NAVY NUCLEAR WEAPONS ASSOCIATION

                                                                                       “KEEPERS of the DRAGON”  ©TM

President’s Message

Hola Miembro’s,

A little Spanish lesson for those of you attending NNWA annual reunion in Albuquerque, NM. I have tried to make this reunion as inviting and memorable as I can. As you can see, I did this year’s reunion in-house like we used to do some years back, you will find the reservation form

attached to this bulletin, we are trying to figure out how to make it so you can do it online, but may not, and you will have to print the form and mail a check or money order into Don Schultz. Sorry but we are new at this new system and Guy Clemons is working hard on learning the

system. As many of you members know when I was voluntold that I would be hosting this reunion I like MLK had a dream, the dream was to honor our work as Navy Weapons Technicians and with your help and many ulcers and headaches I (we) have accomplished this and the Dream will become a reality, On November 2 2026, We will dedicate an Obelisk dedicated to the three rates  NW, GMT and WT that were the backbone of the field that started in Albuquerque at what was Sandia Base, now Kirtland Air Force Base. I modeled it somewhat after the Obelisk that is at Trinity Site at White Sands, NM. I would like to thank the members who contributed to the

project. We had a few widows of members that contributed to honor their departed loved ones, we had one family that donated in honor of their husband and father who passed in Dec 2025. In other news the NNWA needs a few members to step up and join the Board we are down one board member, and we have other positions opening in the near future. The association will not continue to run without you! So, if you are interested, please let me or VP Ray know. We are always actively seeking new members so hit up your old shipmates and tell them about all the fun we have! We need some young blood! If you just want to attend the Memorial dedication on Monday November 2^nd it will start at 12:30 at the New Mexico Veteran’s Memorial Park at 1100 Louisiana Blvd SE #5009, Albuquerque, NM 87108. You will be responsible for your own transportation to and from the event, there is no cost to attend.

 Richard E Gurule

President

Vice-President’s Message

Shipmates,

You are again invited to review the NNWA By-Laws and SOP/PDL to see if there are any changes or improvements you can submit for consideration.  This will also give you an opportunity to see how we operate for you as Keepers of the Dragon.

 Our Reunion 2026 in Albuquerque is shaping up to be another great one.  President Richard Gurule as the host has made great efforts to make it remarkable.  The highlight will be the dedication of the NW/GMT/WT Memorial in the city’s memorial park.  The 2027 Reunion will be held in New Orleans – great food in that town – interesting attractions on the shores of the Big Muddy.

The 2026 reunion brings the opportunity for any of you to become involved in the NNWA as a Board member.  We are always on the lookout for new blood as Board members.  Feel free to talk to any of the Board members to check out the satisfaction of being deeply involved in our continuing existence.

Ray Margeson

NNWA Vice President

Secretary’s Message

I had the honor of presenting our Gray Dragon with his plaque and NNWA gifts. Xavier has many stories and memories to share. His family and friends showed up in force for the presentation. Xavier made two very generous donations for the memorial. One was a personal and the other was a DVA donation of which he is the last living member of the chapter.

This year’s reunion is going to be the one to remember. The dedication of the Memorial will be a historical event for all of us. Richard has worked hard to make this event a reality.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in Albuquerque.

If I can be of assistance to anyone just let me know.

 Tony Pass

Secretary, NNWA

434-250-6578

Treasurer’s Message

Treasurer’s Message

As treasurer and keeper of the roster, let me welcome our new and reinstated members since the last newsletter.  They are:

                 Tracy Miller                          John Vaccarella

                 Jackie Knick                         Richard Wagenaar   

                 Rodney Creager Jr               Stephen Cline       

We currently have 907 members on the membership roster; 385 members in good standing; 85 life members (spouses of deceased members); 437 past members (members with unpaid dues for three years); 90 members with dues in arrears.

 Past members can be reinstated by sending the $10.00

reinstatement fee plus $15.00 annual fee, for a total of $25.00. They will then be reinstated as a new member.  If you are late paying your dues, you must pay a $10.00 reinstatement fee plus the annual fee for each year requested.

 If you are unsure whether your dues are up to date and you receive your newsletter by mail, look at the date in the upper right corner of the mailing which shows the month and year to which your dues are paid.  If you receive your newsletter electronically, log onto our website and check your membership status there in

the membership roster. The dues date will be listed in the date column to the right of your name.

The current membership roster is posted on our website.  Members not on-line can request a hard copy of the roster by calling, writing or emailing:

Donald Schultz

573 Beaulieu Loop

The Villages, FL 32162

nnwatreasurerDonald@gmail.com

Phone 352-259 -1403

 Please review the roster at your leisure and notify the Treasurer or any board member of any changes in your status.

Currently, we have $12,357.23 on deposit with Wells Fargo Bank. When making a payment to the NNWA, please make checks payable to NNWA Treasurer or Donald Schultz NNWA Treasurer or Donald Schultz.  The bank will not accept checks made out any other way.  Please ensure that when sending checks to the NNWA that it is for the correct amount.

 Members that will be attending Reunion in Albuquerque, please remember that your dues must be current to attend.

 Donald K Schultz

Treasurer and Keeper of the Roster

Webmaster Message

Hello to the membership,

Well, an update to what is going on with the webpage and PayPal, we continue to have issues when using PayPal to renew dues and purchase items from the ship’s store. Some people have been able to use their PayPal to renew dues, and some are having issues. I for example could not use my PayPal to renew but I was able to renew using the option of Debt/Credit Card. The web designer has deactivated a plugin to hopefully solve some of the issues with PayPal there is an option to pay with a Debit/Credit Card. The June bulletin has all the information about the reunion, the hotel information, tours and pricing and dinner choices with pricing. Now on the main page of the webpage, in the box that says REUNION ’26 you will find the registration form and name tag and dinner choice that you will print out, fill it out and mail along with a check or money order to the treasurer. In that same box REUNION ’26 is also a link you can click on to make your hotel reservations instead of calling the hotel (now you can still call the hotel if you like to make your reservations). Just below the REUNION ’26 box you will find the registration form and name tag and dinner choice fillable form that you can pay by Debit/ Credit Card. Those are the 2 ways to register for the 2026 reunion.

On a different note if you have requested to get newsletters via email and are not getting the bulletins or any occasional email I send out about the webpage. Please email me with your email address so I can change it as needed to solve that issue. My email address is  askthechief1990@outlook.com The massive database of all NW’s, GMT’s and WT’s that served, that I maintain. The database currently has 4,060 records.

 Guy Clemons

Webmaster

(317) 285-8681

Historian’s Message

  Message from the Historian Well, as we go into summer, I hope everyone is doing OK. I Look forward to seeing y’all at the reunion in November in Albuquerque. For this summer bulletin. I thought I’d look at the Talos missile program and the W 30 warhead that was the nuclear component of this missile. This a bit before my time although I did see it on the Oklahoma City and the USS Chicago back in the late 70’s So here is brief on the Talos and W30 nuclear warhead. The RIM-8 Talos (initially designated SAM-N-6) stands as one of the most ambitious and technologically advanced surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) of the early Cold War era. Developed by the U.S. Navy as part of the Operation Bumblebee program, Talos was a long-range, ramjet powered interceptor designed to protect naval task forces from massed Soviet bomber attacks, including those potentially armed with nuclear weapons. Among its most distinctive features was the capability to carry a nuclear warhead, specifically the W30, providing an area denial option with a lethal radius far exceeding conventional explosives. This brief examines the development, technical specifications, nuclear variants, operational history, and legacy of the Talos system, with particular emphasis on its nuclear-equipped configurations. Deployed from the late 1950s until 1979, Talos represented the Navy’s “big missile” philosophy in an atomic age, balancing sophisticated guidance with the destructive power of low yield nuclear weapons. Historical Development The origins of Talos trace back to 1944 under the Navy’s Bureau of Ordnance. Operation Bumblebee sought to create supersonic, ramjet-propelled missiles capable of engaging high-altitude, high-speed threats beyond the reach of anti-aircraft guns or early fighters. The Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) at Johns Hopkins University played a central role in propulsion and guidance innovations, while Bendix Aviation Corporation served as the prime contractor. Early prototypes faced significant challenges: achieving reliable supersonic ramjet operation, developing beam riding guidance resistant to sea clutter, and integrating a nuclear warhead into the airframe. Supersonic beam riding was demonstrated in 1948. The first successful flight with a simulated nuclear warhead occurred in 1952-1953. The missile was officially named “Talos” after the mythical Greek bronze guardian, reflecting its role as a protector. Initial production versions entered service in 1958-1959 aboard converted cruisers like USS Galveston (CLG-3). The system evolved rapidly through several variants to improve range, guidance, and flexibility. By the early 1960s, the “Unified Talos” configuration allowed shipboard swapping of conventional and nuclear warheads, optimizing magazine space. Technical Specifications and Design the Talos was a large, two-stage missile. Key dimensions included: Length: Approximately 32 feet (9.8 m) overall. • Diameter: 28 inches (71 cm). • Wingspan: About 110 inches (280 cm). • Weight: Around 7,800-8,000 lbs (3,500-3,600 kg) including the solid-fuel booster (roughly 3,400 lbs for the missile alone). Propulsion consisted of a Hercules MK 11 solid-fueled rocket booster for initial acceleration, followed by a Bendix ramjet sustainer burning JP-5 fuel. This provided sustained Mach 2.5 speeds, with ranges varying from 50 nautical miles (early models) to over 100-130 nautical miles in extended variants. Service ceiling reached approximately 80,000 feet (24,400 m). Guidance relied primarily on radar beam-riding for

midcourse flight, with semi-active radar homing (SARH) for terminal phase in most conventional variants. The ship’s AN/SPG-49 or similar radars illuminated the target, while the missile used onboard receivers and control surfaces (fixed delta wings and movable tail fins) for corrections. Nuclear variants often omitted terminal homing antennas, as the warhead’s blast radius made pinpoint accuracy less critical. The conventional warhead was a 211-465 lb (various sources cite around 300-465 lb) continuous-rod high explosive (HE) design, creating a expanding ring of steel rods for lethal fragmentation against aircraft. Proximity or command fusing provided flexibility. Nuclear Warhead: The W30 The nuclear option was central to Talos’ role against saturation bomber raids. The W30 warhead (sometimes referenced as Mk 30) was a compact implosion-type device with a yield of approximately 2–5 kilotons (commonly cited as ~5 kt or 4.7 kt for Talos applications). It measured about 22 inches in diameter and 48 inches long, weighing 438–490 lbs depending on the Mod. Approximately 300 W30 warheads were produced for Talos between 1959 and 1965. It was also used in the Tactical Atomic Demolition Munition (TADM). The smaller diameter of the W30 (compared to earlier designs) allowed integration into the Talos airframe by modifying the inner body section around the ramjet inlet. Nuclear Variants: RIM-8B (SAM-N-6bW): Nuclear version of the baseline RIM-8A. Lacked SARH terminal guidance. • RIM-8D (SAM-N-6bW1): Nuclear extended-range variant based on the RIM-8C. • RIM-8E “Unified Talos”: Most flexible model (from 1962), allowing onboard swapping of HE or W30 warheads. Featured improved continuous-wave (CW) seekers and solid-state electronics. The nuclear warhead used command detonation, with the large lethal radius enabling effective engagement of bomber formations even with beam-riding guidance alone. This capability also offered secondary surface-to surface or land-attack potential. Shipboard Systems and Deployment Talos required substantial infrastructure: large magazines, complex handling systems (often described as shipboard assembly lines), and powerful radars. It equipped Galveston-class cruisers (converted Cleveland class light cruisers) and later ships like USS Little Rock, Oklahoma City, and the nuclear-powered USS Long Beach. Typically, two missiles could be guided simultaneously. Ships carried mixed loads of conventional and nuclear missiles. Nuclear safety protocols were stringent, with dedicated storage and handling procedures. The system’s size limited it to larger hulls, influencing the parallel development of smaller Terrier and Tartar missiles. Operational History and Effectiveness Talos achieved initial operational capability in 1959. While never used in nuclear mode, it saw conventional combat in the Vietnam War. Ships like USS Chicago and Long Beach fired Talos missiles, scoring at least three MiG kills and conducting anti-radiation (ARM) strikes against North Vietnamese radars using modified RIM-8H/G variants. The nuclear capability served primarily as a deterrent within the broader U.S. naval air defense layered strategy —complementing carrier aircraft and point-defense systems. Its long range allowed early engagement of threats, with the nuclear option addressing massed attacks where conventional warheads might be saturated. Limitations included vulnerability to electronic countermeasures (jamming), large size/weight, and high cost per shot. Maintenance of the ramjet and complex radar systems was demanding. Retirement and Legacy Talos were gradually phased out in the 1970s as the Standard Missile family (RIM-66/67) offered greater versatility in smaller packages. The last operational firing occurred in 1979 from USS Oklahoma City. Many retired missiles were converted into MQM-8 Vandal supersonic target drones, serving until the mid-2000s. The Talos program advanced ramjet technology, beam riding guidance, and nuclear integration concepts that influenced later systems. It embodied the Navy’s Cold War emphasis on long-range fleet defense in a nuclear threat environment. Today, preserved examples and museum displays (e.g., aboard USS Little Rock) highlight its engineering sophistication. Conclusion The nuclear-equipped Talos missile system was a pinnacle of 1950s-1960s naval engineering—a ramjet powered giant capable of delivering conventional precision or low-yield nuclear devastation across vast distances. While its nuclear role remained unused in anger, it underscored the era’s strategic realities: the need for overwhelming defensive firepower against existential aerial threats. With roughly 300 W30 warheads produced and deployed across a handful of cruisers, Talos contributed to the U.S. Navy’s deterrent posture throughout the Cold War. Its retirement marked the shift toward more compact, multi-role missiles, but its legacy endures in the history of naval air defense. In conclusion, I hope everyone has a happy and prosperous summer and fall, and again I look forward to seeing y’all in November at the reunion. Tracey “Mac” McDaniels historian

Future Reunions

The 41^st reunion of the NNWA in 2026 will be held in:

Region:              Western US

Location:            Albuquerque, NM

Host:                  Richard Gurule

The 42^nd reunion of the NNWA in 2027 will be held in:

Region:              Central US

Location:            New Orleans, LA

Host:                  Tyrus George

Upcoming Reunion Information

TOUR & DINNER INFORMATION

Tour #1- Monday Nov 2, National Museum of Nuclear Science & History.

Catered BBQ lunch at New Mexico Veterans Memorial and Memorial dedication ceremony $80 per person (9am-4pm)

Tour #1- Memorial dedication ONLY (Free Admission) BBQ lunch for members and spouses.

NOTE: You will be responsible for your own transportation to and from the venue.

Tour #2- Tuesday Nov 3, The Atomic City: Los Alamos Bus ride on one of the most scenic drives out of Santa Fe, visit 2 museums, including the Bradbury Science on the way back to the hotel we will stop in one of the casinos for a 60-90 minute rest/ lunch (buy your own meal) $78 per person 10:30am-4pm)

Tour #3- Wednesday Nov 4, Treasures and traditions: A grand tour of NM and the southwest, Petroglyph Park, Acoma (Sky City) 900’s AD, Lunch at the café and visit museum and gift shop $104 per person (8am-3pm

DINNER/ DANCE THURSDAY NOV 5

 Cocktail hour will run from 6pm-7pm. Dinner will start at 7pm, dancing and entertainment to follow.

 DINNER CHOICES

 All meals include salad, dinner roll, seasoned vegetable medley, appropriate starch chef’s choice, dessert, iced tea and coffee service

 BEEF ENTRÉE – Grilled Flank Steak seasoned and served with Au Jus $50PP

 CHICKEN ENTRÉE – Bone in Uptown Farmers Market Chicken Roasted, herb. Marinated chicken breast with a Tangy Glaze.     $50PP

 FISH ENTRÉE – Grilled Salmon, seasoned with lemon and dill.   $50PP