Order Of The Day -- 2nd August, 1962 -- 60 Years Ago Today

[Ray Darbouy]

To All Thor Squadrons and Stations

Recenty, whilst wombling through a local antique (junk) shop, hereabouts in my local area, I stumbled upon this most interesting
document. For only a few beer coupons, the framed document became mine. I felt I had to rescue it!

This was tense time and an unusual departure from normal aircraft ops in the History of The RAF; it is a virtually a forgotten era.
Well done to any of the old boys that were in the role; if still around....

Gadzooks, mumble, mumble... it was only two years later that Darbouy took the Queens Shilling...

The Boss:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obi...eth-Cross.html

Project Emily:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Emily

An RAF Thor Station. Of the four Senior Officers that appear in this silent vid, fairly sure the Airship is Air Marshall Cross...
(RAF Plod on duty too; nice doggy)

You Tube

[RAFEngO74to09]

You Tube

[Asturias56]

What amazes me is how low profile the Thor force was . Compare it to the Cruise Missile protests 25 years later.

[Chugalug2]

Originally Posted by Asturias56

What amazes me is how low profile the Thor force was . Compare it to the Cruise Missile protests 25 years later.

It was not very low profile at RAF Coleby Grange, as the A15 Sleaford Road to Lincoln passed right by its eastern boundary fence. Inside it you could clearly see the vertical Thor missiles on their launch pads (presumably going through the 15 min fuelling/dummy launch exercise procedure). It struck me then that a well aimed .22 rifle fired from the fence could seriously spoil someone's day.

RD:-

(RAF Plod on duty too; nice doggy)

"Halt, or I will release my handler!"

[Asturias56]

I was thinking of the Great British Public - I doubt 1 in a hundred thousand knew (or cared) about them - whereas the GLCM's were a media circus for ages before they even appeared

[pr00ne]

Originally Posted by Asturias56

I was thinking of the Great British Public - I doubt 1 in a hundred thousand knew (or cared) about them - whereas the GLCM's were a media circus for ages before they even appeared

There were numerous CND marches to, and protests at, Thor bases.
Many very large scale demonstrations and protests in high profile venues such as Trafalgar Square.
Numerous student protests at Universities up and down the country.

Not as low profile as you suggest.

[Rory57]

This was interesting: how the Thor missiles were repurposed into the space business as launch vehicles.

You Tube

[MAINJAFAD]

Originally Posted by pr00ne

There were numerous CND marches to, and protests at, Thor bases.
Many very large scale demonstrations and protests in high profile venues such as Trafalgar Square.
Numerous student protests at Universities up and down the country.

Not as low profile as you suggest.

Like a lot of things, the only difference between then and now is back then, it wasn't reported in the main stream media.

[Asturias56]

I can't remember demonstrations at Thor bases - there was the annual CND Easter Jamboree to/from Aldermaston but that was understandable as there was a good railway or bus home if you got sore feet or it rained - but trudging about Rural Yorks/Lincs etc??? Maybe they did but no journo's came out to follow them?

I always thought they'd have had a lot less media trouble with Cruise if they'd put them somewhere less convenient than Greenham Common - N Ireland or Machrihanish come to mind - somewhere that costs serious money to buy a ticket to........

[Fitter2]

I always thought they'd have had a lot less media trouble with Cruise if they'd put them somewhere less convenient than Greenham Common

I suspect the proximity to 'RAF Welford' had something to do with the decision. Some equipment only remains reliable if it is frequently and competently maintained - which makes me wonder about the effectiveness of the Russian deterrent capability

[ROC man]

Originally Posted by Rory57

This was interesting: how the Thor missiles were repurposed into the space business as launch vehicles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua6wSrokOYQ

And you can go and see one at the National Space Museam in Leicester.https://spacecentre.co.uk/whats-here/#mg

[OvertHawk]

Originally Posted by Fitter2

I suspect the proximity to 'RAF Welford' had something to do with the decision. Some equipment only remains reliable if it is frequently and competently maintained - which makes me wonder about the effectiveness of the Russian deterrent capability

The enemy doe not need to be certain that it will work - he only needs to be worried that it might. (But I do share your point - I think that the serviceability, readiness, security and safety of the Russian Strategic Weapons arsenal is probably in a shocking state).