30 June 1961 - The Black Vault

," I ,
Q q .
pr'opulslo!l development effort a.t the AFF'I(; J
increase AF influeno e
and partic1.pa.tlon in the ARPA and NASA propulsion programs, and
expedlterocket propulsion devel opment by unit1ng the WAre f'unction
with the AFFl'C rocket and miss1le test fae111ties.43
The D1rectorate of Missile Captive Test was redesignated
the Directorate of Rocket Propulsion and loll.ss1les on 13 July 1959
and 1ta mission l"es.tated to harmonize ~/l th its added runc tlons.
- 44
Rev1sions changed the mission to re~d:
Direct l"e6ea~h~nd development of complete rocket
proptilBlonsysteins aridcoinPonents~swell as .gl"'Oundserv1ce
equipment in s\1pport of .the .AirForc:e msslon. Direct
evalu.at1onand development testing in support of research
and developmerit. Direct ~valuat1on testing of complete
rnlssilesystemSand components.Providet¢chnlcal and
logistic support to Alr For.e e contl'actors. Direct s tUdies
ofte'st methods and.facli1ties needed to .s.cccmplish futut"e
miss1onresponsibl11tles.
It was obvious in 1958 and 1959 from both the changing
mission statements and the development of an tir Force "1n_
house II rocket and tn1ssile testc~pab1l1ty that the Directorate
was undergolnga tran-s1t1on to Air Force development and test
of contracto'r' s weapons.
The reason 1'01" thi6 trans1tlon was
also obvious:
it would provide the Air Force with an inspection
systern capable of determining the quaIlty 0 f contractor produe ts
from a military standpoint, and it would provide ARDC with a
facility to obtain knowledge needed to direct contractors in
45
their missile development efforts. Transition to lIin_house n
43. Hiz t of the ;\FP~f'C, Jan - Jun 1960. P. 17l.
Lt4. HQ. AF'FI'C organization and Functions Chart No . 24-A..
13 Jul 1959.
45. Hlst of the AFFTC~ Jan - Jun 1959, p. 134.