ABSTRACT
A top level scientific survey commissioned by the Air Force Chief of Staff, General Henry Arnold, concluded just after the war that long-range ballistic rockets were feasible. It added, however, that such weapons were not likely to be available until the distant future. For the present, Air Force attention should be devoted to manned aircraft and particularly toward the almost equally new jet airplanes. If any effort were to be devoted to long-range missiles, it should proceed cautiously by way of slower, less revolutionary, air-breathing vehicles. This judgment led to emphasis upon the air-breathing Snark and Navaho-a priority that continued into the 1950s. A June 1947 Air Force report on missile development placed long-range, surface-to-surface missiles at the fourth level of priority and stressed missile types that could increase bomber and fighter
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capabilities. More important.. .ballistic rockets were excluded from the already down-played long-range efforts. Air Force Research on long-distance ballistic missiles was cancelled in 1947, not to be revived until 1951 and then only at a minimal level and under the influence of Korea induced defense spending increases.4
