Atlas Missile Combat Crew

Crewed America's first operational ICBM — a liquid-fueled, often above-ground or "coffin"-stored Atlas D/E/F.

The Story

A two-officer crew controlled three Atlas D missiles at once. The fuel was so volatile that the only safe way to launch was to roll the missile out of its coffin, fuel it on the pad, and hope the launch order came before the seals failed.