No, Cape Canaveral (Cape Kennedy) was not the first rocket base in the USA. Thanks to one of our Members who put a 'bug' in my ear about two years ago about possible existence of this old rocket base, I contacted one person after another, each had a possible fragment of information or could put me in contact with someone else who did - and we finally located the facility with not one, but at least THREE launch sites.

In the closing moments of World War II, the US built a rocket base in a remote part of the country, which operated until sometime in 1947 or 1948 when the facility was no longer needed. The difficult part of this search was that this launch facility is on an active military base and of course, in a high-security section of that base, so it was not a good idea to plan on walking through the brush to the site as we have been known to do in other parts of the world - security on an American base of this type would see us in an embarrassing situation quickly.

We located the gentleman who had the authority to grant permission for us to go to this area and take photos and videotapes, and with his kind help and that of his assistant, we were scheduled to visit with BUD DANA (245-A/LIFE-1987) who has become quite an expert on tunnel and bunker systems of the world.

Well, BUD and STELLA made it to the area, but unfortunately, I had some work done on my motorhome the day before by a mechanic who should really be sweeping streets, and got only 130 miles toward our goal when it became obvious that the motorhome was going nowhere but back home in an effort to hopefully save a very expensive motor.

Thanks to the two gentlemen at the base (who probably do not want their names mentioned for security reasons) BUD and STELLA were able to see some real history, take videotapes and photos of early American rocketry - including some rockets still lying about! We hope to have some photos by the time this issue of our KTB Magazine goes to press.

More US First Rocket Base

1945-1948
Blockhouse and V-1 Photos