Although the North American Navaho missile program, jokingly called NeverGo, was cancelled in 1957, the final, successful launch of a Navaho was in November, 1958 while I was working at Grand Bahama.
The Navaho was a ramjet, winged, nuclear intercontinental missile. The Air Force shifted to ICBM research, resulting in cancellation of the Navaho program.
The Navaho was still an important part of the missile and space program. Technology developed during the Navaho program was adapted for other missile programs. The Navaho booster engine technology was adapted from the German V-2 missile and was applied to the Atlas, Redstone, Jupiter and Thor programs.
The North American Hound Dog was an air-launched short-range (350 miles) missile with a jet engine. A B-52 could carry one Hound Dog under each wing. The early test launches were failures, therefore our nickname was a “Bomb with a beacon.” The B-52 would drop the Hound Dog from altitude and it would continue downward into the ocean.
A good friend worked for North American and was with us for the test launches. We began betting drinks with him about the success of the launches. He enjoyed a party, so always paid off.
Suddenly, one day the launch was successful. The North American representative refused to collect his bets from us and footed the bill for everyone on the base (300 people) to celebrate the successful launch.
We worked hard much of the time, but we also partied hard when we had an excuse. Any excuse was better than none.
Copyright © Jerry Blackerby 2009