Association of Air Force Missileers

  About Us
  Board of Directors
  Preserving Heritage
  Outstanding Missileers
  Reunions & Meetings
  Membership & Dues
  Keeping Informed
  Contact Missileers
  Newsletter Library
  Museum
  Store & Donations
  Missile Patch Gallery

Please help us preserve our missile heritage. Donate to the Association of Air Force Missileers through PayPal.

Make payments with PayPal - it's fast, free and secure!

Titan I Missiles

NEW - Missile and New Space Badge Lapel Pins - silver color 1 1/4 inch pins in all nine types, go to the STORE to order

Association of Air Force Missileers "Victors in the Cold War"

50 Years of ICBM Alert - during 2009, Air Force Space Command and 20th Air Force are commemorating the 50th anniversary of the the first ICBM on alert. On 31 October 1959, an Atlas D was placed on alert in the 576th Strategic Missile Squadron at Vandenberg AFB, the first missile to be placed on alert armed with a nuclear warhead. AAFM will have a number of articles as part of this commemoration. We have put together a list of key events involving ICBMs that cover important developments over the history of ICBM development and deployment. You can view this PDF file at afmissileers.com/ICBM Milestones.pdf

AAFM and Researchers - We get frequent requests from authors, producers and researchers about the various aspects of Air Force missile systems and the people involved with them. We provide historical information to ensure accuracy in documentaries, books and articles, and many AAFM members have participated in interviews used in programs that have been featured on the History Channel, Discovery, PBS, BBC and network and other channels. If you need assistance in your research for a project, feel free to contact AAFM - our members eagerly participate in these projects that document our history.

Missile Heritage Grants - Missile Heritage Grants - Each year, AAFM provides at least $10,000 to museums for missile related displays. For 2008, we awarded $10,175 for missile displays, $3,000 to the Warren Museum for a Minuteman display, $1,500 to the Peterson Museum for Mark 12 and 21 RVs and $3,000 for the new Cooperstown Minuteman Site Oscar-Zero which will open as a museum this summer. We had given out $2,575 earlier in the year to Malmstrom, Peterson and the Minuteman National Historic Site.

Grants were awarded this year in memory of members Lt Col (Ret) Jerry Browning, Former Lt James Cunningham, Claude Farrell, Lt Col (Ret) Louis Grimmnitz, Maj (Ret) Calvin W. Hurd MSgt (Ret) Darrell H, Kirk, Maj (Ret) Thomas Lushbaugh, John F. Mitchell, Maj (Ret) Elmer Peterson, Mildred Roberts, SSgt (Ret) William G. Simon.

The AAFM Art Project - A six by twelve foot glass mosaic titled "Countdown, 5-4-3-2-1" by Denver artist Darrell Anderson, was unveiled and dedicated at Headquarters, Air Force Space Command on 9 November 2004. The mosaic hangs in the atrium where special ceremonies and "balcony calls" are conducted, and was dedicated to "the men and women involved in operating, maintaining and supporting Air Force missile and space systems in the past, present and future." If you would like to see some of Darrell´s art, go to www.darrellanderson.com.

You can donate to the project directly by sending a check to AAFM, PO Box 5693, Breckenridge, CO 80424, or going to the Store and Donation page and use a credit card.

Prints that are signed and numbered by artist Darrell Anderson are available - Darrell has signed 2,000 sequentially numbered superb color prints of the mosaic that you can frame and hang in a prominent place. Specific print numbers are available on a first request basis. Prints are available for a donation of $30 each, including shipping. Either mail a check to AAFM, PO Box 5693, Breckenridge, CO 80424 or click here to go to the store to order. Discounts are available for larger orders.

Minuteman Missile Historic Site - On 28 September 2002, the Air Force turned over Delta-01 launch control facility and Delta-09 launch facility, both near Interstate 90 east of Wall, SD, to the National Park Service as the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. The LF has been modified to comply with strategic arms reduction treaties, with a glass enclosure over the half-open silo door. The Minuteman Missile Historic Site can be toured by making reservations by calling the Minuteman Missile NHS Project Office at 605-433-5552. The site has filled every tour slot on many days so early reservations are essential.

First Missile Badge - The family of the late Colonel William Erlenbusch presented the actual first missile badge - known then as the guided missile insignia - to General Lance Lord, Commander, Air Force Space Command. Colonel Erlenbusch and Master Sergeant Jake Kindsfather received the first two badges from the Air Force Chief of Staff, General Thomas White, during a ceremony in July 1958. Colonel Erlenbusch was the commander of the 864th Strategic Missile Squadron, the initial Jupiter unit at Huntsville, AL.

Minuteman III Post Boost Vehicle Display Dedicated - in November 2005, AAFM and the Colorado Springs chapter of AFA unveiled and dedicated a new display in the Hartinger Building at Peterson AFB. The PBV hangs from the top of the atrium, pointing to earth, with one of the three reentry vehicles deployed slightly below the PBV.

SAC Memorial at the National Museum of the Air Force - the memorial is now in the garden outside the National Museum at Wright Patterson AFB. It was dedicated at the SAC Reunion in May 2008. A DVD of the ceremony is available at our Donations and store page.

Minuteman III on display at Peterson AFB - A Minuteman III was recently installed in the museum area at Paterson AFB, CO.

Matador Artifacts Recovered - Members of the TAC Missileers and AAFM have recovered two important artifacts from the Matador days. When Col (later Brig Gen) Fred Vetter was commander of the 587 TMG at Bitburg AB, Germany, a missile badge monument (see the Sept 2008 newsletter) was dedicated. The personal flag and desktop model of the missile badge monument have been obtained by AAFM and will be presented to the National Museum of the US Air Force during the TAC Missileers meeting at Dayton in July.

Missile Patch Gallery - features the large collection of original patches of Maj (Ret) Greg Ogletree. The gallery is at our new secondary web page at www.afmissileers.com/index.htm. The gallery displays the patches in Greg´s book "Air Force Missile Patches" which has over 500 pages of patches and descriptions.

Museums that Deserve a Visit - A number of museums around the country display missiles and related items. Several of these museums have been awarded grants by our association. Some that you should see:

Strategic Air and Space Museum - The museum is located between Omaha and Lincoln on Interstate 80. An Atlas, Thor and Blue Scout are displayed in front of the buildings. Other missiles include Hound Dog, Quail, Snark and others in various stages of restoration. The move from the old location at Offutt was a giant undertaking, and all displays were previously outside, so the museum is restoring each aircraft and missile and placing most in the new building for display. Was called the SAC Museum until 2001.
Hill AFB Museum - Located on the interstate in Ogden on the edge of Hill AFB, the museum is currently developing a missile park. AAFM funded the display of a Snark, and the museum features a number of other missiles and many aircraft.
National Museum of the US Air Force - located in Dayton, Ohio and formerly called the Air Force Museum, now has the Hall of Missiles open. If you have artifacts to donate to help preserve our missile history, contact Doug Lantry at doug.lantry@wpafb.af.mil.
Malmstrom Museum - Located just inside the base gate, the museum features an early history of the area and the base and a complete history of Minuteman at Malmstrom. Displays include a Minuteman Mod trainer and Minuteman II consoles.
Peterson Museum - Located inside the base near the flight line, the museum features an early history of the area and the base and features several aircraft and missiles.
March Field Museum - The March museum moved when the base closed - it is now on the east side of the base, between the base and Air Force Village West. AAFM funded the move of a Minuteman from the old 15AF headquarters to the museum.
The Museum of the Western Prairie - located at 1100 Memorial Drive in Altus, is working on a new Atlas exhibit, with emphasis on the Altus sites and the people who manned them. If you can help with information or display materials, call 580-482-1044 or e-mail muswestpr@ok-history.mus.ok.us.
South Dakota Air and Space Museum - On Interstate 90 at the front gate to Ellsworth AFB, this museum features a Minuteman, Titan I and a complete Missile Procedures Trainers, an MM Mod MPT from the 44SMW/MW. The museum also offers tours of the Minuteman training silo on the base. They also have a display dedicated to the 44th Bomb Group, forerunner of the missile wing that was at Ellsworth.
Space and Missile Museum - At Patrick AFB, this museum features one of the most complete histories of our missile and space programs.
Titan Missile Museum - South of Tucson in Green Valley, this museum is a real Titan II missile complex. The museum offers tours of the silo and launch control center, as well as related displays topside and in the main building. The Pima Air Museum near Davis Monthan AFB features a large aircraft collection.
Whiteman Museum - On Whiteman AFB just off Interstate 70, this museum is the former launch control facility (now called missile alert facility) Oscar-1. Tours include a visit to the underground launch control center. Tours require advance reservations with the base.
National Atomic Museum - Located at 1905 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87104. We are 2 blocks east of Rio Grande Boulevard and just north of Old Town, Albuquerque. The phone number is (505) 245-2137.
Evergreen Aviation Museum - McMinnville, Oregon, home of the Howard Hughes Spruce Goose.
Bradbury Science Museum - Los Alamos National Labratory in downtown Los Alamos, with the story of nuclear weapons development. Mark 12A and ALCM on display
Warren ICBM and Heritage Museum - on F E Warem AFB, Wyoming, with displays documenting ICBM history as well as history of the base
Cooperstown, ND Oscar-Zero - the site and one Launch Facility will open as a museum on 1 August. Information about the ceremony is available on their web page.

Please help us preserve our missile heritage. Donate to the Association of Air Force Missileers through PayPal.