"We Develop Missiles, Not Air!" The Legacy of Early Missile, Rocket, Instrumentation, and Aeromedical Research Development at Holloman Air Force Base, Project Manhigh

This report contains an investigation of the history of missile, rocket, instrumentation, and aeromedical research programs conducted at and around Holloman Air Force Base. Research was completed for 11 programs, including six missile and rocket development complexes, a series of instrumentation facilities used to support missile testing, and four programs involved in aeromedical research. Newspapers, magazines, formerly classified military records, and interviews with people involved provided information about the innumerable testing programs carried out in the area. Archaeological investigations were also conducted at the various sites to document and identify those remains still existing today. The results of this research indicates HAFB played a primary role in the early Cold War development of many programs which represented the beginnings of the United States space program.

Holloman AFB is located on the eastern edge of White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) within the Tularosa Basin of south-central New Mexico. These two military installations have played an important part in the United States' effort towards 'Man In Space' and the maintenance of the defense posture of this country. The onset of World War II was responsible for the establishment of the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range (now HAFB). The early space-related efforts were carried out on the Range after it was integrated with White Sands Proving Grounds (now WSMR) at the end of the war. HAFB officials, cognizant of the base's important role in U.S. aerospace development, are now attempting to preserve a portion of this early history to preclude it from being lost forever.

Contents: Preface * Acknowledgments * List of Acronyms * Abstract * Introduction * Physical and Historical Background * Physical Environment * Project Location * Tularosa Basin Environment * Military Potential * Historical Background * Space Technology in New Mexico * Holloman Air Force Base * Target: Alamogordo * Research Questions and Methodology * Research Questions * Methodology * Missile and Rocket Complexes * Ground-to-Air Pilotless Aircraft (GAPA) * Historical Background * Archaeological Perspective * North American Test Instrument Vehicle (NATIV) * Historical Background * Archaeological Background * Jet-Bomb 2 (JB-2) * The German Vengeance Weapon (V-1) * The American Jet Bomb 2 * Archaeological Perspective * Aerobee Rocket * Historical Background.. * Archaeological Perspective * Able 51 * Historical Background. * Archaeological Perspective * Horizontal Test Stand * Historical Background. * Architectural Perspective. * Instrumentation Facilities * Cinetheodolite Stations * Historical Background * Archaeological Perspective * Mart Site (HAR-018r, LA 107798) * Pritch Site (HAR-007, LA 99633) * Sole Site (HAR-005, LA 99457). * Bern Site (HAR-021, LA 102577) * Features 121 and 144 (HAR-041, LA 104274) * Aeromedical Research * Aeromedical Research Laboratory * Holloman Zoo * Rockets and Balloons * Subgravity * Escape Physiology * Automotive Crash Forces * Bopper Sled * Swing Seat * Daisy Track * Project Excelsior * Project Manhigh * Background History * Holloman AFB Programs * Summary and Conclusion * The Programs * The Early Years, 1947-1949 * Missile Test Stands Area * Instrumentation Sites - Cinetheodolite Stations * Aeromedical Research * Further Advances, 1950-1969 * Able 51 * High Speed Test Track * Instrumentation Sites - Missile Theodolite Towers * Aeromedical Research * End of Era, 1970 - present * Archaeological Sites * Missile Test Stands Area * Able 51 * Cinetheodolite Stations * Historic Buildings * Conclusions * Recommendations * National Register Eligibility * Management Considerations * Project Analysis * Future Research * Interpretive Possibilities * Endnotes * Bibliography * General References