The first of the Texas Towers," artificial islands that will serve as offshore radar warning stations for the U.S., was ceremoniously doused with champagne last week and started down the ways at Bethlehem Steel's Quincy, Mass. shipyard. Although failure of a launching mechanism temporarily delayed its maiden plunge, the triangular platform was sched. uled to be towed out to sea, carrying long pilings which will be thrust into the ocean bottom about 100 miles east of Cape Cod in 50-foot-deep water over the continental shelf. When the pilings are securely fastened down at its three corners, the platform will be jacked up on them to a height of 67 feet above water level, out of reach of the biggest waves. The pilings will be filled with concrete.
Named for offshore Gulf of Mexico oil drilling rigs which are the basis of the design, the five islands now planned will form a chain covering some 1,000 miles along the eastern coast. Manned by crews of about 70, the islands will function in the Continental Air Defense Command's net work to give precious extra minutes of warning if enemy aircraft approach.
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