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Show Six Pershings set for launch near Utah site WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N. M., Aug. 15 - Six Army Pershing ballistic missiles are scheduled for launch in September from a White Sands Missile Range launch site near Blanding, Utah. Firing operations will be conducted under simulated tactical conditions. Dates and times of launch willl not be revealed to participating troop units until a few hours before launch time when they are actually put on alert status. The launch site will be on Black Mesa, some 15 miles southwest of Blanding. The missiles will be programmed to impact on the White Sands Mis-sille Range, approximately 350 miles away. The first two Pershings in the September series will be launched by troops from the Federal Republic of Germany Air Force. Units from the 2nd Battalion, 44th Artillery, Fourth U. S. Army, based at Ft. Sill, Okla., will fire the remaining four rounds. Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Harold C. Bennett, the 2nd Battalion will also provide technical and administrative support for the series of firings. The 2nd Battalion was the Army's first Pershing missile unit. It was activated in 1963 when the two-stage artillery weapon system became operational. In addition to serving as practice for operational proficiency, the fall-firing series will serve as product-improvement rounds. Information obtained from the exercise will be evaluated for possible use in improving the system as well as improving firing techniques. The old Model P-I ground support equipment, mounted on tracked vehicles, will be used by the German units. The Ft. Sill unit will use the newer P-1A equipment which is mounted on highly mobile five-ton, wheeled vehicles. WSMR -will provide ground support for the firings including ground and flight safety, instrumentation and recovery. The last Pershing firings from Black Mesa were the spring rounds during April and May. WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGER-PAGE 3 WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, AUG. 15, |
