This historical presentation of Redstone Arsenal's development of the Redstone missile
and its progeny, the Jupiter SM-78 weapon system under Wernher von Braun's
direction, of Chrysler Corporation Missile Division's Installation and Checkout Teams
(I&C Teams) including I&C Team II’s installation and verification activities in Turkey
during the years 1961-1962, is that as seen from the perspective of George L. Smith,
then a 19-year old member of the team.
File: Jupiter-SM78-Vs9--20220416_0808
THE OTHER MISSILES OF OCTOBER
Jupiter SM-78 Weapon System
I&C Team 2, Çigli AB, Turkey 1961-1962
Chrysler Corporation Missile Division
During the Cold War years of 1960-1962 the United States, in cooperation with its
Italian and Turkish NATO allies, installed Jupiter nuclear missile sites in Italy and
Turkey as front-line protections for Italy, Turkey, Europe and the United States
against Russia's ever-increasing belligerence throughout the world. Russia likewise
then installed nuclear missile countermeasures in Cuba. It was the discovery of
Russia's missiles in Cuba by a United States U-2 reconnaissance aircraft flyover that
precipitated the ensuing missile crisis of October, 1962 between the United States,
Russia, and Cuba which brought these countries to the brink of nuclear war.