From The Archives: A New Matador
The cover of our March 5, 1956, issue featured technicians checking out the latest version of Martin’s Matador ground-to-ground tactical missile, the TM-61B.
The new, longer-bodied weapon had successfully completed a series of test firings at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. The new missile featured a larger nose section and was equipped with an entirely new airborne guidance system that helped boost its range to 500 mi.
The Air Force had placed a new order for this version of the Matador earlier in the year. The original Martin MGM-1 Matador was the first operational surface-to-surface cruise missile designed and built by the United States.
Martin developed the weapon after World War II, drawing upon its experience copying the German V-1 in the form of the Republic-Ford JB-2. About 1,000 Matador missiles were ultimately carried in the U.S. Air Force inventory.
See the cover and read the full issue dated March 5 1956 | Aviation Week
See more images and further information can be found on page 37.
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