible that other squadrons were formed from flights of the main base squadrons.

Sources: ‘Roundel’ (British Aviation Research Group) May 1979 & November 1979

‘The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force’ by James J Halley (Air-Britain) 1980

‘V Force’ by Andrew Brookes (Jane’s) 1982

‘The British Bomber since 1918’ by Francis K Mason (Putnam) 1994

‘Royal Air Force Newton Missile Museum’ (guide – undated)

‘Strike Force The USAF in Britain since 1948’ by Robert Jackson (Robson) 1986

‘United States Air Force in Britain’ by Robert Jackson (Airlife) 2000 (text from above)

‘Airfields of the Eighth Then and Now’ by Roger Freeman (After the Battle) 1983

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/outdoor/od10.htm

http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-17.html

http://missilethreat.com/missiles/thor_usa.html

http://www.harringtonmuseum.org.uk/ThorUK.htm (recommended)

http://brisance.howiecam.com/thordelt.htm

Comments and additional information are very welcome.