convairgeneraldynamicsatlas

Last of the Surveyor lunar landing spacecraft is boosted aloft by Atlas-Centaur 15 on the morning of January 7, 1968. The mission was a success.

Atlas-Centaur 15 1st stage: Atlas SLV-3 2nd stage: Centaur Launched 07 Jan 1968 from ETR 36A Payload: Suveyor 7

Here's a link to a flight report for Atlas-Centaur 15: ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19700011207...

Interesting fact is that due to a hurricane Atlas 80D was taken down for safe keeping and then sent back to LC-12 in September 1960.

"SAC Chief Congratulates Convair On First Operational Launching" (Convairiety, Vol. 12, No. 20, September 30, 1959). "AF Atlas Launch First of Series from Vandenberg. Headlines across the nation and abroad last week proclaimed the first Air Force launching of an Atlas missile from Vandenberg AFB, California. Already in motion are plans for future launchings by other Air Force crews. September 9 (1959) saw a Strategic Air Command (SAC) crew from the 576th Strategic Missile Squadron send Atlas 12D on a 4,300-mile flight which terminated near Wake Island. Capt. Gerald J. Winchell, launch control officer for crew No. 1, pressed the launch button at 10:49 am. Around him in the blockhouse were other members of this crew, plus select Convair technicians to assist as needed. Gen. Thomas Power, SAC commander, reported elation in the event at a post-flight briefing. 'It's operational; I'm more than satisfied,' General Power said." (Convairiety Vol. 12, No. 19, September 16, 1959)