Toftoy, Holger N. (1903–1967)
Career United States Army officer and an expert in ordnance, who was responsible
for bringing the German rocket team under the leadership of Wernher von
Braun to America in 1945. The idea for the Bumper-WAC
was his. Toftoy became commander of the Redstone
Arsenal, Huntsville, in 1954 and worked closely with von Braun's teams
in the development of the Redstone and
Jupiter missiles. In the aftermath
of Sputnik 1 in 1957, he persuaded the Department
of Defense to allow the launch of America's first Earth-orbiting satellite
aboard the Jupiter missile with the result that Explorer
1 was placed in orbit on Jan. 31, 1958. He also held a number of other positions
in the Army, including head of the Rocket Research Branch of the Chief of
Ordnance in Washington, D.C., and commander of the Aberdeen
Proving Ground in Maryland. He retired from the Army in 1960 with the
rank of major general.
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