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[Early Space Program]
Collier Trophy Awarded to the United States Air Force Convair division of General Dynamics Corporation for the Atlas Program
Auction Closed
July 15, 04:56 PM GMT
Estimate
5,000 - 8,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Collier Trophy awarded to the United States Air Force CONVAIR Division of General Dynamics Corporation, dated 1959. Bronze trophy measures 8.5 x 8.5 x 13.5 inches tall.
Metal plaque on front of trophy reads: "THE COLLIER TROPHY / FOUNDED 1911 BY ROBERT J. COLLIER" and "1959 AWARD / UNITED STATE AIR FORCE/ CONVAIR DIVISION OF GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION/SPACE TECHNOLOGY LABORATORIES, INC. / FOR DEVELOPING, TESTING, PRODUCING, AND PUTTING INTO / OPERATION THE ATLAS, AMERICA'S FIRST INTERCONTINENTAL / BALLISTIC MISSILE, SO VITAL TO THE SECURITY AND SPACE / EXPLORATION NEEDS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE FREE WORLD."
Metal plaque on the back of the trophy reads: "AWARDED ANNUALLY BY / NATIONAL AERONAUTIC / ASSOCIATION / FOR THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT / IN AVIATION IN AMERICA THE / VALUE OF WHICH HAS BEEN / THOROUGHLY DEMONSTRATED / BY ACTUAL USE DURING THE / PRECEDING YEAR."
A COLLIER TROPHY AWARDED TO COMMEMORATE THE DEVELOPMENT AND LAUNCH OF THE UNITED STATES' FIRST INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE, A MAJOR STEPPING STONE IN THE UNITED STATES' ROCKET PROGRAM.
Developed by General Dynamics and CONVAIR for the USAF, the Atlas was the first operational intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the United States' arsenal and officially marked the start of the United States space program.