Following World War II, the onset of nuclear weapons, long-range jet bombers, and ballistic missiles radically changed American foreign policy and military strategy. The United States Air Force accepted the challenge of organizing and leading a massive research and development effort to build ballistic missiles. This manuscript addresses the first generation of ballistic missiles - the intercontinental Atlas and Titan, and the intermediate range Thor. During the period addressed in this book, missiles advanced from drawing board to alert status, where the next generation now remains poised to deter war.