An Atlas F apparently undergoing either a Propellant Loading
Exercise (PLX) or perhaps a Technical Acceptance Demonstration (TAD).
This is the Willow, Oklahoma site (577-11).
More photos at
http://www.siloworld.com/GD-A%20%20San%20Diego%20Aerospace/ATLAS%20F/577th%20SMS/577th__sms.htm.
Atlas: (classical mythology) A giant condemned to support the sky on his shoulders (Random House dictionary).
Atlas was initially designated Project MX-1593; the contract with Convair was signed January 23 1951. Convair had done work on the MX-774 missile which proved many of the major design features. In August of the same year the popular name Atlas was approved, apparently referring to the parent company (the Atlas Corporation) rather than classical mythology. Atlas was also known as WS-107A-1 (Weapon System 107A-1), B-65, SM-65 (Strategic Missile 65, also SM-65F for Atlas F etc.), CGM-16 (followed by D, E, or F), and HGM-16. It was a liquid-fueled rocket using RP-1 (Rocket Propellant-1, similar to kerosene) for fuel and liquid oxygen as the oxidizer. It pioneered several innovations such as thin-walled pressure-stabilized tanks to save weight, detachable payload so only the warhead had to survive re-entry, gimballed engines, and a "stage-and-a-half" motor assembly that allowed all three engines to be ignited prior to launch, yet two of them could be discarded later when only the center engine was needed to sustain flight. Guidance was intially a combination of inertial and ground-based radio, later (Atlas E and F) it was entirely inertial. Range was 5,500 nautical miles with a demonstration flight of 7,860 nautical miles.
Atlas D sites required 12-man crews; Atlas E and F required 5-man crews.
Atlas also gained fame as the launch vehicle for the Mercury manned space program, though a Redstone rocket was used for Alan Shephard's flight, the first American in space, as well as Gus Grissom's first flight (both were suborbital; Atlas was used to launch John Glenn on the first American orbital flight and subsequent project Mercury flights). Atlas also launched Ranger IV, the first American probe to land on the moon. There have been several generations of Atlas launch vehicles, some of which are still used and/or in development. Atlas 3A proved the mating of the Atlas airframe to Russian (!) rocket motors, and 3B proved the use of larger tanks. The Atlas 5 had its first launch in August 2002.
Around 1965, when the Atlas ICBMs were retired, they were shipped to Norton AFB in San Bernardino, California. They remained there until they were re-used as launch vehicles.
A good history of the development of Atlas is "Atlas: The Story of a Missile" by John L. Chapman (1960). The only drawback is that it stops short of actual deployment and of course does not include operational years as an ICBM, or the deactivation of the system and later use as launch vehicles.
A more recent history is "Atlas - The Ultimate Weapon" by Chuck Walker with Joel Powell (2005).
A very readable short history is at the beginning of "Titan II: A History of a Cold War Missile Program" by David K. Stumpf (2000).
A picture of an Atlas sitting in a Woolworth parking lot is here.
Other resources on Atlas include:
After retirement as ICBMs, Atlas missiles were shipped to Norton AFB in California for storage until used as launch vehicles.
Atlas rockets for sale: Between April 26 and May 6, 2004, two NASA Atlas rockets were for sale on eBay, item number 3909962681. These included transport trailers but were missing most of the engines. Asking price was $35,000 but at then end of the auction there were no bids.
Atlas missiles on display:
At Cape Canaveral, launch complexes 11 through 14 supported Atlas both as an ICBM and as a launch vehicle for Mercury, and for unmanned Gemini tests. http://www.fas.org/spp/military/facility/ccas-lc-11.htm.
A difference between the two oldest Atlas D sites (Vandenberg 576B and Warren 564-A/B) and later ones is that in in the old ones, the roof was one piece and slid lengthwise across the entrance (away from the flame trench) to allow the missile to be raised. This created a "roofed patio" across the entrance which may have hindered some operations (just my guess), the rest of the launch facilities used a two-piece root that opened sideways as shown below.
An Atlas D is being deactivated, probably late 1964 or early 1965
(549th SMS, Offutt AFB), somewhere in Nebraska.
Above is a nice photo of an Atlas E with roof open and missile raised. Note
there is no visible vapor which suggests the Atlas is not fueled, and that
the flame duct door is closed. There does not appear to be a payload.
In the lower-right of the image you can see the spray pond in action.
Water is sprayed into the air to cool it, the water is collected (left side of pond
as viewed in this image), and recycled to cool the site and its equipment.
Thanks to Mike Hiebert for ID-ing this as 548-2, near Lawrence, Kansas.
As you look at the D sites, notice the direction of the flame/blast trenches. In many cases they are directed west, straight away from the launch building. But in many other cases they run to the northwest or even southwest (in a few cases, directly towards another launch building). I assume this depended on the topography and that the main consideration was to ensure the trench drained away from the building. Warren D #1 looks different, with short trenches that may even be concrete lined. Warren sites look different than Offutt sites, the latter having no discernable trenches at all.
Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Station seem almost synonymous. Many Atlas test flights were made from the Cape, as well as non-ICBM flights such as most of the Mercury manned missions and others.
Resources:
The People: It gets a bit confusing because wings and other units have been reorganized and renamed several times. Currently the 45th Space Wing oversees most (all?) launches. At one time or another subordinate units included the 4800th Guided Missile Wing, and the 6555th which has been a Guided Missile Wing, Guided Missile Group, and Aerospace Group. See for example http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra/rso/wings_groups_pages/0045sw.asp.
Other resources:
| Photo | Base | Coordinates | ID |
Terraserver | Patrick | 28-28-32 80-32-22 | LC-11 astronautix.com details |
| LC-11 supported 33 Atlas launches. | |||
Terraserver | Patrick | 28-28-51 80-32-30 | LC-12 astronautix.com details |
| LC-12 supported Ranger and Mariner missions as well as Atlas ICBM tests. | |||
Terraserver | Patrick | 28-29-09 80-32-40 | LC-13 astronautix.com details |
| LC-13 supported Atlas as well as Atlas/Agena. Note the long shadow from the tower. | |||
Terraserver | Patrick | 28-29-28 80-32-50 | LC-14 astronautix.com details |
| LC-14 supported Atlas ICBM, some of the Mercury missions, and Gemini tests. | |||
Vandenberg Air Force base is on the west coast of southern California, near Santa Maria. It is most commonly associated with tests and development of military missiles but is also used to launch polar-orbiting satellites, both commercial and military. It had almost completed a space shuttle launch facility when the Challenger accident occurred, causing the air force to rethink launch methods and abandon shuttle launches (there were other factors as well). For Atlas, Vandenberg had three Atlas D missiles on open gantries, and a "normal" Atlas D site with three launch buildings. (I understand one difference in the launch buildings is that the roofs opened lengthwise in one piece, and Warren's site 1 did as well; all other Atlas D launch buildings had roofs that opened sideways as two sections). Based on the map in Stumpf's book, page 129, I believe the following are correct. See also http://www.siloworld.com/ICBM/ATLAS/ATD/VANDENBE.HTM and http://www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Vandenberg_AFB.htm.
| Photo | Base | Coordinates | ID |
Terraserver | Vandenberg | 34-46-46 120-36-00 17 miles SW Santa Maria California | Atlas D 576 A |
| I believe this is where the three open-gantry missiles were located. Stumpf (map, page 129) identifies this as 576 A which would be the first site. Chapman (page 146) refers to a Launch Complex 65-1 with the pads labeled A, B, and C. Somewhere I read that only one of the pads' gantries is still standing, and if you look closely at the Terraserver photo it's casting a long shadow in the eastern-most pad (#3). At one time I wrote "These missiles went on alert October 31 1959 and started going off alert May 1 1964 (finishing October 1 1964) which is the longest full-strength alert interval among Atlas bases, 4.5 years. I believe this also includes the D site 576-B." I don't recall where I got that information, perhaps from the book "From Snark to Peacekeeper." However, I received a message from Michael Binder at the National Archives at College Park, who clarified this as follows: "At the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, Vandenberg had NO ICBMs on alert. The order to reinstate alert went out on 20 October; the first sortie to go on alert was 576B01, on 22 October, followed next by 576G01 on 24 October. Eventually 7 Atlas were put on alert (14 ICBMs total), but none at Complex 576A, which had been given over to the ABRES (Advanced Ballistic Re-Entry Systems) and Nike-X ABM programs. Removal of Atlas from alert began 1 November, and the last three Atlas (576 B01/02/03) were downgraded on 28 November, when Vandenberg again had no ICBMs on alert." Note in the upper-left corner of the full-size Terraserver image you can see Titan II site 395-B. The color photo, which also includes 395-B, was sent to me by Jeff Godman. | |||
Terraserver | Vandenberg | 34-47-30 120-35-36 17 miles SW Santa Maria California | Atlas D 576 B and Atlas E 65-OSTF-1 (576 F) |
| The Terraserver photo shows the 576 B complex. Additionally, Stumpf (map, page 129) identifies a nearby area as 65-OSTF-1 which would be the Operational Suitability Test Facility for Atlas (SM-65). The thumbnail picture above does not show the OSTF but it's in the full-size image, upper-right corner. The first color photo appears to be 65-OSTF-1 based on terrain, shadow, and that it's an above-ground Atlas E (operational sites were semi-underground). The black-and-white photo is of an unknown Atlas D site. The second and third color photos were sent to me by Jeff Goodman. I'm told 65-OSTF-1 was also known as 576 F. | |||
Terraserver | Vandenberg | 34-48-32 120-35-01 17 miles SW Santa Maria California | Atlas E 576 C |
| 576-C was an Atlas E site, which would normally be semi-buried. Here it was constructed above ground but resembled normal sites in most respects. Thanks to Fred Epler for setting me straight on the location. | |||
Terraserver | Vandenberg | 34-49-20 120-33-35 17 miles SW Santa Maria California | Atlas F 576 D and 65-OSTF-2 (576 G) |
| This Terraserver image shows 65-OSTF-2 (upper left) as well as Atlas site 576 D (lower right), based on Stumpf's map (page 129). OSTF would have been the Operational Suitability Test facility, the second for the Atlas ICBM perhaps because of significant differences with the earlier Atlas missiles. Whatever it is now, 576 D has a large and tall tower (see shadow) which might be a radar installation. The second photo is of an unknown Atlas F site, showing the missile being raised. Note the workers standing around, both for scale and as an indication the missile is not fueled. I'm told OSTF-2 was also known as 576-G. | |||
Terraserver | Vandenberg | 34-44-24 120-37-09 17 miles SW Santa Maria California | Atlas F 576 E |
| Stumpf (map, page 129) tentatively identifies this as " 576 E Under Construction." Physically it looks somewhat like an Atlas F site which would also make sense since this is the last Vandenberg Atlas site in sequence. | |||
Warren Air Force Base (actually Francis E. Warren Air Force Base,
or F. E. Warren Air Force Base) is just west of Cheyenne Wyoming.
They had Atlas D
and E sites, and currently have 150 Minuteman III sites.
They had the only 50
Peacekeeper (MX) missiles anywhere but those have been retired.
Other references for Warren AFB:
A friend of mine, Paul Turley, was an electrician who worked on the Atlas
sites around Cheyenne. On one occasion he was called in to do some minor
work in a room and after they explained what was needed, he was left alone.
He looked around the room and left, complaining that he would not work alone.
The Air Force guys laughed and said it was a training dummy; Paul said he
didn't think so. They all went into the room and became very serious when
it was discovered there was a real nuclear device, not an inert dummy, and
Paul finished the job with two armed guards in the room.
The people:
Siloman listed the first 9 Warren sites.
I knew about #13 and added it, and later
found #10-13 referenced (though not with coordinates) on a hazardous
waste web page.
See also
http://www.siloworld.com/ICBM/ATLAS/ATD/WARREN.HTM.
Warren sites you can see from Interstate 80 and Interstate 25 -- OK, you're
in a hurry and you don't want to detour but you want to say "I've
seen a missile site!" There are a small number that can be seen
but not necessarily clearly. K-11 is probably the best.
The state of Colorado, department of public health and environment,
published a 2-page summary of Colorado Atlas sites and their health risks, at
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/atlasmissiles.pdf.
If you visit Cheyenne, drive by the Eagle's Nest Bar (1101 W Lincolnway).
In front they have a tower which was actually an Atlas erector arm
though I don't know if it was from one of the area's D or E sites (or if there
is a difference).
On the south side of Wheatland (Wyoming) there's another tower that looks
like an Atlas erector, though the top has been trimmed, and the cross-bracing
is different.
The larger picture appears to be of some Atlas D site
(looks like the roof opens in two sections to the side) but I don't know
where; you can see how the arm was used.
Atlas D crew R-20 circa 1963. 565th SMS, 389th SMW, Warren AFB.
| Photo | Base | Coordinates | Type/ID | ||||||||
Terraserver 
| Warren | 41-22-43 104-58-15 18 miles NNW Cheyenne, WY | D #1 564-A 564-B Cheyenne | ||||||||
| 6/9/01 stopped about half way down the road
("Atlas Road" according to the DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer)
due to a No Trespassing sign. This is a unique site,
a "double" D site with six launch buildings.
Given that it's #1,
it may have been a prototype. This is also mentioned very briefly
in Stumpf's book with the detail that there was one launch control
center but the
Warren AFB Museum states there were two launch operations
buildings and one guidance control facility.
Apparently three missiles were designated 564-A and the other
three 564-B.
Although you can't get in viewing range on
Atlas Road, if you instead drive west on Whitaker Road to the
north (county road 228, I-25 exit 29, on the way to Peacekeeper site
Q-6) you are in a good position to view it from about 1 mile away.
On 8/25/01 there was a gas pipeline being placed just west of the
power lines though I declined the temptation of driving along it
to get closer. I could see an orange windsock implying an
airstrip or at least a helicopter landing site but could not see
the ground; there are other pipelines in the area, so perhaps
a pumping station was constructed some time after 1994 when the
USGS photo was taken.
On May 22 2003 I received the following description from
Fred Epler:
The Warren Atlas-D site northwest of Cheyenne was a double site
known as 564-A and 564-B, B site was on the east end of the 900 acre
complex. There were 6 launchers, 2 control centers, a well pump station,
2 RV storage magazines and 2 sewage lagoons on the north side of the
complex. On the south side there were 2 remote rate stations, one east and one
west for missile guidance. An east and west boresite tower, 2 more sewage
lagoons, a vehicle storage building, a tank farm, a microwave building,
another well pump station, a gate house, power house and a guidance
building. The guidance building was a double, one for each 3 launchers.
Launcher 4 was somewhat off-set in relation to the others because it was
also used for training and testing the missiles engines.
According to "ou_fan_in_wyoming" on the missile_talk
group (March 29, 2008), the roofs seem to be missing
and the land owner may be ready to do some demolition work.
The crew photo is of crew 564 R-01 in the 564-A blockhouse circa 1960, and was posted to the missile_talk group on January 1, 2006. In the chairs are Captain Millian (Crew Commander), 1lt Tom Olson (assistant commander). In the back row are (left to right) A1C Naylor, Ssgt Pivioronias, Ssgt Hafenstien, A1c Mesic, Ssgt Billy Gibbs, and Ssgt Dale Howe. | |||||||||||
Terraserver | Warren | 41-23-33 104-38-28 20 miles NE Cheyenne, WY (9 miles west of Midway Wyoming) | D #2 565-A Cheyenne | ||||||||
| Take highway 85 from I-25 towards Torrington. About .5 miles past mile marker 30 is a road that runs north, with a major power line along it on the left (west) side of that road. I don't know if this is a private road but it probably is. About 2.5 miles up the road is the site, again possibly on private land (the 2001 DeLorme atlas indicates it's halfway on state land, the previous atlas did not; this doesn't mean it's not trespassing to drive in). This site and the power line are not on the 7.5-minute topo map (J H D Ranch, WY, 1991) but *are* on the 1:100000 "Cheyenne" map (1981)! The color photo is of an unknown Atlas D but the snow sure makes me think of Wyoming. | |||||||||||
Terraserver | Warren | 41-05-30 104-30-40 16 miles ESE Cheyenne, WY (8 miles NW Carpenter Wyoming) | D #3 565-B Carpenter | ||||||||
May 2001 drove up to the gate.
Interestingly, the radio tower was intact. This site was for sale
on eBay around April 2001 (item 579069359) with 350 acres of land,
for around $100,000. The owner
had died and the estate wanted to sell it, but it had around
40,000 used tires (resulting in a big DEQ lien),
many junk vehicles (see northeast corner of photo),
and an original USAF diesel spill. One visitor placed
its value at less than nothing. The eBay sale was a bust
and the site was then offered more conventionally but I don't
know how it turned out.
Here is email the sellers
sent out;
here is a .pdf file of the
legal description, and
here is a .pdf file of the
bid form.
Some Urban Explorers posted numerous photos of this missile site:
http://photobucket.com/albums/y298/NoizeKommissar/Urban%20Exploration/Missile%20Site%203.
On March 13, 2005, Scott D. Murdock visited, see his trip report at
http://www.airforcebase.net/trips/wyoming/wyoming.html.
Scott reports the site is still for sale.
According to "ou_fan_in_wyoming" on the missile_talk
group (March 29, 2008) it is still for sale, reportedly for
over 3 million dollars.
Terraserver Warren
| 41-05-10 105-08-43 | 18 miles west of Cheyenne, WY (2 miles SE Granite Wyoming) D #4 | 565-C Granite Canyon 6/9/01 The access road is definitely private
but the site is clearly visible from Interstate 80 near mile
marker 344.
There is a frontage road on the north side of the highway
in case you want to stop and take a look with binoculars.
If you are going eastbound
take the Harriman exit (#342), turn left and go under I-80
and follow the frontage road for about a mile, then gaze.
Continue
on the frontage road and it will rejoin I-80 at the
Warren Road intersection (#345). If you are going westbound
take the Warren Road exit, and rejoin I-80 at Harriman
Road.
Note the corral built next to easternmost launcher.
Click on the color photo for a few more details.
A newspaper article (Laramie Daily Boomerang for August 5 2003)
states that the city of Cheyenne purchased the 17,000-acre
Belvoir Ranch which includes this missile site, partly for the
water rights, even though the water around the site is heavily
contaminated with TCE (trichloroethylene).
TCE contamination is common at old missile sites,
TCE was used as a cleaning solvent and dumped onto the ground.
In this case I expect there is still clean water from other wells
around the sprawling ranch and I understand TCE is
relatively easy to remove via aeration.
In a newspaper article (Laramie Boomerang, March 19, 2008)
it was explained that Cheyenne spent $600,000 in 1998 to clean
this water, and $20,000 annually since then. They hope that the
Army Corps of Engineers will take over cleanup costs for the next
100 to 300 years.
There is a web site detailing the Belvoir Ranch and Cheyenne's
plans to develop and utilize the property, including recreation,
at
http://www.belvoirranch.org.
| | |||||||
Stumpf (page 6) says there were 9 Warren AFB Atlas E sites but Siloman's list only included 5. I added #13, and later found 10-13 listed on a hazardous waste web site (but not with coordinates). Numbering for the E sites picks up where the D sites left off.
Terraserver | Warren | 41-40-07 104-46-37 36 miles north of Cheyenne, WY (6.5 miles SSE Chugwater, WY) | E #5 566-1 Chugwater |
|
There was a short DERP/FUDS report at
http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil//html/pm-h/erpmp/Atlas5PMP.pdf
but it has disappeared and I can't find a copy
(though I do have a partial HTML file that is not directly usable).
Note the 7.5-minute topo map
(Bristol Ridge NE Quadrangle Wyoming, 1990), and photo, show a
"pipeline" from the south-east to the site (you will need
to zoom out a bit on the photo).
The pipeline is not on the 1:100,000 Chugwater Quadrangle
Wyoming-Nebraska map (1979) which suggests it was built between
1979 and 1990.
On maps I've traced this as part of a minor maze of pipelines
and pumping stations that end up in Cheyenne near Dell Range
Boulevard and Ridge Road. There, on Thomas Road, are signs
warning of a high pressure petroleum pipeline owned by
Conoco Pipeline Company. So it appears this missile site has
(or had) an oil or gas well.
3/26/02 Same sort of Conoco sign 3 miles SE of the site.
7/28/01 Sign outside site "Daellenbach Manufacturing Company"
but I can't find the company in phone books or online. Large trees
suggest they were planted a long time ago, perhaps around the
time the site was sold after deactivation. In the large color
picture (not a good one, sorry) you can see some of the site's trees
on the left, and some of the light fixtures over the top of the sign.
8/15/02 A friend found a short article at
http://www.odysseychannel.com/america/photo03.html
but that link died so try
http://web.archive.org/web/20030826175027/http://www.odysseychannel.com/america/photo03.html.
The article pointed out Francis Dallenbach (note the incorrect
spelling) owned the site and also wound the tower clock at the old
Union Pacific depot in Cheyenne as well as the courthouse clock.
10/30/2002 Francis Daellenbach died of smoke inhalation from
an accidental fire at the site (his home for over 30 years).
3/1/2003 There is now a No Trespassing sign on the road.
9/7/2005 I noticed this site was for sale on
missilebases.com
for $387,000.
In early July 2006 I was told the site is now marked
"Frontier Astronautics" with many more No Trespassing
signs, notifications of security cameras, and so on.
On December 24, 2006, an Associated Press article was published in the Laramie Boomerang about this site. The article was written by Tom Mast of the Casper Star Tribune. Tim Bendel, president of Frontier Astronautics, lives here. Tim is a former Lockheed Martin propulsion engineer. The company makes propulsion systems and attitude control systems. Their web site has many more details and images. April 14, 2007, a quick visit only shows the old sign repainted with "Frontier Astronautics" and if you look closely, traces of the old sign's text are visible. | |||
Terraserver | Warren | 41-33-38 104-17-57 38 miles NE of Cheyenne, WY (2 miles NE Meriden, WY) | E #6 566-2 La Grange |
| The entrance is .9 miles east of mile marker 55 on highway 85, a little past Meriden, at the top of a small hill that would seem to have a nice view. I took the "gate shot" from just off the higway on an overcast afternoon in April 2002. Though not posted, I chose not to drive in. The other view is from the highway a little west of the entrance. I'm told it had water wells on the north side. | |||
Terraserver | Warren | 41-13-03 104-03-55 38 miles east of Cheyenne, WY (2.5 miles north of Pine Bluffs, WY) | E #7 566-3 Pine Bluffs |
| 7/7/01 The road to the site goes east from county road 215, a tiny bit north of where 215 goes west, but is immediately gated. At the north end of the site is apparent farm equipment so it's being used probably by a farmer of an adjacent field. | |||
Terraserver | Warren | 41-12-33 103-41-12 57 miles east of Cheyenne, WY (2 miles SW Kimball, NE) | E #8 566-4 Kimball |
| A DERP/FUDS report was at http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil//html/pm-h/erpmp/pmpfewarrenafbfatlassite8_ne.pdf but it's gone now. 7/7/01 definitely inhabited, there's a nice pair of white steel gates with a red "Z" on each gate, a skylight (covering the flame pit), a house, etc. The 1972 7.5-minute topo map does not show the site. I heard a story that somebody bought the site very cheaply, remodeled it, after which the county assessor decided it was worth $400,000 and taxed it accordingly. In early 2003, HGTV aired an episode of "Building Character" (BDC-104) on this site, owned by Charlene and Don Zwonitzer. There was a newspaper article in the Rocky Mountain News on Saturday, January 17, 2004, entitled "Site Unseen", see http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/gardening/article/0,1299,DRMN_60_2580175,00.html, however, that article has been archived and they charge for retrieval. In January 2004 I noticed this site was for sale, for $3,000,000 (see http://www.topfsbo.com/homes/propview.php?view=999517 though in May 2004 it is no longer listed there). See also http://www.earth-house.com/Homes_4_Sale/Atlas_E_Silo/atlas_e_silo.html (web site no longer exists) and http://allthelistings.com/home/details/7857 both of which list the property at $25 million (the second link had several photos, though it is no longer listed, so try http://web.archive.org/web/20041019194758/http://allthelistings.com/home/details/7857). I also found a listing at http://www.parkwest.com/jagpalproperties/Pro_details.cfm?Details=304 but that link is now dead too, so try http://web.archive.org/web/20041024181958/http://www.parkwest.com/jagpalproperties/Pro_details.cfm?Details=304). 3/2/2005 Saw an article in the February 21 2005 issue of Network World, the Zwonitzers want to rent space for data disaster recovery. The article was also printed in the February 25 2005 issue of Computer World, see http://www.earth-house.com/Homes_4_Sale/Atlas_E_Silo/CW-Silo_2_23_05/cw-silo_2_23_05.html (web site now gone) and/or http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1385990972;fp;16;fpid;0. These articles point out the Zwonitzers bought the site for $40,000 in 1996. On December 1, 2007, Tony Castillo pointed me to a web site full of photos taken by a Cooper Mini club that visited here: http://coloradorick.smugmug.com/gallery/1416218#P-1-15. | |||
Terraserver | Warren | 40-56-44 104-12-57 33 miles SE Cheyenne, WY (5 miles N Grover, CO) | E #9 566-5 Grover |
| There was a DERP/FUDS report at http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil//html/pm-h/erpmp/pmpfewarrenafbfatlassite9_co.pdf but it's gone now. The road (Colorado 390) is paved to the north but dirt to the south. The site apparently does have power (single-phase transformer and meter in place) but I couldn't tell much more. No Trespassing. In the photo, note the double fence. There are two cattle guards, the No Trespassing sign that stopped me is on the second one. The 1975 7.5-minute topo map (Grover North, Colo) does not show the site. 3/1/2005, I noticed the Terraserver photo is new (1999) but I chose to keep the older one on my site so you can compare; the quality is about the same (very good) but in the newer one there are a few extra trails around the missile site. | |||
Terraserver | Warren | 40-38-53 104-23-05 39 miles SE Cheyenne, WY (3.5 miles NW Briggsdale Colorado) | E #10 566-6 Briggsdale |
| There was a DERP/FUDS report at http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil//html/pm-h/erpmp/pmpfewarrenafbfatlassite10_co.pdf but it's gone now. Scott D. Murdock dropped by, July 25 1998, see http://www.airforcebase.net/trips/crazy/trcrazy.html. He reports the site is buried, possibly by the forest service (the DERP/FUDS report says the land reverted back to the Department of Agriculture, Forest Service). When I drove by 5/19/2002 the outer gate off highway 14 was closed so I couldn't even get close. | |||
Terraserver | Warren | 40-47-16 104-43-12 25 miles S Cheyenne, WY (6 miles NNE Nunn Colorado) | E #11 566-7 Nunn |
| There was a DERP/FUDS report at http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil//html/pm-h/erpmp/pmpfewarrenafbfatlassite11_co.pdf but it's gone now. I drove by 5/19/2002. It's now the Colorado Engineering Experiment Station, Inc., Flow Measurement Facility, Corporate Office. It's quite developed, see photos. Also note the road from the south is nicely paved but dirt from the north. See www.ceesi.com where it's clarified that they provide flow measurement and valve testing, consulting, and training. Their web site also has a very nice aerial photo of the site, http://www.ceesi.com/facilities.aspx. | |||
Terraserver | Warren | 40-25-46 104-51-43 49 miles S Cheyenne, WY (3.5 miles SE Windsor Colorado) | E #12 566-8 Ft. Collins |
|
There was a DERP/FUDS report at
http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil//html/pm-h/erpmp/pmpfewarrenafbfatlassite12_co.pdf
but it's gone now.
Scott D. Murdock visited July 25 1998, see
http://www.airforcebase.net/trips/crazy/trcrazy.html
where he reports this site is a county park and
looks in very good shape.
Tours are available but one must call to arrange one,
(970) 356-4000 extension 4831.
On 5/19/2002 (Armed Forces Day!) I too visited but was not able
to arrange a tour.
On 6/8/2002 I did get a tour, click on the color photo.
Scott Murdock re-visited on March 16, 2005, see his
Wyoming Weekends
trip report which also includes several images.
On May 22, 2008, a tornado hit the area. The home of the caretaker, Pete Ambrose, was destroyed; he essentially lost everything including his pets. A man camping at the surrounding park was killed. And the 660-ton lid was moved two inches by the tornado. | |||
Terraserver | Warren | 40-40-42 105-12-12 39 miles SW Cheyenne, WY (11 miles NW of Fort Collins, CO) (1.5 miles NW Ted's Place Colorado) | E #13 566-9 |
| There was a DERP/FUDS report at http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil//html/pm-h/erpmp/pmpfewarrenafbfatlassite13.pdf but it's gone now. In perhaps the late 1970s this site was owned by Colorado State University and was used for things like studying rattlesnake hibernation. Later, perhaps the early 1980s, it was used by a document archival company for storage of archival materials. On 6/30/01, the road in simply said No Trespassing, and from US 287 it's clear somebody has a home right next to it. The DeLorme map set claims the road to the site is "McMurray Ranch Road" but that may be its name before it turns private. | |||
Offutt Air Force Base is about 15 miles south of Omaha Nebraska. They had Atlas D sites, but may be better known as the former home of the Strategic Air Command.
Other references:
(Patch image courtesy of USAFPatches.com)
Offutt's missiles were manned by the 549th SMS which was activated August 15 1959, went on alert March 30 1962, started going off alert October 1 1964, and was inactivated December 14 1964. Confusingly, the squadron was originally the 566th but on July 1 1961 SAC swapped designators with the 549th at F.E. Warren AFB. The 549th SMS was under the 385th SAW, see: http://www.strategic-air-command.com/wings/0385sw.htm.
I believe Offutt is where President Bush was taken on September 11, 2001, when the World Trade Center was destroyed.
Fred Epler explains many of the smaller buildings and structures as follows -- "The 3 large poles are part of the soft HF antenna. The 2 small buildings just southeast of launcher 3 are storage magazines and there was also a boresite tower to the west of the magazines. The small building on the southwest side of the complex and about 200 feet outside the fence is the water well. Small buildings that are on the south and east side of the complex and about 1500 feet from the control center are rate remote stations for the guidance system. There was also a microwave tower and building within its own fence just to the souteast of the complex gate. Sewage ponds were located about 250 feet northeast of launcher 3."
Terraserver | Offutt | 41-11-37 096-26-20 23 miles West of Omaha Nebraska (3.5 miles SE Mead Nebraska) | D #1 Missile Annex A 549-A Mead |
| Owned by Nebraska University, it's being leased to a company for ranching and storage (see Scott D. Murdock's "Thanksgiving in the Heartland" trip report). The topo map says "Nebraska National Guard Training Area." Stan Hague reports this site has been used by the Nebraska National Guard as a training site for at least 5 years, mostly for military police K-9 training. | |||
Terraserver 
| Offutt | 41-29-16 096-18-06 21 miles NW Omaha Nebraska (5 miles W Kennard Nebraska) | D #2 Missile Annex B 549-B Arlington |
| Travis Krause reports the site is remarkably intact and in use by a farmer for storage. According to Stan Hague, this site is owned by the Erickson brothers. The second aerial view and the site layout diagram were, I think, posted on the missile_talk group. | |||
Terraserver | Offutt | 41-31-27 095-49-08 20 miles NNE Omaha Nebraska (4.5 miles SE Missouri Valley, Iowa) | D #3 Missile Annex C 549-C Missouri Valley |
| Just another D site, but the full Terrasserver photo sure is pretty. Scott D. Murdock reports the concrete launch structures have been demolished. Stan Hague reports -- this site became a public nuisance from it's accumulation of stolen cars, vandalism and quite a few "cornfield" parties. The city of Missouri Valley decided that razing the site and turning it into a park would be a better use for that property. On terraserver you can still see the access roads, however none of the original structures (either below ground or above) remain. Rob Branting reports it is still fenced off, with cattle grazing (2004). | |||
Fairchild Air Force Base is about 14 miles west of Spokane Washington. They only had Atlas E sites.
Other references:
Stumpf (page 6) states Fairchild had 9 Atlas E sites; Siloman's list was missing four in the list that follows. I found the Rockford and Wilbur sites via the Fairchild history cited above, which included a crude map and the statement "In 1960 Atlas Missile sites were established within a 200 mile radius of base (ICBM). Nine locations: Deer Park; Newman Lake; Rockford; Croskey (near Sprague), Lamont [sic] (east of Odessa), Bluestem (south of Davenport); Wilbur; Egypt (south of Miles); and Crescent (north of Reardon [sic])." From the above, I "flew around" via Terraserver.
(Patch image courtesy of USAFPatches.com)
Fairchild sites were manned by the 567th SMS which was activated April 1 1960, went on alert September 28 1961, started going off alert February 17 1965, and was inactivated June 25 1965. The 567th has a web site at http://members.cox.net/crustycapt/567SMS.html. The 567th SMS was under the 92nd Strategic Air Wing (see http://strategic-air-command.com/wings/0092bw.htm).
There is a list of FUDS cleanup sites for Washington, at http://www.gao.gov/gao-01-1012sp/WA.html which lists all the Fairchild Atlas sites, cleanup problems, and costs.
Terraserver | Fairchild | 47-58-27 117-24-34 21 miles north Spokane Washington (2.5 miles NE Deer Park Washington) | 567-1 Deer Park |
| From the photo, #1 looks pretty busy. This is a short distance (less than 1/2 mile) east of the Deer Park municipal airport. Fred Epler reports the site is used for explosives testing, and has a microwave relay. I'm not sure what the little extra building to the north is, it might have been the missile site's water annex, or it might be the explosives magazine for the testing folks. | |||
Terraserver | Fairchild | 47-44-25 117-03-38 17 miles ENE Spokane Washington (3 miles NNE Otis Orchards Washington) (2 miles SE Newman Lake) | 567-2 Newman Lake |
| Heavily developed judging by the photo. Fred Epler reports a house on the site, and that a trucking company owns it. | |||
Terraserver | Fairchild | 47-26-12 117-01-07 24 miles SW Spokane Washington (5 miles ESE Rockford Washington) (Actually in Idaho) | 567-3 Rockford |
| There's a report at https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/Library/Cleanup/CleanupOfc/arc/Reports/FY1997/appffuds.pdf which suggests this site has a FUDS ID of WA09799F326600. | |||
Terraserver | Fairchild | 47-19-56 117-54-11 32 miles SW Spokane Washington (4 miles NE Sprague Washington) (3.5 miles NW Croskey Washington) | 567-4 Sprague |
| Barren yet tidy. Overgrazed? Croskey is not on my road atlas, and is not in my Garmin e-map GPS receiver. It does show up on Terraserver but the photo shows nothing there. It was probably a railroad siding. There's a report at https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/Library/Cleanup/CleanupOfc/arc/Reports/FY1997/appffuds.pdf which suggests this site has a FUDS ID of WA09799F326700. Another report, at http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/publications_pdf/HealthConsults/fairchildairforcebaseatlasemissilesite_sprague_lincoln_5-14-99.pdf states that the site is a private residence and people are living in the Launch Operations Building. | |||
Terraserver | Fairchild | 47-22-04 118-29-27 54 miles SW Spokane Washington (10 miles ENE of Odessa Washington) (1/2 mile NW Lamona Washington) | 567-5 Lamona |
| Lamona seems to be a railroad siding and a few buildings. | |||
Terraserver | Fairchild | 47-33-36 118-09-34 35 miles WSW Spokane Washington (6 miles south of Davenport Washington) (2.5 miles NW Bluestem Washington) | 567-6 Davenport |
|
Ralph Benson lived here, and was accused of
murdering Roger Erdman in June 2002.
The trial started October 20 2003 and should take three weeks. See
http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20020703/northwest/7634_ARC.shtml
(web page no longer available, The Olympian now charges for archive access),
http://www.kxly.com/common/getStory.asp?id=31962
though that link is dead so try
http://web.archive.org/web/20050208191708/http://www.kxly.com/common/getStory.asp?id=31962 instead.
He was convicted, and is also suspected in at least
one other murder if not more, see
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001827639_trucker01m.html
(now archived, you must pay to see it, but see
http://web.archive.org/web/20040220010352/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001827639_trucker01m.html).
In September 2004 Benson passed away in prison, see
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA%20Auditor%20Slain
(link expired, try
http://web.archive.org/web/20041012091001/http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA+Auditor+Slain).
In a newspaper article here (October 29th, 2007) it is stated that the National UFO Reporting Center is based at this site. At least, the article claims it's at site number 6 and also states the owner (Peter Davenport) is living in nearby Harrington; the Center's address is a PO box in Davenport. Another article in the Seattle Times published March 30, 2008 (here) essentially repeats the same information. | |||
Terraserver | Fairchild | 47-45-49 118-36-30 56 miles W Spokane Washington (4.5 miles E Wilbur Washington) | 567-7 Wilbur |
Terraserver Google map | Fairchild | 47-49-39 118-13-21 39 miles WNW Spokane Washington (6 miles SSE Miles Washington) | 567-8 Egypt |
| About a mile south of a small community called Egypt but that's not on my road map, nor in my Garmin e-map GPS receiver, and Terraserver doesn't include it, though it is on the topo map. I understand the site is, or was, being used to store farm equipment. There's an EPA web page at http://cfpub.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=1002358 that lists the site as EPA ID WAN001002358. | |||
Terraserver | Fairchild | 47-47-41 117-49-50 21 miles WNW Spokane Washington (9 miles NNE Reardan Washington) (1.5 miles NNE Crescent Washington) | 567-9 Reardan |
| There's a report at https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/Library/Cleanup/CleanupOfc/arc/Reports/FY1997/appffuds.pdf which suggests this site has a FUDS ID of WA09799F327200. There's an EPA web page at http://cfpub.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=1002027 that lists the site as EPA ID WA0002340230. Crescent is another place not on my map nor in my GPS receiver. Terraserver does list a Crescent at the other end of the state (if you do a search on the name), but that's a different one. Yet the topo map does show a place called Crescent at about 47-46-26 117-50-29 at the crossing of two roads. The photo shows nothing much there. I'm told that the name refers to the road that descends to the Spokane River, and that for some reason Navteq calls it Missile Site Road. | |||
Forbes Air Force Base (near Topeka Kansas) no longer exists, having been closed in 1973. It's now Forbes Field, a civilian airport and industrial park as well as a base for the Kansas Air and Army National Guard. Forbes Field itself is at latitude 38-57-03, longitude 095-39-49, 6 miles south of Topeka. They only had Atlas E sites.
Other references:
(Patch image courtesy of Don Peoples)
Forbes sites were manned by the 548th SMS which was activated July 1 1960, went on alert October 10 1961, started going off alert January 4 1965, and was inactivated March 25 1965. The 548th has a web site, http://www.548sms.com. The 548th SMS was under the 40th SAW (see http://strategic-air-command.com/wings/0040bw.htm).
Sites here also had a single-letter designation, in the order in which they were built, so I've included those as well. This is courtesy of Jeff Goodman along with some of the later photos. Jeff also has done some research on early planning --
Except as noted, water was usually supplied from wells several miles from each site.
Terraserver | Forbes | 39-16-45 095-31-50 18.5 miles NNE Topeka Kansas (2.5 miles N Rock Creek Kansas) | E #1 548-1 Valley Falls F |
| I'm told the missile bay roof was removed for salvage in 1994. The second picture was taken in 1967. The third picture was sent to me by Jeff Goodman. 3/1/2005 I noticed the Terraserver photo is new (2002) and not very good so I'm leaving the older one on my web site for comparison. | |||
Terraserver | Forbes | 38-46-05 095-22-05 25 miles SE Topeka Kansas (between Globe and Worden, Kansas) | E #2 548-2 Lawrence G |
| Large trees, looks well-groomed. The second photo is from 1970. The third (color) photo was sent to me by Jeff Goodman. The fourth (color) photo was taken by Don Peoples in September of 2002. There's a report at https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/Library/Cleanup/CleanupOfc/arc/Reports/FY1997/appffuds.pdf which suggests this site has a FUDS ID of KS79799F026500. In January 2005 there was a discussion on the missile_talk group that there was an interesting accident on March 13, 1962. After a standboard evaulation, the site was being reconfigured for standard alert duty but a stray static charge, while reconnecting the firing cable, caused the sustainer engine's SPGG to fire (Solid Propellant Gas Generator, SPGG). The turbo pump spun up dry and disintegrated, sending shrapnel into the fuel tank (of missile 44-E). The tank depressurized causing the missile to collapse. It was apparently sent back to Convair for repair. It may have been returned to service and later scrapped. | |||
Terraserver | Forbes | 38-25-49 095-40-42 41 miles south of Topeka, Kansas (6 miles SSW Melvern Kansas) | E #3 548-3 Waverly H |
| Large pond adjacent, perhaps for watering livestock, built in the 1970s I'm told. The second picture was taken around 1963. The third photo was taken by Don Peoples in September 2002. There's a report at https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/Library/Cleanup/CleanupOfc/arc/Reports/FY1997/appffuds.pdf which suggests this site has a FUDS ID of KS79799F026600. | |||
Terraserver | Forbes | 38-41-40 095-52-48 25 miles SSW Topeka Kansas (5 miles NW Osage Kansas) | E #4 548-4 Osage City A |
| Looks developed (buildings, trees). The second photo is from 1964. The third photo was taken by Don Peoples in September 2002. This site got its water from Osage City's municipal supply. | |||
Terraserver | Forbes | 38-41-09 096-18-09 41 miles SW Topeka Kansas (7 miles W Allen Kansas) (4 miles NW Bushong Kansas) | E #5 548-5 Council Grove I |
| Nice trees, tidy, but looks undeveloped otherwise. The Terraserver photo was taken in 1991. Between 1993 and 1995 it was cleaned up and made livable but the missile bay roof was torn out to salvage the steel (silly, given the low cost of steel). It was then sold to Tim Schwartz, Ed Peden's partner; they then sold it to Bob Cordray who had repeated trespassing problems and on February 16, 2000, shot and killed a trespasser. See newspaper article and later articles by the Topeka Capital-Journal (unfortunately, the Topeka Capital-Journal has become yet another newspaper that charges for access to archived articles). The owner was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to nine years in prison. I'm told all the trees have been cut down though in the second photo, taken by Don Peoples in September 2002, some still seem to be standing. | |||
Terraserver | Forbes | 38-58-35 096-02-57 20 miles WSW Topeka Kansas (6 miles west Dover Kansas) | E #6 548-6 Eskridge B |
| This is the home of Ed Peden and his wife. Ed owns 20th Century Castles (missilebases.com), a real estate company dealing in old missile sites. Ed lives here and makes ultralight aircraft (Higher Planes, Inc.) in the former missile bay. Actually, I ran across a reference that suggested Ed no longer makes ultralights, see http://www.wired.com/news/culture/1,47577-0.html. The original water wells were about 6.5 miles north of the site. The second (color) photo was taken by Don Peoples in September 2002. 3/1/2005 I noticed the Terraserver photo is new (2002) and Ed seems to have built a pond next to the former sewage treatment ponds; I'll leave the older photos on my web site for comparison. | |||
Terraserver | Forbes | 39-13-22 096-19-32 37 miles WNW Topeka Kansas (1.5 miles NW Wamego Kansas) | E #7 548-7 Wamego D |
| This site was being used as an illegal LSD drug lab up until about November 2000 when authorities shut it down. See newspaper article for example. See also http://www.cjonline.com/webindepth/missilesilos/. At that time the site was owned by the Wamego Land Trust. Around October 2001 missilebases.com listed this as the most highly-developed Atlas E site in existence, selling for over one million dollars. Ed Peden (missilebases.com) apparently stopped trying to sell the site around mid-2002 due to environmental concerns. In August of 2002, Chris Malone paid $140,000 for the site in a sheriff's auction. (The last two items from the Manhattan (Kansas) Mercury, note they expect people to actually pay to read archived articles on line). It was for sale on eBay (3/19/2003) as item number 2313303570 with a starting price of $550,000 but received zero bids. Somebody told me, or wrote, that this site got its water from Wamego's municipal supply which would make sense since it's so close the Air Force might have seen this as an easier alternative to drilling for wells like most other sites. Chris Malone tells me this is not the case, but will be by early summer 2004 (along with neighboring properties whose water is tainted by chemicals from the missile site). There is a brief discussion of water treatment issues at http://www.cpeo.org/lists/military/2002/msg15582.html. Chris also tells me that site cleanup began in early April 2004. The second photo was taken by Don Peoples in September 2002. On April 7 2004 I discovered it was on eBay again, item number 2393414093, $595,000. On May 11 2004 I noticed the item number on eBay is now 4301229032. On June 7 2004 I noticed the item number on eBay is now 4306472315. On July 19 2004 I noticed missilebases.com reduced the price to merely $545,000. In October 2004 Marshall Reece pointed me to the Wamego webcam which can actually see this Atlas site. Go to http://www.wamtelco.com/?page=community&sub=webcams, and select Looking West on Hwy 24, then zoom out twice, pan right 6 times, and zoom in 4 times. Look for a pair of large buildings, one being an original round-top quonset hut, the other being a more modern building of similar size but angular. Most of the rest of the missile site is just to the left (however, the pan-tilt-zoom capability was removed, so this no longer works but it could be re-established in the future). | |||
Terraserver | Forbes | 39-14-42 095-55-11 19 miles NW Topeka Kansas (2.5 miles east of Delia Kansas) | E #8 548-8 St Marys C |
| First color photo courtesy of Jeff Goodman. Second color photo taken by Don Peoples, September 2002. Third color photo courtesy of Jeff Goodman, from 1986, showing dirt entering the tunnel junction; the owners actually removed the 120-foot-long tunnel between the LOB and LSB so as time goes by, dirt is slowly filling up the area. 3/1/2005 noticed the Terraserver photo is new (2002), but I am leaving the older ones on my web site for comparison. | |||
Terraserver | Forbes | 39-31-33 95-44-25 33 miles N Topeka Kansas (4 miles N of Holton Kansas) | E #9 548-9 Holton E |
|
The topo map shows "Military Reservation".
For a long time, Terraserver had no photo.
But in late 2002 I was contacted by Marshall Reece who had downloaded
a Terraserver photo some time before (I didn't realize Terraserver
had ever DELETED photos from their system!) which I include on this
web site. 3/1/2005 I noticed Terraserver finally has a photo, dated
2002, but I thought I'd leave the older one here for comparision.
The Jackson Heights school district bought this site for $1 (one US dollar) and converted it into a high school. See http://cjonline.com/stories/120400/com_missilebases.shtml which describes it as 5 miles north of Holton which would be this site, #9. See also Scott D. Murdock's trip report at http://www.airforcebase.net/trips/heart/trheart.html. | |||
Altus Air Force Base is near Altus Oklahoma (SW Oklahoma) and only had Atlas F sites. I ran across a reference that one Altus silo was lost to an explosion during a dual-propellant loading exercise (in addition to the three at Walker AFB), see http://www.afmissileers.org/newsletters/NL1999/Mar99.pdf, page 8. This was May 14 1964, site 577-6. The date is confirmed by astronautix.com though they do not list the location. See also http://globalsecurity.org/military/facility/altus.htm and http://www.afmissileers.org/newsletters/NL2006/Sep06.pdf page 6.
Other references:
(Patch image courtesy of USAFPatches.com)
Altus sites were manned by the 577th SMS which was activated June 1 1961, went on alert October 9 1962, started going off alert December 30 1964, and was inactivated March 25 1965. The 577th was under the 11th Strategic Air Wing (see http://www.strategic-air-command.com/wings/0011bw.htm).
I stumbled across a curious article at http://www.poncacitynews.com/NewsArchives/0400folder/lo041800.html that included a note about Evans & Associates Construction that stated "In addition to the fly ash storage facility, the company recently completed the reclamation of several Atlas Missile Silo's [sic] in southwest Oklahoma, which included filling the silos and living quarters with flowable fill concrete." The date was April 18, 2000.
Terraserver | Altus | 34-55-32 099-15-37 20 miles NNE Altus Oklahoma (2.5 miles NNE Lugert Oklahoma) | #1 577-1 Lonewolf |
| FUDS property number K06OK0401. | |||
Terraserver | Altus | 35-01-35 099-10-15 27 miles NNE Altus Oklahoma (4.5 miles W Hobart Oklahoma) | #2 577-2 Hobart |
| FUDS property number K06OK0402. This is the home of www.atlasmissilesilo.com, according to the web site, and is owned by David Johnson. | |||
Terraserver | Altus | 34-41-14 098-56-27 21 miles E Altus Oklahoma (2 miles N Synder Oklahoma) (SE corner of Mountain Park Oklahoma) | #3 577-3 Snyder |
| Scott D. Murdock visited here September 6 1998, see http://www.airforcebase.net/trips/swok/trswok.html. Labeled "Synder Show Barn" and well sealed. FUDS property number K06OK0403. According to http://www.atlasmissilesilo.com, this site is owned by the Snyder School District and used by the Snyder FFA for livestock shows ( http://www.atlasmissilesilo.com/577thSMS_Site3.htm). | |||
Terraserver | Altus | 34-36-56 098-39-39 37 miles E Altus Oklahoma (2.5 miles WSW Cache Oklahoma) | #4 577-4 Cache |
| Looks well developed in the Terraserver photo. Scott D. Murdock visited 1/4/2003 and reports it's Cache FFA Livestock Barn & Fairgrounds. FUDS property number K06OK0404. | |||
Terraserver | Altus | 34-33-44 098-57-45 21 miles E Altus Oklahoma (6.5 miles S Snyder Oklahoma) (3 miles NNE Manitou Oklahoma) | #5 577-5 Manitou |
| December 22 2001, for sale by missilebases.com for $99,500. A basic starter project. FUDS property number K06OK0405. | |||
Terraserver | Altus | 34-26-18 099-00-54 22 miles SE Altus Oklahoma (3 miles N Frederick Oklahoma) (5 miles SSW Manitou Oklahoma) | #6 577-6 Frederick |
| One quonset is labeled "J & S Automotive Salvage". This site suffered an explosion during a Propellant Loading Exercise (PLX) on May 14 1964, and was never put back in service. See http://www.afmissileers.org/newsletters/NL2006/Sep06.pdf page 6. There are photos, and even 45 minutes of audio recording of the accident at http://www.atlasmissilesilo.com/Accidents_577thSMS_Site6.htm. FUDS property number K06OK0406. | |||
Terraserver | Altus | 34-21-44 099-19-27 20 miles S Altus Oklahoma (5 miles into Texas 1/2 mile W of US 283) | #7 577-7 Fargo TX |
| Curious in that the surrounding area is laid out at an angle relative to north-south, though of course the site itself is lined up at the usual angle. FUDS property number K06OK0407. There's a report at https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/Library/Cleanup/CleanupOfc/arc/Reports/FY1998/app_h/app_h_f.pdf which suggests this site has a FUDS ID of TX69799F648800. | |||
Terraserver | Altus | 34-31-36 099-32-24 (15 miles SW Altus Oklahoma) (midway between Olustee and Eldorado) (.7 miles NE Creta Oklahoma) | #8 577-8 Creta |
| December 22 2001, for sale by missilebases.com for $133,000. There was a DERP/FUDS report at http://pirs.mvr.usace.army.mil/fuds/a-d/atlas_f/project.htm but that link is now inactive, try http://web.archive.org/web/20020820060347/http://pirs.mvr.usace.army.mil/fuds/a-d/atlas_f/project.htm. FUDS property number K06OK0408. | |||
Terraserver | Altus | 34-41-05 099-50-03 30 miles W Altus Oklahoma (4.5 miles E Hollis Oklahoma) | #9 577-9 Hollis |
| FUDS property number K06OK0409. | |||
Terraserver | Altus | 34-49-04 099-35-26 20 miles NW Altus Oklahoma (6.5 miles SW Magnum Oklahoma) | #10 577-10 Russell |
| I've heard one of the sites has the launch doors open, the photo suggests this is that site. FUDS property number K06OK0410. | |||
Terraserver | Altus | 35-03-43 099-29-49 30 miles NNW Altus Oklahoma (1 mile NE Willow Oklahoma) | #11 577-11 Willow |
| There was a DERP/FUDS report at http://pirs.mvr.usace.army.mil/fuds/a-d/atlas_11/preasses/pa.htm but it is no longer available, see http://web.archive.org/web/20020820060034/http://pirs.mvr.usace.army.mil/fuds/a-d/atlas_11/preasses/pa.htm. FUDS property number K06OK0411. | |||
Terraserver | Altus | 34-57-14 099-25-38 22 miles NNW Altus Oklahoma (3 miles W Granite Oklahoma) | #12 577-12 Hobart |
| FUDS property number K06OK0412. | |||
Schilling Air Force Base was near Salina Kansas (about 4 miles SSW), and only had Atlas F sites. Stumpf (page 6) says there were 12 Schilling Atlas Fs but Siloman listed 9, Scott D. Murdock filled in the rest for me.
Other resources:
(Patch image courtesy of USAFPatches.com)
Schilling sites were manned by the 550th SMS which was activated April 1 1961, went on alert September 9 1962, started going off alert February 1 1965, and was inactivated June 25 1965. The 550th SMS was under the 310th SAW (see http://www.strategic-air-command.com/wings/0310bw.htm).
Schilling was closed in 1965-1967 (depending on whose article you read). It was partly turned over to the Salina Airport Authority (SAA). Coordinates are 38-47-30, 097-39. In this Terraserver photo and this Terraserver topo map, the former base is in the lower left and marked "Municipal Airport" and there's an abandoned airport in the upper-right with some nice-looking baseball fields. My guess is the abandoned field was the municipal airport until Schilling became the new airport.
Around July 2002 I noticed missilebases.com listed one of these sites but did not specify which one ("30 miles from Salina") for $450,000. The description said "Central, KS" but I can't find a town by that name so I suspect it simply means central Kansas. July 19 2004 I noticed the price was reduced to $245,000. March 2 2005 I think this is the Kanopolis (550-7) site.
Jeff Goodman supplies some observations and research --
One of these sites has apparently been extensively re-developed by a British company called Blue Sky Construction, and is now for sale as a property called World's End. See for example http://missilebases.com/properties/VisionAF.htm and http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2007/10/03/story44181.asp. But it isn't clear which Kansas Atlas-F site this is, and the stories all have drawings rather than photos which makes me wonder if it's actually done or if they are selling a concept.
Terraserver | Schilling | 39-05-56 097-32-37 20 miles north of Salina Kansas (8 miles east of Minneapolis Kansas) | F #1 550-1 Bennington |
| Remarkably plain and undeveloped. #1 and #12 are unusually close to each other (ca. 8 miles). | |||
Terraserver | Schilling | 38-56-56 097-15-23 22 miles ENE of Salina Kansas (2.5 miles NW Abilene Kansas) | F #2 550-2 Abilene |
| Looks moderately developed. Topo map says "U S Military Reservation". Two companies use the site, General Machining Inc and Class Rat Cycle Works. | |||
Terraserver | Schilling | 38-59-04 097-03-58 32 miles ENE of Salina Kansas (2.5 miles west Chapman Kansas) | F #3 550-3 Chapman |
Terraserver | Schilling | 38-40-25 97-19-21 18 miles SE Salina Kansas (1.7 miles SW Carlton Kansas) | F #4 550-4 Carlton |
| Scott D. Murdock kindly showed me where this and #8 were. On 9/7/2005 I noticed this site is for sale on missilebases.com for $168,000. | |||
Terraserver | Schilling | 38-28-34 97-38-24 23 miles S Salina Kansas (7.5 miles N of McPherson) | F #5 550-5 McPherson |
| Location of #5 courtesy Scott D. Murdock.
An article here discusses groundwater contamination and how it is being handled. When trichloroethylene (TCE) was discovered in well water being used by the family living in a home on the site, a filtration system was installed. Later the house was connected to treated water from a water district. The land and home are owned by Jay Bremyer and family. | |||
Terraserver | Schilling | 38-23-29 098-04-05 38 miles SW of Salina Kansas (3 miles W Little River Kansas) | F #6 550-6 Mitchell |
| Color photo of silo lid area courtesy of Jeff Goodman. 9/7/2005 I noticed this site is for sale on missilebases.com for $165,000. | |||
Terraserver | Schilling | 38-45-08 098-03-06 24 miles W of Salina Kansas (1.5 miles NW Carneiro Kansas) | F #7 550-7 Kanopolis |
| 3/2/2005 according to http://www.atlasmissilesilo.com/550thSMS_Site7.htm, this site is for sale on missilebases.com. The only Kansas site on missilebases.com is listed simply as "Central, KS" so I'm assuming this is the same site and is listed for $245,000; several nice photos. | |||
Terraserver | Schilling | 38-50-04 98-26-06 44 miles W Salina Kansas (2.3 miles ENE Wilson Kansas) | F #8 550-8 Wilson |
| Scott D. Murdock kindly showed me where this and #4 were. Color photo of entryway courtesy of Jeff Goodman. Terraserver's USGS photo is newer (2002) but I thought I'd keep my older version here so you can compare them. | |||
Terraserver | Schilling | 39-04-04 098-00-57 28 miles NW of Salina Kansas (7 miles E Lincoln Kansas) | F #9 550-9 Beverly |
| The Terraserver photo is new (2002) but I thought I'd keep my older version here so you can compare them. | |||
Terraserver | Schilling | 39-01-10 097-51-01 19 miles NW of Salina Kansas (1.5 miles ENE Tescott Kansas) | F #10 550-10 Tescott |
Terraserver | Schilling | 39-24-43 097-40-50 39 miles N of Salina Kansas (10.5 miles S Concordia Kansas) | F #11 550-11 Glasco |
| Somewhat developed. Tours are available, see http://www.kansasphototour.com/atlas.htm. The second photo, above, is from 1975. In July of 2003, Jeff Goodman advised me the kansasphototour information is kind of old (and sent me several more photos) -- " The site has been been sold to a couple who are fixing it up. Its nice. They are painting the entry way and LCC walls and plan to 'move in' to the LCC. They give tours and are quite friendly folks! They have installed a couple of flood lights in the silo itself- that contains about 20-30' of water. They told me that the previous owner bought the site from a guy who had it for many years but did nothing to it. Back in the flood of 1993, the silo took about 50' of water but that had been subsequently pumped out." On November 30, 2007, I noticed it is for sale on missilebases.com for $269,000. | |||
Terraserver | Schilling | 39-09-53 097-39-51 24 miles N of Salina Kansas (3.5 miles NE Minneapolis Kansas) | F #12 550-12 Minneapolis |
| Very busy, somebody has been at work! #1 and #12 seem unusually close to each other (ca. 8 miles). I'm told this site is owned by the Kansas state highway department (which would explain the busy appearance) and that it's still sealed. Color photo courtesy of Jeff Goodman. | |||
Terraserver | Schilling | 38-46-30 097-39-30 3.5 miles SW of Salina Kansas | WSA |
| Former Weapons Storage Area (WSA) for former Schilling AFB. I understand the bunkers are now rental storage areas, and the dog kennels are being used as ... dog kennels! | |||
Dyess Air Force Base is in eastern Texas, just southwest of Abilene. Stumpf (page 6) says they had 12 Atlas F sites but Siloman only listed 9. The other three I tracked down via Scott D. Murdock.
Other resources:
(Patch image courtesy of
strategic-air-command.com)
Dyess sites were manned by the 578th SMS which was activated July 1 1961, went on alert November 15 1962, started going off alert December 1 1964, and was inactivated March 25 1965. By this measure, Dyess was on alert the shortest interval off all the Atlas bases, at two years and 15 days. The 578th SMS was under the 96th SAW (see http://www.strategic-air-command.com/wings/0096bw.htm).
There's an organization called Atlas Missile Tours that apparently owns a Dyess Atlas F site and is restoring it, and provides tours of this and other area sites. This appears to be Bruce Townsley's site, Oplin, below.
Dyess sites were connected by a buried cable system but I don't know if this was unique or typical for Atlas sites in general, or Atlas F sites in particular.
On September 5 2001, Farm to Market Road 604 was designated the Atlas ICBM Highway. See http://www.airforcebase.net/trips/dymsl/trdymsl.html and http://www.texnews.com/1998/2001/local/road0906.html.
Several newspaper articles have been written about Abilene Atlas sites, by somebody named "Brazos Bill" Whitaker. Click for article #1, #2, #3, #4.
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