Show Missiles Firing This Week From New Blanding Range The army plans to conduct the first of n a short series of Pershing ballistic missile firIngs fir fir- Ings from near Blanding to impact areas within White Sands Missile fissile Range this week Tactical conditions will be simulated throughout the firing fir lir- ing operation a service test to determine If the PershIng s system stem meets t the desired mi ml cb characteristics when Used by troops in the field The firing units will wIlt be A Battery nl 2nd Missile Battal ion lon Artillery from Ft V gill tyl I Okla Donald Phipps Is battery commander Similar Pershing tests last month were conducted from Hueco Range flange part of 01 the Ft Bliss Texas installation info I IWhite White Sands Additional firings after completion of 01 the Blanding series which will last lat about two weeks also are scheduled scheduled sched sched- tiled from near Ft WIngate NM All these there tests are being be ing conducted by the U. U S. S Army Artillery Boards Board's Missile Mis Mis- sUe silo Division Ft Sill Arrangements for land and nil air safety have been made for lor these tests Concerning such off range off range firings their safety safety safe safe- ty and success was demonstrated demonstrated demon demon- in May 1963 when three Ser Sergeant ant were fred fIred from a site near Datil NM and impacted on White Sands Missile Range Pershing Is 34 feet long and 40 inches In diameter It ItIs Itis Is Js a two stage solid propellant propel propel- lant missile guided by an in inertial in in- erUal system within the mis mis- silo sile Prime contractor for Pershing Pershing Pershing Per- Per shing Is Martin Company Orlando Orlndo Orlando Or Or- lando Florida Division |