Pershing Weapon System

Original oil painting signed Phil Colprit

Painting is of Pershing missile being fired from a mobile platform near a coastal area. Very detailed in realistic style.
Painting was property of my father-in Law Spillman N Fitzpatrick Jr (now deceased) who was a Pershing Missile Battalion Commander 1964 thru 1967 Schwaebisch Gmuend Germany.
My wife, his daughter, is now with the Central AR Veterans Health Care Center and this painting is hanging in her office which is an appropriate place for such an important depiction of US military history.
 
I'm a bit late seeing this post, but just wanted to add my two cents. Those were magnificent paintings and was good to see them go to the son of the artist.

All the Pershing information posted was correct ... I was a Pershing Missile Crewman in Neckarsulm, Germany in 1967-68 on the Pershing 1 Missile, which is the one depicted in the paintings. There was never anything classified in those paintings ... the warhead wasn't even in them, unless in the one not displayed. Dummy warheads were used all the time for public displays, which we did even in Germany. If you see one with a flat black warhead, don't look! And all the missiles were crushed long ago. :)
 
Not all. There are two remaining. They went to the Smithsonian. One was sent to Russia in exchange for an SS20.

Also the Pershing, Pershing 1A, and Pershing II have been mentioned. When the Luftwaffe's Pershings were range limited by SALT a single stage version of the P II was developed for them with about the same range as their P 1A, the Pershing 1B.
 
I see that I'm late the party as usual. Back around 2000 when I worked in Kuwait a set of classified M1 Abrams tech manuals was found at a Kuwaiti flea market.
 
Wow, an old thread, but here's my 2 cents. I was assigned to a maintenance battalion that provided direct and general support maintenance to 56th FA Brigade, back when I was a new 2LT back in 1977. One of the DS maintenance companies was up in Heilbronn and my particular company did general support maintenance for the M686/M757 transporters and the fire support computers.

Best of all, my future wife was assigned to HHB, 3/84 FA. She started out as a 31E and the battery commander's driver. Leter he convinced her to go to OCS.
 
In the early 80s as we began placing P2 missiles in Europe-President Reagan began a tremendous build up of force facing the soviets. Part of this was the ability to reinforce CENTAG / NORTHAG with 3rd Corps out of Ft. Hood. During exercises, as we would build up in the staging area-the soviets would launch chemical weapons to stop us-The Commander NORTHAG would get authorization for selective nuclear release- and part of that response was P2-By 1990 we (WE) changed the face of Europe-During REFORGER 1987 we walked the talk by bringing 3 Corps over- P2 was a huge threat to the soviets-I wonder if children are taught today that our nation (and NATO) brought freedom to Eastern Europe-by destroying the soviet monster.
 
jdh said:
When?

We had M686 trucks?
Click to expand...

She just told me I had the wrong battalion. She was in HHB, 1/81 at Wiley Barracks in Neu Ulm. She was there from 1979 to almost 1981.

I remember the M686 trucks because as a GS maintenance shop officer I had the unfortunate distinction of having one in my shop for almost two years, waiting on parts. Since the M757 tractor and the M656 were unique to the 56th FA Bde, parts weren't always easy to get and had long lead times.
 
I was in W Germany in the mid 70's. These were in our Division 3RD ID in Schweinfurt. I was part of a Nuclear Field Artillery Battalion. 1/10th
Yeah... our plan was to go to the Fulda Gap, launch a nuclear artillery round all of 7 miles...and bogggie as fast as we could in the other direction. I was always happy we did not have to execute that plan!
Nice prints Crabtree.. they bring back memories.
 
ChuckS1 said:
She just told me I had the wrong battalion. She was in HHB, 1/81 at Wiley Barracks in Neu Ulm. She was there from 1979 to almost 1981.

I remember the M686 trucks because as a GS maintenance shop officer I had the unfortunate distinction of having one in my shop for almost two years, waiting on parts. Since the M757 tractor and the M656 were unique to the 56th FA Bde, parts weren't always easy to get and had long lead times.
Click to expand...

About the same time I was in HHB 3/84. There was a Blonde haired blue eyed female 31E in the Commo platoon there about that time.

I married a TRC-80 operating redhead in 1978 while at HHB 3/9 just before going back to 3/84 the second time. Met her while teacher her to drive the M656. Hard to believe in a few days it will be 35 years.
 
Last edited:
I was associated with Pershing as a soldier from 1972-1979, and a contract civilian from 1982-1990. I am a historian of the Pershing missile systems P1, P1a, and P2. If you would be willing to part with the prints, name your price as I would like to include them in the Field Artillery Museum in Fort Sill, OK.
 
I was assigned as a platoon leader with D, 1st Bn, 41st FA in March 1972 stationed at Bismarck Kasern. We had the P1a with the wheeled M757 EL's. One battery was kept at the field site 24/7 on a rotational basis with live "special weapons" mounted and the birds counted down to ten minutes to launch and held there. Targets were top secret, but we assuming Soviet launch sites and airfields in East Germany. 56th FA brigade was the only artillery unit in the army with an assigned infantry battalion in support.

Fortunately, I never got a chance to launch one.
 
Interested in selling my 5 Pershing prints.

stdatdeacon said:
I was associated with Pershing as a soldier from 1972-1979, and a contract civilian from 1982-1990. I am a historian of the Pershing missile systems P1, P1a, and P2. If you would be willing to part with the prints, name your price as I would like to include them in the Field Artillery Museum in Fort Sill, OK.
Click to expand...

stdatdeacon,
I notice your interest in discussing possibly purchasing Pershing Prints. I was lucky enough to et my hands on 5 from an Estate sale from a neighbor who I have had the luxury to meet a few times. I can tell you one thing for sure his past was very interesting to say the least. I can tell you more about these and sent you pictures or do what ever it is we need to do. This is not something I normally do or ever done for that matter. But when I read your post to the other gentleman I figured I would contact you. I can give you my number or email if you would like or we can discuss more over this forum. I can actually post them to the forum and we can go from there.
Thanks in advance,
Michael M
 
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