British deployment of PGM-17 Thor ballistic missiles
Project Emily
Thor missile T-110 (left of English Electric Lightning) in RAF Museum Cosford
Commercial?
No
Type of project
Missile deployments
Country
United Kingdom
Prime Minister(s)
Harold Macmillan
Key people
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Established
1959
Disestablished
1963
Project Emily was the deployment of American-built Thor intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) in the United Kingdom between 1959 and 1963. Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command operated 60 Thor missiles, dispersed to 20 RAF air stations, as part of the British nuclear deterrent.
Due to concerns over the buildup of Soviet missiles, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower met Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in Bermuda in March 1957 to explore the possibility of short-term deployment of IRBMs in the United Kingdom until the long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) were deployed. The October 1957 Sputnik crisis caused this plan to be expedited. The first Thor missile arrived in the UK on a Douglas C-124 Globemaster II transport aircraft in August 1958, and was delivered to the RAF in September.
RAF crews periodically visited the United States for training, culminating in 21 operational training launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, 59 of the missiles, with their W49 1.44-megaton-of-TNT (6.0 PJ) thermonuclear warheads, were brought to operational readiness. The Thor missile force was disbanded in 1963, and the missiles were returned to the United States, where most were expended in military space shots.
In October 2012 the former launch sites at RAF Harrington and RAF North Luffenham were granted listed status.
ProjectEmily was the deployment of American-built Thor intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) in the United Kingdom between 1959 and 1963. Royal...
Emily Jordan Osment (born March 10, 1992) is an American actress, singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Osment began her career as a...
Emily Joanna Carey (born 30 April 2003) is an English actress. She began her career as a child actor on stage and in the BBC One soap opera Casualty (2014–2017...
Emily Irene VanCamp (/ˌvænˈkæmp/; born May 12, 1986) is a Canadian actress. She first came to prominence for her work with producer Greg Berlanti, who...
Emily Hampshire is a Canadian-American actress. Her best known roles include Angelina in the 1998 romantic comedy Boy Meets Girl, Vivienne in the 2006...
Emily Jane Browning (born 7 December 1988) is an Australian actress. She made her film debut in the television film The Echo of Thunder (1998), and subsequently...
Emily O'Hara Ratajkowski (/ˌrætəˈkaʊski/, Polish: [ratajˈkɔfskʲi]; born June 7, 1991) is an American model and actress. Born in London to American parents...
Emily Rose Compagno (born November 9, 1979) is an American attorney, TV host, and former National Football League (NFL) cheerleader. She is co-host of...
Missiles (IRBMs) that were operated by the RAF from 1959 to 1963 under ProjectEmily. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the RAF's bombers and Thor missiles...
Emily Burns Strayer (née Erwin, previously Robison; born August 16, 1972) is an American songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and a founding member...
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (December 10, 1830 – May 15, 1886) was an American poet. Little-known during her life, she has since been regarded as one of...
Emily Bader is an American actress. Her films include Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin (2021) and Fresh Kills (2023). From Temecula, California, she studied...
Emily Savitri Haines (born 25 January 1974) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She is the lead singer, keyboardist and songwriter of the rock band Metric...
Amanda Clarke, formerly known by the pseudonym Emily Thorne (also known as Emily Grayson), is a fictional character and the protagonist of the ABC television...
Emily Jean "Emma" Stone (born November 6, 1988) is an American actress and producer. Her accolades include two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film...
Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra (born November 19, 1961), known professionally as Meg Ryan, is an American actress. Known for her leading roles as quirky...
Emily in Paris is an American romantic comedy-drama television series created by Darren Star for Netflix. The series stars Lily Collins as aspiring marketing...
Emily Joanne Axford is an American actress, writer, and producer. She is best known for her various roles in CollegeHumor videos, her role as Emily on...
Missiles operated by the RAF from 1959 to 1963 under Project Emily. The British Army acquired Project E warheads for its Corporal missiles in 1958. The US subsequently...
first film, returned to score and write the songs, while Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear replace Lin-Manuel Miranda as additional songwriters. Moana 2 is scheduled...
Emily Alyn Lind (born 2001/2002) is an American actress. She began her career as a child actress, when she was known for her recurring role as young Amanda...
Emily Post (née Price; c. October 27, 1872 – September 25, 1960) was an American author, novelist, and socialite famous for writing about etiquette. Post...
for Project Runway's 13th season and has merchandised the accessory wall with an assortment of products. In 2016, Fäde zu Grau, Mitchell Perry, Emily Payne...
Global Information