Fellow Missileers

The calendar says that Spring will arrive later this month but from what I have seen of weather in the northern part of the United States, it usually means that flood control operations are in the final stages of preparation! A look at the calendar also reminds me that the Board needs to give final approval at our 8 March Board of Directors meeting for the 2026 National Meeting location.  Speaking of the Board, Tom Cullen has stepped down from his board duties to devote his full attention to some health issues.  Last month, the Board unanimously approve the nomination of Col (ret) Anita Feugate-Opperman to fill the remainder of Tom’s term (through May 2026). Anita recently retired from active-duty in Colorado Springs but is already taking on the world as a defense contractor.  We expect her to bring her typical level of energy to our Board.  Please join me in a big thanks to Tom for all he continues to do for our community and welcome Anita into her new position on the board.


For Retirees...Replace Your Old Blue ID Cards by 31 Dec 2025

The old blue ID cards will no longer be accepted after 31 Dec 2025. The new ones are white and will not have an embedded chip as previously reported. Even if your old blue card says Indefinite, retirees must replace them before 31 Dec 2025. Members can do it online, or in person on base. In person generally requires an appointment. Members need to do this early to avoid the rush 

Advocacy: Active-Duty Moves are Having BIG $20 Billion Problems:

The summer moves are quickly approaching and like other career fields we have active duty missileers moving families to their new assignment’s. At issue is the $20 billion Global Household Goods Contract (GHC), awarded to HomeSafe Alliance (HSA) in November 2021, which was supposed to fix long-standing issues associated with PCS moves. Instead, three years into the “phased in approach” of the 20 billion GHC contract, military families are still facing significant delays, divided accountability, higher out-of-pocket costs, and an inability to rely on the very system meant to support them. The link below highlights the serious issues with HSA.  After reading it, you may want to talk or write to your Congressional representatives. As MASH’s Colonel Potter would say, “This is a lot of Horsepucky”.

Want to know more? Summer Moves

Titan II reunion-381 SMW

A small cadre of former 381st missileers has started planning a possible 381 SMW reunion.  Our goal is to hold the reunion in 2026.  We envision a full weekend event with former 381SMW wing alumni.  John Gottlieb (Ops 1979-1986) is leading the effort.  Over time, we’d like to fill a small reunion committee, which could become a standing body for follow on events. If you are a former 381 SMW alumni – ops, maintainers, cops, wing staff and others that might be interested in attending, they are building a database of names and contact info to share information as planning evolves.  Please send your contact info to 381SMWReunion@gmail.com so they can share information as it is developed.

What’s Up with Sentinel?

The Air Force has paused work on launch facilities for the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program due to significant cost overruns and restructuring efforts, as of February 12, 2025. The program, intended to replace the aging Minuteman III missiles, is facing delays and increased costs, with the total projected cost now exceeding $140 billion.

The Air Force has suspended work on the design, testing, and construction of launch facilities. This decision follows a review process triggered by the program's cost overruns, which have increased the total cost by at least 37% over the initial estimate of $95.3 billion.

Want to know more? Sentinel Paused

MEANWHILE, China and Russia are rapidly expanding their advanced nuclear missile arsenals. For example, according to Newsweek Russia deployed autonomous launchers of the RS-24 Yars, ICBM that can be armed with multiple nuclear warheads, on combat patrol routes on February 19, 2025.   Mobile systems make up around 50% of its ICBM force and China continues to field its first mobile DF41 ICBM. China is also fielding and developing a range of new nuclear capabilities that include a large buildup of nuclear missile silos. Russia/China ICBM buildup

(L) RS-24 Deployment                            (R) Sarmat silo launch failure

Elite Force: Nuclear Operators Maintainers and Security Forces

The United States has only three remaining operational nuclear Minuteman Missile Wings. To keep the aging 450 MM missiles launch ready, the people supporting the force have had to become more adaptive and innovative. Jay Leno, a classic car collector said, "I like cars that are built ahead of their times, because they were built to a higher standard than the consumer needed”. Cars like his 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T and its Hemi power plant are similar to Minuteman III as it too was built to a higher standard. The plated wire memory, although not used now is a “higher standard” example.  
See: Plated Wire Memory

The first Minuteman III missile was placed in alert status on August 19, 1970, in the 741st Strategic Missile Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota with technology ahead of its time. In the 70’s the ICBM fleet had the support of some of the best engineers and technicians that originally designed and built MM III.

Now those people have “timed out” and our missileers have to be more adaptive and innovative to identify ways to fix problems. Remote Code Change called Olympic Step is just one example of missileer innovations. Our three ICBM wings in conjunction with the 309th Missile Maintenance Group at Hill and the 377th Air Base Wing at Kirtland completed the modification with the first remote code change in October last year.

Twentieth Air Force has saved approximately 70,000 man-hours over four months by eliminating the need for physical code changes at 450 LFs annually. This advancement has reduced open site time by 1,800 hours and cut down code transit times by 360 hours each year. Olympic Step is an excellent example of increased Air Force efficiency and "This achievement with Olympic Step reflects over two decades of dedicated efforts to modernize and enhance the security our ICBM force,” said Maj General Stacy Huser Twentieth Air Force commander. “As we look to the future, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure the highest standards of reliability and safety for our strategic assets”.

The bottom line here is that today’s Missileers are more tech savvy when they come into the Air Force and are able to find innovative ways to solve problems. Our Missileers own smart phones and can communicate in ways that some of us old retired missileers can’t even imagine. Our Missileers are adaptable as our Ops, Cops and Maintenance proved during Covid. Missileers incorporated commercial platforms such as Zoom to work with other Missileers across the ICBM community to keep missiles on alert. Even though Missileers are a smaller force they have become a more elite, efficient, force over time taking care of a “classic” ICBM missile system.

One more thing!

Every time we publish our newsletter I always get a note from someone that typically says, “I love this edition of the newsletter but how come you never write about (insert topic here). The newsletter is a cooperative effort—which means many people contribute to its content and its success.  If you have a story to tell about any of our deployed nuclear missile systems, we would love include your submissions.  Any and all efforts are welcome at Director@AFMissileers.org. That doesn’t mean we will publish everything that is sent in but you won’t know until you try.

Before you go:

With the holiday season passed, the Minuteman art book sales have slowed considerably.  Please consider buying one for your local library or for ROTC grads, your old detachment.  If you buy a book to be donated, we can ship directly to them with a personal dedication and do our best to limit duplicate orders.  Remember, all proceeds go straight to our scholarship and museum funds. A link to the sale can be found on the front page of our website.

Sincerely,

Jim 

James F. Warner

Executive Director

Fellow Missileers

Missile Cancer Study and Fighting the VA:

Danny Sebeck posted the following on Linked In: "On 2 Jan 2025 the US Department of Veterans Affairs reversed their many denials of compensation to the Holmes family, and determined that Major Mark Holmes' illness and death are service related. It took nearly five years to achieve this result. While the family would surely trade this recognition to have Mark back in their lives, the VA's recognition is welcome and a turning point in the conversation about ICBM related cancers. Mark served his country as a Minuteman III ICBM Combat Crew Commander in the 10th Missile Squadron, was exposed to environmental hazards, and died as a member of a significant lymphoma cancer cluster. All eight members of the 2003-2008 Malmstrom cancer cluster now have a service connection through the VA or DoD. This is a significant, yet somber victory, for the Holmes family, the Torchlight Initiative, and for the ICBM Cancer Community. I'd like to thank this community, supporters of the Torchlight Initiative, the AFGSC team and others that invested their time, energy and effort into making this right. We take care of Airmen that die for this country, and we take care of their families... eventually. Most of all, thank you to the Holmes family for your sacrifice and for having the will power to reopen this tough part of your life after so many defeats. We have more work to do, and we are up for it. There are many ICBM Cancer Community families, like the Holmes family, who are fighting for their government to recognize their family member's service and death in support of this country. We will keep fighting from this foxhole."

44th MW “BANDIT” Selected as Acting Secretary of the Air Force.

Gary A. Ashworth, a career Department of Defense civil servant and former MM II missile crew member, has been tapped by President Donald Trump to be Acting Secretary of the Air Force.  According to those who served with him, he was a great crew member, well liked and super smart. Gary was assigned to the 66 SMS, served as an evaluator and competed in Missile Comp in 1990. According to one source, he was one hell of a racquetball player!  He left missile crew to attend the attend the Education with Industry program and went on to a career in acquisition.

2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

Below are NDAA “Golden Nuggets” impacting the ICBM force as signed on Jan 2, 2025

•    Directs a report on Air Force security forces personnel assignments so as to not isolate such personnel to specific duty locations, particularly intercontinental ballistic missile bases, in a manner that negatively impacts morale, career advancement, retention, or mission effectiveness
•    Requires no fewer than 400 responsive, on-alert U.S. intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) to be deployed, except for activities related to maintenance, sustainment, and replacement, or activities to ensure safety, security, or reliability.
•    Requires a plan for acquiring and deploying up to 450 Sentinel ICBMs.
•    Authorizes increased funding for U.S. nuclear stockpile research, technology, and engineering.
•    Establishes an Assistant Secretary of Defense of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs to coordinate and oversee nuclear deterrence policies and programs.
•    Establishes limits on Air Force reorganization efforts relating to Air Force Global Strike Command.
•    Limitation on availability of funds pending submission of a plan for decreasing the time to upload additional warheads to the ICBM fleet

Want to know more? See  NDAA  Pages 1981 thru 1013

After 37 years, 91st Missile Wing ushers in a new era of MMIII transporters:

Due to maintenance requirements becoming harder to meet with the older model, these units will be replaced with newer TE. The 91st Missile Wing is the last unit using the old TE systems, as the Roughriders are regularly relied upon to sunset programs being modernized. The images below show the last old TE going out for one its’ final trips.

November Missile Alert Facility “RECORD FM LOG” from 1989:

There used to be cartoon show where Mr. Peabody, and his mischievous boy, Sherman, would  voyage back in the time-traveling “Wayback machine” and explore history. Well a time machine in the form of a “RECORD FM LOG” showed up on my doorstep from a retired Facility Manager. The  FM Log spans the time between June 7, 1989, to Jan 2, 1991. The log is from N01 in the 68th Strategic Missile Squadron, 44th Strategic Missile Wing, Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota. So...lets jump into our “Wayback LOG” and see what the FM was doing on New Years Eve and day on Jan 1, 1990. Names were deleted to protect the innocent...

New Years Eve 1989:
1.    Weather reported to M01.
2.    Daily duties completed.
3.    FEL exercised.
4.    N01’s servo plate sent with Sgt XXXX, ART Leader to M01.
5.    Forms order complete.
6.    TSgt XXXX cleaning office.
7.    Monthly Radiological checks complete.
8.    Bulb out in shaft way- replaced.
9.    Chlorine level -2, but I want more!  Pre chlorine on hand for a while to bring it up further.
10.    Plowed snow.
11.    FSC didn’t ground himself before touching the Satellite box– now it is broke. Oh well, but I fixed it!
12.    Chlorine residual still good -- this is a pain!
13.    December soda fund completed.
14.     Made snacks for all, (I brought out) plus gave out 10 site sodas-Happy New Year.
15.    Fire safety and security check complete 2200

New Years Day 1990:
1.    Weather reported to M01
2.    Fire team departed
3.    TCC informed of leak in front end loader radiator again. Mobile Joe will come out. Also SSgt XXXX’s coat is in the linen closet and fuel card is in lower pocket.
4.    Cleaning for changeover.
5.    Fuels complete.
6.    Daily duties complete.
7.    Mopped equipment rooms.
8.    SSgt XXXX relieved TSgt XXXX. Checklist followed and high theft items inventoried. Site looks really good.
9.    Finished monthly inspection on Bio Pack 45. All is well.
10.    Mobile Joe on site to fix heater fan on front end loader and checked radiator leak. Said if fluid does not exceed 3 drops per minute it’s not excessive! In other words...wait till it gets bigger.
11.    Also Mobile Joe to RON in room 117.
12.    Fire safety and security light check complete at 2200 hours.

Impressions and contributions:

I hope you are enjoying these updates on current and past ICBM events.  If you want to make contributions to the monthly Dispatch or the larger AAFM newsletter, please send you inputs or comments to Director@AFMissileers.org

Sincerely,

Jim 

James F. Warner

Executive Director

Fellow Missileers:

Happy New Year -- I hope each of you had a safe and joyful holiday. In between life events, holiday planning, and gift wrapping, our newsletter team put together another great product that I hope you all enjoy. From our National meeting and the Hall of Fame ceremony to updates on the book and more missile trivia, this edition is chock full of current and past missile events. If you get a paper copy of the newsletter you will notice a change this month—with a new printing company we have elected to send the newsletter in an envelope rather than putting the address on the back page.  Here is the link to your electronic copy of the January 2025 newsletter!

Christmas cheers:
As part of the 23 December 2024 Christmas poem dispatch, I remarked that Old Timers would smile at some of the references and younger crew members might question some references such as the SACCS spoons and crew members with guns. The best response I received was: “….and the real Old Timers want to know why in the hell do they have a TV in the LCC?”  Of course, that makes me wonder if I should I tell him that they actually have access to the “world wide web” in the LCC?

Cancer Study:
Kim McAlister wrote regarding Mike Poppert’s passing: “Richard and I knew Mike and his wife-he was a good man. As a retired nurse, I suggest that every missileer that could have been impacted should discuss this risk with their primary care providers so they can determine appropriate assessment and testing. This is such a tragedy and was preventable. This hurts my heart.”

PES Seals:
Before they LCCs had TDIs there PES seals and before that, there was no authorized sleeping in the capsule!  Jim Sorenson recently donated a batch of PES seals to the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (which includes D01) to be placed on the applicable drawers and add to the LCC authenticity.  However, what is missing is the little blue flashlight used to examine the seals for tampering.  If you have a PES device you are willing to donate to the museum, please let me know.  

And now for a little Heritage and Humor:

TOP HAND...Missileer Heritage... "Chief CaCa”    
A tradition that started in the ‘70s at Minot AFB with a tissue box?  A missileer, for some strange reason gathered up fresh horse caca and individually wrapped each horse apple in plastic wrap then put it in a tissue box. At first, he put it in his freezer, over the protests of his loving wife. She gently removed it and put it on the back porch. The box stayed there over the winter and the horse caca became sort of “freeze-dried”.

That freeze-dried caca tissue box was presented to the next officer when the original caca collector was selected for TOPHAND. At the going away party, the caca collector stated the officer who was being awarded this “gift” was selected because he had never seen anybody take as much “crap” all the time from others. The first recipient did not throw away such a valuable “gift” but instead took it home and put it in his freezer. He told his wife he had a plan for that box of freeze-dried caca.

As it turned out, the first recipient of the freeze-dried caca tissue box was also selected for TOPHAND. The officer took it with him in his car as the movers would not pack it in his house-hold goods. As his tour at TOPHAND progressed, he saw many opportunities for the next recipient of the caca tissue box which he named the “CHIEF CACA  AWARD” Some examples are below:

During a launch countdown, the Countdown Control Officer (CCO) heard a person talking on the countdown net. The CCO responded; “this is a dedicated net, “GIT” off the net...with emphasis on the “GIT”. The person talking on the net responded with “who is this? The CCO loudly responded “GIT off this net”. Turned out the two star commander of the First Strategic Aerospace Division was trying to reach the Launch Director (LD). After the launch, the two-star directed the CCO to report to him the next day. After a brief lesson on phone etiquette, he coined him for doing the right thing. Still, he took a lot of caca for it during his TOP HAND tour and was a recipient of the Award.

One tradition was the countdown team would drive out to the launch console center on Globe Rd. about 35 minutes away. On the road was a series of right turns with white directional bumps. The team called them “fart bumps”. If the van driver, usually the newest TOP HANDer, drove over them too fast, the entire team would be tossed around in the back.

Every time the driver drove over the “fart bumps” too fast, the launch would have problems or be canceled. It was believed the van driver would “jinx” the launch if they drove over them at high speed. If the launch was canceled, the driver was liable for the first round at the club.  

Deer are a driving hazard at Vandenberg. Prior to one launch, the driver was going very slow (@15-20 mph). The LD, anxious to get to his launch console on time, announced that if the driver hit a deer, he wouldn’t kill it, but the van just might “rub it to death”. The driver sped up to a breathtaking 25 mph but never went over the fart bumps too fast.

One Launch Director showed up to a launch and when he took off his jacket, the CCO noticed he didn’t have on his uniform belt. The CCO announced to the other console operators that after the launch the LD was going to take the team to the club “for a belt”. Which he did.

One LD had his Glory Trip launch delayed several times due to missile or ground equipment problems. The other countdown team members in his office saw that he was becoming a” little frustrated” over the multiple delays.

One morning the LD found a note on his desk that said, “Job Control called and said his missile had to have a rudder retrofit installed on the missile”. He slammed the note down, stood up and said loudly, “Dammit another delay, does anybody know anything about what a rudder retrofit is”? The person who put the note on his desk, answered, “Yeah, it’s so you can sail your missile down range...you know...like a boat” The LD calmly sat down and responded, “this is not funny”, but chuckled about it anyway.

Eventually the first recipient of the caca filled tissue box was reassigned from TOP HAND. He took the caca filled tissue box out of his freezer and saw the box was falling apart. He built the current wooden box, carefully transferred the plastic wrapped  freeze-dried horse apples then sealed the box. Finally, he secured a brass horse and plate to the lid. As another recipient was awarded this “gift” they were required to inscribe their name on the plates, then award it to the next recipient.

Over the years the reasons for receiving the Chief CaCa Award may have changed. However, it has been part of TOP HAND and missileer heritage for over 45 years. TOP HAND officers are professionals trained to test the Minuteman force and ensure it is ready to accomplish its deterrence mission. This group of professionals have kept the spirit and intent of the Chief CaCa Award passing it on for future TOP HAND missileers.

Sincerely,

Jim 

James F. Warner

Executive Director

Last week we lost another missileer to cancer, Major (ret) Mike Poppert who served at both Warren and Malmstrom.Mike's career included Peacekeeper crew, Malmstrom staff, USSTRATCOM, and the ICBM Program Office!  Mike’s son, Capt Ryan Poppert (pictured here with Mike) is encouraging Mike’s friends to post some message on his tribute wall at: https://www.woodlawnfhcc.com/obituaries/Michael-Poppert?obId=33740531

Last month at our National Meeting the Missile Cancer Study was front and center in the topics we discussed.  We were fortunate to hear from the Air Force and the Torchlight Initiative.  Col Greg Coleman, AFGSC/SG and Col Rik Speakman, Commander of the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine presented an update on where the study stands. (click here for their slides).  Danny Sebeck spoke on behalf of the work being conducted by the Torchlight Initiative (click here for his slides).  We are working on getting a video of both presentations posted soon.

The key points that I took away from the Air Force presentation are: 1) The Air Force is working hard to ensure personnel that dispatch to the field do so in a safe environment. 2) The Air Force will continue testing and cleaning as long as they believe this is an issue.  3) Unsafe practices such as burning in the tunnel junction have been halted. 4) The Air Force has yet to make an official link between the missile field and higher than normal rates of cancer within the ICBM community. 5) The Air Force study is hindered by lack of accurate health reporting prior to 2001.

At the same time, I learned from the Torchlight Initiative that we have a lot of work to do to ensure our fellow missileers impacted get the attention and care they deserve. It appears that getting the care you need depends on which VA you go to and that isn’t the way it should be. In a 2001 USAF study, only eleven cancer cases were identified over a five-year period.  The Torchlight Initiative has identified over 560 cancer cases in less than two years! It’s up to each of us to self-report—get your primary care provider to identify your medical issues and where appropriate tie them to items like PCB exposure.  Torchlight believes we need to take bold actions together to learn from our mistakes, learn lessons, and provide our force with the tools it needs to fight.  Please refer to the documentation provided at www.TorchlightInitiative.org.

My main takeaway is that USAFSAM is focused on the current environment, while Torchlight is looking at the historical footprint of illnesses and environmental hazards in the ICBM community. The Air Force efforts have only happened in the past few years so those who served in the past need to pay attention!  What I also learned is that maneuvering through the VA system is still a challenge.  A couple of members who have worked in the VA system have stepped up and offered their help and we will share more on that in future dispatches and newsletters.

Silent Auction

supporting the AAFM Scholarship fund

AAFM is auctioning off these hand crafted wooden replicas by Eamonn Needler as he brings an end to his Minuteman production and on-line store.  The panels, built to actual dimensions, have moving parts and are mounted on stands.  The SAS container is a wall plaque with rear slots for mounting and to install your crew lock!

AAFM will be auctioning off two A/M LCPs, two Deuce LCPs, 4 LEPs, and 4 SAS container replicas. Bid sheets will be available in the Hospitality Room at our National Meeting.  If you can’t join us in Buellton and still want to bid on these items, please send an email with your bid to Director@AFMissileers.org All bids will close at 1600 PT on Saturday, 26 October 2024.

 Sentinel Bridge Plans in Montana:

Eleven bridges in the Lewistown area will be replaced as part of the Sentinel Missile Project based on a formalized agreement with the Montana Department of Transportation and Department of Defense, the Governor’s Office announced.

The Malmstrom Air Force Base work includes construction on- and off- the Great Falls base such as establishing new utility corridors.

“Montana plays a key role in the national security of the United States,” Gov. Greg Gianforte said in a statement. “The announcement will allow the MDT to move forward replacing 11 aging bridges that serve the Lewistown community and will support the Sentinel Missile program.

Source:  Bridging the Gaps

Cheyenne Wyoming Chamber of Commerce Nuclear Update:

The United States military is undergoing a “momentous undertaking” of nuclear weapon modernization, said Maj. Gen. Stacy Jo Huser, 20^th AF Commander. Major General Huser was invited to speak at the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee Luncheon where she spoke about the role of F.E. Warren Air Force Base in updating its nuclear technology.

“The current international environment presents continued risks that demonstrate, now more than ever, the need for a strong U.S. nuclear deterrent,” Huser said at the luncheon. “And we’ve been tasked by the nation to modernize our nuclear delivery platforms. ”The modernization of nuclear technology is dependent on the work of hundreds of thousands of people around the country, Huser added, especially in places such as Savannah, Georgia; Kansas City, Missouri; Los Alamos, New Mexico; Great Falls, Montana; and Cheyenne, among several others.

Source: Nuclear Technology

US nuclear Forces Prepare for the Future

Every facet of Air Force Global Strike Command and the ballistic nuclear force of the United States Navy are being modernized, the Lt. Gen. Lutton, Deputy Commander of Global Strike Command told attendees at the North Dakota Nuclear Triad Symposium held in Minot. “There are consequences to that, and we have to deliver for the nation, and that’s going to require a team sport,” said Lt. Gen. Michael Lutton, keynote speaker at the symposium. Lutton said that team sport includes industry, academia, communities, allies and partners, and military. “We absolutely have to deliver for this nation. Given the backdrop of what is happening in this world, we absolutely have to deliver for them,” he said. “Our Long-Range Standoff missile will replace the air-launched cruise missile – the ALCM. That is also a major defense acquisition program”

The National Airborne Operations Center or NAOC will be replaced by the Strategic Airborne Operation Center or SAOC, Lutton said. He added that is still early in its acquisition process, but all of the nuclear command, control and communications are in one way, shape or another being recapitalized or modernized within the United States Navy and United States Space Force.

Source: Nuclear Symposium

Through the Ages...Famous Quotes from Previous Nuclear Leaders:

“Let us not be deceived: we are today in the midst of a cold war. Our enemies are to be found abroad and at home. Let us never forget this. Our unrest is the heart of their success.”

Dean Acheson, Former United States Secretary of State, 1947

“I think there are many times when it would be most efficient to use nuclear weapons. However, the public opinion in this country and throughout the world would throw up their hands in horror when you mention nuclear weapons, just because of the propaganda that's been fed to them.”

Lemay on Nuclear Weapon Use

General Curtis E Lemay, CINCSAC

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge, and more.”
John F. Kennedy,

US president, at his inauguration in January 1961

“Sometime in the future--25, 50, 75 years hence--what will the situation be like then? By that time the Chinese will have the capability of delivery too. That's the reason some schools of thinking don't rule out a destruction of the Chinese military potential before the situation grows worse than it is today. It's bad enough now.”

Mission with Lemay (1965)

General Curtis E Lemay, CINCSAC

“The military balance which permitted us to maintain the peace is now threatened. If steps are not taken to modernize our defense, the United States will progressively lose the ability to deter the Soviet Union from employing force or threats of force against us and against our allies.”

President Reagan Address on Nuclear Weapons (1982)

President Ronald Reagan

“ICBMs and SSBNs together have allowed the bombers and tankers to be released for use by military commanders with great effect in a wide variety of conventional missions.  This has raised the importance of ICBMs as a mainstay of deterrence, as a hedge against unforeseen technical problems or geopolitical events.”

General C. Robert Kehler, former Commander, US Strategic Command

“What the ICBM force gives to the president is the ability to respond promptly. I think that’s still a valuable component of the range of alternatives that we could offer to the president.”

The US Needs a New ICBM Now

General C. Robert Kehler, former Commander, US Strategic Command, 2019.

Not So Famous Quotes:

“I am deeply disappointed by the decision to continue this wasteful and unnecessary endeavor.”

Source: "Top Democrat on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness"

Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA-08) Press release on Sentinel, July 9, 2024.

Russian media outlets reported the American Minuteman III failure was notable. Military expert Alexei Leonkov told RIA Novosti the U.S. is "launching old missiles that have already exceeded their planned service life." The Telegram account Russian Engineer posted, "very serious news about the state of US nuclear forces." Another failure like the one this week "could call into question the entire Minuteman silo missile."

Source: Minuteman Missile Failure Draws Russian Mockery of US Nuclear Arsenal

“No, don’t scratch your butt
Though it feels good, I know
Makes you feel cheerier to touch your posterior
But there’s no pro and con — it’s open and shut.
Don’t scratch your butt.”

Source: Don't Scratch Your Butt

Garrison Keillor, A Prairie Home Companion

OLD MISSILEER MYSTERY QUESTIONS

At MINOT: Why was the government issued toilet paper in the LCC grey?

At MINOT: What ever happened to the Henry 22 caliber US Survival Rifles kept under the LCC floor?

AT FE WARREN: Why is there an old canon next to the flagpole and metal stars on the tops of some of the buildings?

AT ELLSWORTH: Why was the missile in front of the Pride Hangar taken down and where did it go?

At FE WARREN: Why can’t stakes be put into the ground on the Parade Field?

What is the highest mileage on a crew vehicle used in the field?

On the LCC blast doors, why is there a high pressure and low-pressure hand pump?

Who developed WD40 and what was its military application?

Send your answers to: aggie1974@msn.com 

We'll review the results at our National Meeting and in the next newsletter.

Sincerely,

Jim 

James F. Warner

Executive Director

Fellow Missileers:

Can you believe it’s Labor Day weekend.  Our children are back in school, football season in in full swing and the northern states are getting their snow removal equipment tuned up and ready to go!  I’m anxiously waiting the arrival of the Minuteman Art Book which I spent two years gathering pictures and data for—it’s at the printer now and should be available for delivery by the end of the month.  We created a web site to give you more information on what the book looks like including sample pages, how to order it and more. This is a book produced by missileers for missileers. Please check our site at www.afmissileersbook.com .  The book is only about Minuteman Art. I know—where is the book on Atlas or Titan?  That can be a project for someone in the future—we concentrated on Minuteman before all the below ground art was destroyed. While I wait for the book, I’m tying up loose ends for the National Meeting in Buellton, CA which includes the inaugural Hall of Fame Banquet.  There are a few days left to register at www.afmissileers.org

Arlington Ceremony:  Col Jim Roggero, 351st SWM/CC (Whiteman AFB) and 310th Training and Test Wing/CC (Vandenberg AFB) will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, Sept 6th at 11 am. The family will also have a meet and greet on Thursday evening, Sept 5th at the Double Tree Hotel in Crystal City (time TBD). Col Roggero is a hero of the Cold War and will be greatly missed!

44^th SMW Reunion: Former members of the 44SMW are meeting from Sept 4^th through Sept 8^th at Hart Ranch, Rapid City, South Dakota. The 44^th SMW can trace it’s lineage to the 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) that was activated on 15-January-1942 and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group was nicknamed  as the Flying Eight Balls. In all the 44th flew 343 missions in 8009 sorties and dropped 18,980 tons of bombs. The Group lost 153 aircraft and 2000 airmen MIA. After WW II, the 44^th continued with different aircraft and missions until the Missile Wing was activated on January 1^st, 1962.  

BELLE FOURCHE, S.D.—1993, LA Times: The warheads were long gone. The doomsday keys had been removed to the safety of an Air Force vault. Racks of classified electronic communications panels that once spewed out coded messages from hidden war rooms had been carted off as salvage.

Source: Harvesting the Silos of South Dakota

Peacekeeper History: Do you have a good understanding of peacekeeper development and deployment?  If so, historian and author David Stumpf would love to talk with you.  If you would like to help David with either of the two questions below, please email him at dkarlstumpf@gmail.com .

How thick was the forward section of the deployed Peacekeeper canister? My copy of the dash 1 gives 1 inch for the center and aft sections but no value for the forward section thickness.

The original canisters used in the Canister Assembly Launch Test Program were graphite epoxy composite. Part way through the Minuteman Upper Silo Simulation test program at the Nevada Test Site, the canisters were changed to steel. Why was the change to steel made? Cost?

SAC Titan Crews  Were Required to Finish All Paperwork:

A SSgt at McConnell, wandered into the officers latrine and took all the toilet paper. He was just outside, when some LTC went in. He screamed where is the toilet paper”? The SSgt screamed back “sir I will go and get some”!  He always wondered who that LTC was, and I bet the LtCol is still wondering who he was. Or...maybe he is still sitting there? Moral: Always check before you sit!

Have you checked out the AAFM YouTube site?  We have a total of 761 videos available and always adding more when we find them.  Recently added is a SAC 1981 Missile Combat Competition video—there is no sound but the pictures are great and feature notables such as Maj Gen Jack Watkins as the  1 STRAD commander, Maj Gen Ralph Spraker then Col Spraker as the 3901 SMES commander, Col Norm Miner as the 351 SMW/CC and of course the Whitman Stump!  Spoiler alert, the 1981 Blanchard trophy went to the team at Whiteman AFB. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/cGF4BlURmzM and the rest of the Missile videos at www.youtube.com/@associationofairforcemissi4328

Wyoming's Q01 Museum

Col (ret) Mike Vaughn wrote recently to say he had the opportunity to visit Q-01 outside of F. E. Warren AFB.  Mike says: "The Wyoming Parks team have done a good job restoring the site and the staff is well educated. A glaring problem is with the (L)MISP.  It is missing the bank of lights for Q-10 and Q11." Mike is positive one of you might have a spare bank of lights that you are willing to donate to the museum. If you have the asset and are willing to donate, please contact me at Director@AFMissileer.org.

Sincerely,

Jim 

James F. Warner

Executive Director

Fellow Missileers:

Four key items for you to consider:

Building dedication at Warren for Col Trevor Flint 6 September 2024:

On behalf of Col Johnny Galbert, Commander, 90th Missile Wing, and the entire Maintenance Group at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, we would like to cordially invite you to join us as we dedicate the 90 MXG ICBM Maintenance Building to Col Trevor W. Flint in a ceremony to take place on the sixth of September 2024, at 1000L, Building 1235, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, WY. Reception to follow.

For those who cannot attend in person, we will be live streaming the event, link to follow. Formal invitation link: Colonel Flint ICBM Maintenance Building Dedication (afit.edu)

For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Major Rachel Lovelady at 307-631-1749, MSgt Zachary Schwendiman at 307-773-6770, SSgt Michael Mateyunas at 307-773-3991, or the 90th Missile Wing Protocol Office.

AFA Missile Gathering 17 September 2024:

The Air & Space Forces Association General Gabriel Chapter #433 will be holding a Missileer Gathering at AFA ASC Conference on 17 Sep 2024 from 1930 to 2200.  We will also recognize the Air Force General Thomas Power Missile Crew of the Year.  We will have the event in larger venue in the Gaylord, like we did in 2021. 

The Missileer Gathering Registration is now open.  We are asking that all attendees, active duty, Reserve, Guard, retired, veterans, spouses, and friends please register at this website so we can get an accurate head count for food and beverages: 

2024 Missileer Gathering Registration 

We are selling specially minted 2024 Missileer Gathering Coins (and some left over 2023 Missileer Gathering Coins) as fund raiser. 

The Last Thirty Seconds by David Stumpf

Military historian David Stumpf has done it again!  His latest book "The Last Thirty Seconds: A Brief History of the Evolution of Hit-to-Kill Technology is now available through the University of Arkansas Press. More in the upcoming newsletter.

Minuteman Art book Pre-sale:

The Silent Sentinel: Minuteman Artwork Reveled is now available for pre-sale on our website. For over 60 years, the Minuteman InterContinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) system has quietly and inconspicuously stood on alert as part of our nation’s nuclear triad across America’s Great Plains from Missouri to Montana.  The Silent Sentinels: Minuteman Artwork Revealed provides insight into the daily lives of those who serve this important mission and highlights artwork created over the years, including those pieces hidden below ground in areas rarely seen or visited by the American public. Click here to order.  Deliveries start in late September. 

Sincerely,

Jim 

James F. Warner

Executive Director

Dear Fellow Missileers

Happy Independence Day!  Still to this day I have a strong memory of coming off alert on July 4th, 1976 at Ellsworth AFB and enjoying our Nation's Bicentennial celebration--a day full of flags, fireworks, and BBQs as we celebrated 200 years of independence from the British empire!

In the next few weeks, we will be sending our new book The Silent Sentinels: Minuteman Artwork Revealed to the printers. In this 324 page book, Missileers reveal the intricate details of the mission, the events, and the people through morale patches, schoolhouse painted ceiling tiles, underground mural walls of the launch control centers, and finally music. Copies will be available for purchase later this year. 

Rock Star Missileers:

The Air and Space Forces Association recognized the 321st Missile Squadron with the 2024 Gen. Thomas S. Power Outstanding Missile Crew Award.

The award recognizes 1st Lt. Alex Tarbet and 1st Lt. Patrick Finan, 321 MS combat crew, as the best missile combat crew in the Air Force. “It is a humbling experience,” Finan said. “We couldn’t have done it without our peers’ and leaderships’ support. In the end, it's just confirmation that we were surrounding ourselves with a network of amazing people and improving ourselves along the way.”  

AFA recognizes the best missile combat crew in Air Force Global Strike Command annually with this award. General Power was commander-in-chief of Strategic Air Command from 1957 to 1964. He was the father of SAC's intercontinental ballistic missile force and was directly involved in the planning and deployment of the Atlas, Titan and Minuteman ICBMs.

In the last year, Finan and Tarbet distinguished themselves through their dedication to the mission leading to the development and implementation of a new flight deployment construct and missile procedures training schedule, their leadership while completing five nuclear communications tests over four platforms, winning the Linhard trophy for Best Operations Crew and the McMahon Trophy for Best Weapon System Crew.

Memorable Moments from the Field!

Place: Vandenberg AFB in the Missile Procedures Trainer.

            Instructor: In a simulated LCC fire scenario, states “You smell smoke”!

New DMCCC in training: Yes sir, I know, but I am trying to give it up and my wife doesn’t like the way it smells either!

Place: Minot on the way to an A2 alert in 1975:

As the A2 shift was driving to Lima; the sun was setting, and a glorious sunset was emblazoning itself across the sky. The crew commander commented how beautiful it was.

His new Deputy replied...

      “If you kind-of squint a little bit it looks like a “25 Megatoner” detonating in Lima Flight!”

Place: Malmstrom AFB at the crew vehicle barn:

As the Crew Commander was just pulling out, she looked out the side rear-view mirror and saw a muddy dark liquid running down the back side window. She looked at the Deputy and asked, “where’s our coffee”?

            The Deputy replied, “I put both cups and the box of donuts on the roof on your side!”

Place: 44 SMW, K01, 1968, on a very windy, cold, winter day.

            Crew Commander: “Did you get all the used code pages destroyed in the burn barrel?”

            Deputy: “Well...sort of”...

            Commander: “What do you mean sort of?“

            Deputy: ‘When I opened the barrel to put more pages in, some of them blew away!”

            Commander: “Did you pick them up?”

            Deputy: “They blew away over the fence”

            Commander: “Let’s go get them!” .Note: a couple of half burned pages were found during the

           spring thaw.

Place: 91^st Missile Wing O01, 1975. The A1crew was turning in their Smith and Wesson 38

Handguns after a daytime alert.

            The Commander and his Deputy went outside in the cold weather to the red clearing barrel.

            The Deputy went to the clearing barrel first, put on his cold weather gloves and started to unload his 38. As he opened the cylinder and ejected the rounds into his gloved hand one round fell to the rubber mat under the barrel and bounced to the asphalt. When the round hit the asphalt, it detonated, and the shell casing flew between the Commanders legs and landed around twenty feet away. The 1960’s Vietnam era lead bullet flew around three feet.

SAC approved solution: Move the clearing barrel into the FSC’s office, don’t wear cold weather gloves when unloading weapons and, of course, retrain the crew on handling weapons.

 Nuclear Hell on Wheels: Examining the Need for a Mobile ICBM

In 2015, Lt Col Matthew Dillow, a student at the Air Force Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies wrote a Trinity Site Paper revisiting the need for a mobile land-based ICBM. Lt Col Dillow’s paper contains an older, but well said statement from General Robert Kehler.

 “And what the ICBM force gives to the president is the ability to respond promptly. I think that’s still a valuable component of the range of alternatives that we could offer to the president. ... I think there’s a big difference between a force that you can use promptly and one that you must use promptly. And I no longer see us in a scenario where we must use the ICBMs promptly.

General Robert Kehler, former Commander, U.S. Strategic Command

Given the fact that the USAF and DoD Sentinel Program is undergoing a Nunn-McCurdy cost review, the original concept of installing Sentinel in 60-year-old silos is uncovering some MM silo infrastructure and supply line issues that are adding to the program costs. Regardless, the Sentinel ICBM is needed in the Triad and there are ways to lower costs to get the missile deployed faster with less expense. Lt Col Dillow’s paper addresses a wide range of deployment alternatives regarding the existing strategic environment in 2015. Since 2015, the strategic nuclear environment and technology has changed, and some of his ideas in the paper are relevant again today and should  be revisited. Both Russia and China have developed operational mobile ICBM’s. In addition, China is building hundreds of silo-based ICBMs with the possible ability to survive a counterforce strike. For more information see Russia's Nuclear Weapons  and  China's Mobile ICBM's .

Want to know more?  Trinity Site Paper 

Final Quote: “The entire world will be in nuclear war, and only the Swiss will be going, “Vhats that noise?”

-- Robin Williams

Sincerely,

Jim 

James F. Warner

Executive Director

Fellow Missileers:

I hope you all received the AAFM Dispatch at the end of last week inviting you to join the Public Town Hall regarding the Missile Cancer Study this Friday.  It will be shared via Zoom.  Join early as the link is open to first 500 dial-ins.  AFGSC will be recording the meeting and we will over the recording on our website as soon as we get it.

Have you signed up for our National Meeting yet?  We are only about halfway to our goal so there are still plenty of seats available.  We have some great speakers, tours, and discussion lined up and of course it will include our inaugural Hall of Fame banquet.

The first draft of our book on Minuteman Art has was delivered to the Air Force for review this week.  We hope to go to print before our national meeting. For a look at a draft of the cover, click here. More information on ordering in future emails.

Grandpa, What Did You Do in the “Big War”?

 The heritage of our three remaining Minuteman ICBM wings is long and goes back to WWII. The predecessors to our ICBM wings served with distinction and honor. In observance of Memorial Day, below is a quick summary of their service history.

91st WW II Service: Constituted as 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Trained with B-17's then moved to England and assigned to Eighth AF. Entered combat in Nov 1942 and concentrated its attacks on submarine pens, ship-building yards, harbors, and dock facilities until mid-1943. Also struck airdromes, factories, and communication nodes. Attacked the Nazi navy yard at Wilhelmshaven on 27 Jan 1943 when heavy bombers of Eighth AF first penetrated Germany. Of 64 planes participating in the raid, 53 reached their target and managed to shoot down 22 German planes. Three planes were lost.

341st WW ll Service: The 341st Missile Wing has its origins in the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater of World War II, being activated as the 341st Bombardment Group (Medium) in India on 15 September 1942. The unit was one of the first bomber units in the CBI equipped with B-25 Mitchell bombers shipped from the United States to Karachi. Entered combat early in 1943 and operated against enemy transportation in central Burma until 1944. Bombed bridges, locomotives, railroad yards, and other targets to delay movement of supplies to the Japanese troops fighting in northern Burma. Moved to China in Jan 1944. Engaged primarily in sea sweeps and attacks against inland shipping. Also bombed the Canton-Hong Kong area of China. Received a DUC for developing and using a special GLIP Bombing technique against enemy bridges in French Indochina.

90^th WW II Service: The 90th Missile Wing traces its lineage to the establishment of the 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy), on 28 January 1942. The 90th BG was a U.S. Army Air Forces, Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber unit that served in the Pacific Theater. The Group attacked enemy troop concentrations, airfield installations and shipping in New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, Palau and the Southern Philippines. The group was awarded a DUC for operations in Papua through January 1943 The unit participated in the Battle of Bismarck Sea in March 1943, and earned another citation for strikes on enemy airfields at Wewak, New Guinea in September 1943 despite heavy flak and fighter opposition.

Sentinel and Nunn-McCurdy...Oh boy! Another Report Opportunity

Lawmakers are taking several steps toward increased oversight of the Sentinel ICBM program. The Air Force announced earlier this year that Sentinel had breached Nunn-McCurdy critical costs and schedule overruns. However, there is no movement to cancel or curb the program.

If Sentinel is certified to continue, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) introduced an NDAA amendment—approved by the committee—that would require Pentagon acquisition boss William LaPlante to submit a report on the “total system architecture, and opportunities for competition throughout the lifecycle of the program.” The report would include government control of design review entrance and exit criteria, the ability to certify completion of all subsystems and the “total system architecture, and opportunities for competition throughout the lifecycle of the program”. 

Want To Know More? Another Report!

Back to the Future...Some Thoughts of Those Who Have Gone Before Us

For years the Air Force ICBM community has proposed different basing schemes for land-based ICBMs. The Air Force Sentinel decision was to place the new missiles in existing, refurbished silos. Although it is the correct decision, existing MM silos, cabling systems and technology need major Civil Engineering and electronic updates to support Sentinel for its approximate 50-year life cycle. The actual missile itself is progressing successfully, but will the ground support system be ready to accept it and are there other ways to get Sentinel on alert faster?

So what does the US do to maintain an effective TRIAD? In 1975, RAND produced a then Classified/FRD study outlining Current and Future Options for the ICBM Force. The RAND report has been declassified, and although old and dated, provides some interesting ideas on how to proceed. 

Want to Read the 1975 Report? RAND Report

ARE YOU A MISSILEER?

IF YOU SEE THIS ON THE ROAD .................AND REMEMBER THIS

                              YOU MIGHT BE A MISSILEER

IF YOU SEE THIS IN THE GROCERY STORE ...... AND REMEMBER THIS

                                     YOU MIGHT BE A MISSILEER

IF YOU SEE THIS FROM THE ROAD ........AND REMEMBER THIS

                                    YOU ARE A MISSILEER!

(apologies to Jeff Foxworthy)

As always, reach out if you have any questions, comments, or content to add.

Sincerely,

Jim 

James F. Warner

Executive Director