Menu
Log in


308th  Strategic Missile Wing

At Little Rock AFB, Arkansas - Lineage - 308th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 15 April 1942 to 6 January 1946, 308th Reconnaissance Group (weather), 17 October 1946 to 5 January 1951, 308th Bombardment Group (Medium), 10 October 1951 to 16 June 1952,  308th Bombardment Wing, Medium16 June 1952 to 25 June 1961, 308th Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM-Titan), 29 November 1961 to 18 August 1987. Later designated 308th Armament Systems Wing

Operations Squadrons

373 SMS activated on 1 Apr 1962, inactivated 18 Aug 1987.

374 SMS activated on 1 Sep 1962, inactivated 15 Aug 1986.

The squadrons each had 18 Titan II  SM-68B) (LGM25C) missiles.

Events

There were two major accidents in 308 SMW sites, the first during the Project Yard Fence modification, on 9 August 1965, at complex 373-4.  A fire occurred when a welding rod made contact with a high pressure hydraulic hose, rupturing the hose.  53 contract workers died in the fire.

On 18 September 1980, at complex 374-7 near Damascus, Arkansas, a propellant transfer team member dropped a large socket wrench while working on a propellant leak.  The socket bounced off the thrust mount ring and punctured the stage I fuel tank.  The resultant leak eventually caused an explosion that destroyed the missile silo amd resulted in one fatality, SRA David Livingston.  A book, “Command and Conrtol,” by author Eric Schlosser, was made into a Public Broadcsting System documentary and aired in 2016 and 2017.






381st Strategic Missile Wing

At McConnell AFB, Kansas. Lineage -  381st Bombardment Group (Heavy), 28 October 1942, 28 August 1945, 381th Bombardment Wing, M (very Heavy), 24 Jul  1947 - 27 June 1949, 390th Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM – Titan), 1 March 1962 to 8 August 1986. Redesignated as 381st Training Group, activated on 1 April 1994, at Vandenberg AFB, California, as the missile training organization.

Operations Squadrons

532 SMS - activated 1 March 1962, inactivvated 8 August

533 SMSquadron - activated  1 March 1962, inactivated 8 August 1986;

The squadrons each had 18 Titan II  SM-68B) (LGM25C) missiles.

Events

A Significant accident occurred at complex 533-7 on 24 August 1978, when a poppet valve failed during a propellant transfer, spilling 13,220 gallons of nitrogen tetroxde.  SSgt Robert J. Thomas and AIC Erby B. Hepstall died as aresult of the spill.


390th Strategic Missile Wing

At Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona - Lineage - 39oth Bombardment Group (Heavy), 26 January 1943, 28 August 1945, 390th Bombardment Wing, Medium, 23 Mar 1953, 390th Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM – Titan), 1 Jan 1962 to 31 July 1984.

Operations Squadrons

570 SMS - activated 1 Jan 1962, inactivated 31 July 1984.

571 SMS - activated 1 May 1962, deactivated 2 Dec 1983.

The squadrons each had 18 Titan II  SM-68B) (LGM25C) missiles.

Events

Launch Complex 571-7 is now open at the Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley, Arizona, south nof Tucson.




Mailing address:

P.O. Box 1767

Monument, CO 80132

Contact
    

The Association of Air Force Missileers

is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. 

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software