6 JUNE I960
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I
V
VOLUME V, NUMBER 23
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THE LIMIT
The Pacific Missile Range is the nation’s third and largest missile-firing
range. Although formerly commissioned on June 6, 1953, the Secretary of Defense*
actually created the Range on Dec. 7, 1957, when he directed the Navy to estab
lish an ocean-spanning, instrumented, network capable of supplying information
on the launching, guidance, and impact of missiles and satellites,
Establishment of the Pacific Missile Range, the selection of Point Mugu as its
headquarters and location of the Naval Missile Range and its supporting activity
the NtiVal Air Station, was a gradual decision, taking.several years, to make.
When World War II began,the Navy used the area to train Seabees from the Naval
Construction Battalion Center at Port Hueneme. In 1943, the Seabees constructed
a number of buildings and some are still in use.
After the war.,., the Navy needed an over-water range to test pilotless aircraft,
in December 1945, the Bureau of Aeronautics took control of part of Point Mugu
and established a Naval Air Facility. First pilotless aircraft launchings were
experimental shots from a catapult with seven powder chambers. The first Missile
launch occurred oh January 7, 1946, with the firing of a modified version of the
German V-l rocket,' cabled. Loon.
In 1945, the Navy conducted a survey of 59 possible sites for a missile test
center, and again selected Point Mugu as the best available location in- the U.S.
On October 1,‘1946, The. Naval Air Missile Test Center was formally commissioned
and test proceeded on early missile such as loon, Lark, Gargoyle, Little-John ,
and Rigel. The first Lark flight took place in April 1946. These were the Navy’s
first steps toward the Spdce Age. . •*
The Navy acquired more than 4000 acres ot Point Mggu real estate and programmed
$70 million for construction and runways, hangers, test facilities, laboratories,
and communication networks.
The off-shore island-San Nicolas, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and Anacapa—became
part of the expanding new sea test range which extended 150 nautical miles sea
ward from Point Mugu and was 74 nautical miles at its widest part,From these be
ginnings, the Pacific Missile Range has expanded to its present size and scope.