Books by John Boyes

In 1955, Britain with US assistance, started development of a medium range ballistic missile. The idea was to give Britain an independent nuclear capability to take it through to the 1970s. The need for underground launchers added to what was an already complex project and this, allied to ever-increasing costs, saw the project cancelled in 1960.

In the mid-1950s the US, worried by advances in Soviet missile technology, sought to develop an IRBM, acting as a stop-gap until their ICBMs became operational. The UK agreed to accept 60 Thor missiles, operated by RAF crews. What followed was an outstandingly successful co-operation between the two Nations.