05/28/1960
What's in a missile name? First, take the prototype of all missiles, the V-2. The designation V-2 was given by Allied forces. To the Germans it was known as the A-4-fourth in a series of avenger weapons.
When the V-2 was being tested here, a series of missiles was being developed with the cooperation of the California Institute of the California Institute of Technology. This series are military titles-Private, Privateer, and WAC Corporal.
Anyhow, the Corporal was the first tactical missile. Later a little more advanced from was named Sergeant.
Military Titles Started
Then came a change in naming practice. A new group of missiles was needed which would be surface-to-surface as Sergeant but larger. It was suggested the missile be name Ursa, for the brilliant constellation.
Ursa gave way to Major, to keep the military title series going. The Chief of Ordinance finally decided on Redstone, in honor of Redstone Arsenal. A similar decision fasted the name Pershing to the next surface-to-surface group.
The most interesting story surrounds the name selection Honest John. One account has it that an ordnance officer from Texas was so enthusiastic about the missile that he made extravagant claims. He was so exuberant skeptics accused him of telling tall Texas tales.
"Why, gentlemen," he replied, "around these parts I'm known as Honest John." So the missile was name. The name John became associated with field artillery free-flight rockets. when a requirement was raised for lighter and smaller version-that version became Little John. This one is transportable and can be used by airborne troops.
'Hones John' Aptly Named
The most promising cognomen was Demi John, For some reason it never was developed.
Lacrosse was a missile developed by the Navy. The Army accepted and kept it even though the name had been given by a Navy officer. The appearance of another missile accounts for its name. This is the Redeye, a shoulder-launched guided missile system. Its construction is such that the contamination of two mirrors in the nose of the missile looks like a huge eye.
Nobody seems to know why the Hawk has its name. However, a former artillery officer, Colonel Pete Peca, claims it comes from the words, "Home all the way to the target intercept," which became shortened to Homing-All-the-Way-Killer.
Nike Came From Greek
Last of the group, but probably most important, is the Nike family, Nike was the Greek goddess of victory.
The name was conceived late in World War II.
The first one was known simply as Nike, and was incapable of carrying the payload required. Later they became known as Nike Ajax and Nike Hercules respectively, after the swift Greek hero, Ajax, and the might Greek man of muscle Hercules.
It was only natural that, when the third generation came along, the name of the chief Olympian god Zeus should be used. He was god of the elements and the Thunderbird is his sign. Zeus is also god of law and order.
Following the same pattern, the names Loki, god of mischief, for the low-flying missile, and Jupiter, Roman equivalent of Zeus, were given to later missiles.
Giving the missiles attractive nicknames for the befit of the public has quickened the imagination of many an officer.
The nicknames mean much more to the layman than some code name of letters and figures, such as YV-123456-Z2.
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