AirVolume 27, Number Force 2 “Advocates for Missileers”Mis sileers June 2019 The Quarterly Newsletter of the Association of Air Force Missileers

Maintenance, Missiles and Missileers 1

Executive Director’s Corner Inside Front Cover Air Force Depots 5 Evolution of the ICBM Depot 6 Minuteman Electromechanical Team Maintenance 7 Progranmmed Depot Maintenance for Minuteman 11 Peacekeeper Maintenance 12 GBSD is Coming 14 And the Trucks We Rode In On 15 The 20th Air Force Page 15 MiMi Special Exhibit, Cold War Briefing, Letters to AAFM 18 New Members Page, Taps for Missileers 19 Donations Pages 20 Member Application Inside Back Cover Reunions and Meetings Back Cover

The Mission of the Association of Air Force Missileers - - Preserving the Heritage of Air Force Missiles and the people involved with them - Recognizing Outstanding Missileers - Keeping Missileers Informed - Encouraging Meetings and Reunions - Providing a Central Point of Contact for Missileers AAFM Newsletter Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 Executive Director’s Corner I’m writing this after enjoying a great Father’s Day with family, flipping burgers on the grill, and chasing grandkids. Because this edition is focused on Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) maintenance, it reminds me of all the men who gave up their Father’s Day and many other holidays to keep our alert force green. It’s not just the guys who dispatched on Father’s Day to fix an off-alert sortie, but all of the folks back on base from maintenance control, to the vehicle and equipment teams and even keys and codes that were instrumental in the success of their mission. In this edition we salute all of you for your contributions to the success of the ICBM mission. I came to maintenance at the mid-point in my career. I thought I was on track for an operations command position when Col Mike Jackson, 90th Operations Group Commander, with more maintenance time than operations, told me I was headed to maintenance. He set up a visit across the base with Col Tal Gerringer, 90th Maintenance Group Commander. As a result of that meeting, I became the 90th Field Missile Maintenance Squadron (FMMS) Commander (this was before Command Selection Boards) and my transition from Operations to Maintenance was underway. As a side note, the call to Col Gerringer’s office caused my first contact with Barb Lutz. I developed many friends from my time in Maintenance, but little did I know that first call to Barb Lutz in 1991 was the start of a long-term friendship that endures today. Barb recently retired from civil service (after working for the wing and 20th Air Force (AF) commanders and is missed daily - she was a powerhouse behind our mission success. She kept all of us on track and she did it with a smile, a positive greeting and a basket of the best baked treats a visitor could ever expect! Barb is the epitome of service before self and excellence in all you do! I took over the 90 FMMS from Lt Col Brad Maasjo, and quickly understood that my Maintenance Supervisor, Maj John Faulkner, and Maintenance Superintendent, CMSgt John Farmer, were focused on mission performance - I spent more time in that first year worried about people than the mission, but I knew they had my back. While at FMMS I met a lot of great dispatching technicians, including Mike and Gina Knipp (they weren’t married at the time), working the Periodic Maintenance Team (PMT) and Facilityt Maintenance Team (FMT) missions. I learned more about the intricacies of Precision Measuring Equipment Lab (PMEL) than I care to remember. I also learned about the “symbiotic” relationship between FMMS and the Organization Missile Maintenance Squadron (OMMS) from Lt Col Harry DeVault, the 90 OMMS Commander. I gained a better appreciation for the importance of how a dispatch started with a good vehicle and equipment load out of VECB (Vehicle and Equipment Control Branch) -a successful OMMS mission started with the correct FMMS vehicle load. While there, I advocated for funding for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags on all dispatchable items to improve parts and equipment accountability - I lost that battle, but am hopeful Ground Based Strategic Defense (GBSD) will take care of that problem in the future (see our article on future ICBM maintenance). The following year, Lt Col Sharon Bergmann took my place at FMMS and I focused on the 90 OMMS mission with Maj Bruce Young and Chief Glenn Cummings as part of my leadership team. Thanks to my FMMS experience, I was able to focus more on the mission during this command. Capt Kevin Gamache taught me about Peacekeeper maintenance and Capt Mike Fortney and SMSgt Doug Washburn taught me about the world of Electro-mechanical Teams (EMT). I spent many hours in the field learning the mission of Missile Handling Teams (MHT) and Missile Maintenance Teams (MMT) - hours that would shape my perceptions on how to improve maintenance of the future. Lt Col Dave Noble would take my place as the OMMS commander and a year later oversee the combination of FMMS and OMMS into one super maintenance squadron. Thanks to Col Terry Cronin, Bruce Young and I would transition that summer to Air Force Space Command to help stand up the ICBM Maintenance Division at AFSPC along with Lt Col Kai Lee Norwood. The two years described above changed my focus on the ICBM mission and thus the focus today in this edition of our newsletter. In this edition, Charlie writes about the history of ICBM maintenance including the SAC’s development of SACM 66-12. CMSgt (Ret) Mark Silliman provides insight into his first experiences as an EMTer at Grand Forks, TSgt Sam Savoie from 20 AF writes about today’s dispatch routine, Col (Ret) Blaine McAlpin provides insight into the world of Peacekeeper maintenance (with edits by CMSgt (Ret) Dave Clark) and Shane Finders shares some insights into what maintenance might be like when the Air Force deploys the GBSD as the Minuteman III replacement. Charlie’s second article looks at the history of depot maintenance which leads in to articles by Col (Ret) Randy Tymofichuk, who writes about the role of the Depot, and Col Brian Young, who published an article in the Hilltop Times in 2017 on how the Air Force realigned our efforts regarding Periodic Depot Maintenance of our launch centers and launch facilities with standard Air Force practices. 20 AF finishes off the issue with an article from the historian commemorating 75 years of 20 AF. We hope you enjoy this tribute to the maintenance experience and look forward to more stories to come. Col (Ret) Jim Warner, Executive Director Several of you who sent your dues to our new PO Box in May got envelopes back from the USPS. This error has been corrected by the Post Office and mail is now being delivered. Please resend your dues to AAFM, PO Box 652, Johnstown, CO 80534. If you use autopay through your bank, ensure you update the address to this box. 1 Air Force Missileers The Quarterly Newsletter of the Association of Air Force Missileers Volume 27, Number 2 “Advocates for Missileers” June 2019

Mace Crew at Bitburg - not Just Operators Maintaining Bombers in WW II Maintenance, Missiles and Missileers – by Col (Ret) Charlie Simpson, AAFM Executive Director Emeritus Throughout the history of aerospace vehicles (airplanes, helicopters, missiles, rockets, etc.), you always find a lot of stories and articles about the operators – the pilots, and the missile launch officers for those of us who are Missileers. The old song, reworded somewhat by the Groobers back in the seventies, started with, “The pilots get all the glory…” We all know why – the operators are the most visible part of the force, no matter what the system. They fly the aircraft and launch the missiles, and that’s what the press covers and the public sees. Even though a lot more people, military and civilian, officer and enlisted, are involved in preparing those systems for flight and maintaining them day-to-day, those efforts are far less visible than four F-16s flying by in formation or a Minuteman lifting off fromVandenberg. At a symposium that at the Society of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) reunion in 2000, four retired Chief Master Sergeants (CMSgt) who had served as SAC Senior Enlisted Advisors (now called Command Chief Master Sergeants) talking to an audience that was mostly former bomber and tanker officer crew members, with a few Missileers mixed in. CMSgts Jim McCoy, Charlie Reynolds, Sam Parish and Dan Cook (McCoy and Parish also served as the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force) gave a superb presentation about the enlisted force in SAC. (Video is part of the AAFM SAC DVD Collection, available online or on the Donation Pages in this issue.) ` They were direct and to the point, with Chief Parish summing up one very strong opinion at the end of the discussion. He characterized that “Pilot Glory” very well – to paraphrase the chief, he said, “The last couple of days, we have heard a lot about bombers, tankers and missiles, and bomber and missile crews. What we haven’t heard about is Stripes – by Stripes, I mean the enlisted part of SAC and the Air Force. You all have heard the story of the bomber crew members discussing who on the crew was most important – each had a good reason. Then, their crew chief, a young enlisted three striper walked up and reminded them that none of them could have done their important jobs if he hadn’t provided them with a fully functional and ready bomber to fly.” Chief Parish went on, pointing to one of the retired generals in the audience, “Let’s go beyond that crew chief, general. Years ago, when you were flying bombers, how about that young sergeant who filled your tanks with jet fuel? Or the cook at the in-flight kitchen who provided you with a flight lunch for your long mission? Or, early that morning, when your toilet in your base house clogged up and a two-striper, a plumber from Civil Engineering, showed up to solve that problem? Who is most important now? They all are. We all are.” The same applies to our missile force – the launch crews are important, but they need missiles sitting on alert, ready for launch, and the people who put them there and keep them ready to go. Don’t forget all those other people involved in operating, maintaining, securing and supporting our missile force. For this issue, we will concentrate on only part of that large group of people, the missile maintainers, the officers, enlisted members and civilians who place and keep our alert missiles at the ready. The Aircraft Heritage for Maintenance Organization The aircraft organizations in the World War II were consolidated groups – a group in that era was equivalent to a wing in the post-war Air Force, and, historically, missile wing designations came from World War II Bomb Groups. In 1942, Bomb Groups were had four bomb squadrons, and most stayed that way throughout the war. Groups included a 2 metal fabrication and electronic component repair, were part AAFM Newsletter of a separate squadron under the Test Group commander, the Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 Maintenance Squadron. The Air Force was in the middle of the implementation of Air Force Manual (AFM) 66-1, the new two inch thick maintenance bible that brought us the new idea of centralized maintenance. The Test Group became two groups, the Operations Group, with separate Squadrons for single engine and multi-engine aircraft, and a Maintenance and Supply Group, with two main pieces, the Supply Squadron and the maintenance organization. The Chief of Maintenance had most of the functions we still find in missile and aircraft units, including maintenance control, quality control and evaluation, maintenance training, reports and administration and material control. He also had all the required specialized shops, like hydraulics, armament and electronics, fabrication and jet and reciprocating engine First Blue Suit Atlas Launch at Vandenberg headquarters element, a services squadron and companies repair, along with two branches, the single engine jet branch and detachments that included Quartermaster (supply), and the multi-engine branch. I was in charge of the single aviation ordnance, military police, chemical defense, engine jet branch, with one Senior Master Sergeant (a new signal (communications), maintenance and weather. These grade, so there were no Chiefs yet), about 80 enlisted aircraft elements provided flying control (aerodrome management), mechanics and 10 civilian maintenance specialists. Our job ordnance (armament, bombs and guns), airfield security, was the day to day flight line maintenance. firefighting, motor pool, services (post exchange, Morale A typical bomb wing at that time had a similar Welfare and Recreation, mail services), training. personal structure, with a full colonel Deputy Commander for equipment, weather and food service, and consisted of about Maintenance (DCM) who oversaw the entire maintenance 30 officers and 300-400 enlisted men. The headquarters function. He had the same staff functions like Maintenance element had the traditional US Army structure with Control and Quality Control and Evaluation, and typically Personnel, Intelligence, Operations, Inspector General had four squadrons, the Organizational Maintenance and Supply. The headquarters had approximately 20 Squadron, the Field Maintenance Squadron, the Armament officers, some of whom were also pilots, and 60-80 enlisted and Electronics Squadron and the Munitions Squadron. men. Each bomb squadron had 18 bombers and 24 flight Some wings had Airborne Missile Maintenance Squadrons crews, a squadron headquarters structured similarly to the to maintain the new Hound Dog and Quail missiles. group’s, and six technical support and maintenance sections Those Missileers serving in Matador and Mace went supporting its aircraft, equipment, and personnel: Mess, through the same changes in the 1959-1961 time frame, Armament, Ordnance, Communications, Medical, and implementing AFM 66-1. The organization of the tactical Engineering (aircraft maintenance). The ground support missile units was similar to that of the SAC’s bomb wings, members of a squadron numbered 15-20 officers and 250- with a Chief of Maintenance and Missile Maintenance 300 enlisted men, so total strength was around 600 members. squadron to support the Tactical Missile Squadrons. The A significant part of the enlisted members, excluding the early Matador crews were more than operators – a nine enlisted crew members, were part of the maintenance effort. member crew included a launch officer, a crew chief, two A typical bomb group had about 2261 personnel, with 465 warhead technicians, a guidance technician, two airframe officers and 1796 enlisted members. and engine technicians, a crane operator and a booster rocket When I entered the Air Force sixty years ago, the technician. “US Air Force Tactical Missiles, 1949-1969,” by service was in the middle of a revolution in aircraft and AAFM members George Mindling and Robert Bolton talks missile maintenance. Things had begun to change at the about the changes in organization and maintenance structure end of World War II, with the change in organizational throughout the life of these two systems. designation from group to wing, and maintenance activities Maintenance in Titan I and Atlas slowly became more centralized. I spent my first two years In the fall of 1961, I left aircraft maintenance as an aircraft maintenance officer, initially assigned to a and became a missile maintenance officer in a new Titan Test Group that included both operations and maintenance. I squadron. The crew force for the new liquid fueled The maintenance conducted on the flight line, the day-to- intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) was initially day maintenance, was part of the Test Squadrons, with somewhat similar to the Matador model, a mix of officers both operators and maintainers in the units, just like the and enlisted members, some with maintenance specialties. World War II days. The more complex or specialized The earliest Atlas D crews that manned the above ground maintenance functions, like jet engine maintenance, sheet gantries at Vandenberg AFB, CA, the first ICBMs on alert, 3 to other fluids and gases used, including helium, nitrogen, AAFM Newsletter hydraulic fluid and ethylene glycol. Each Titan I missile Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 silo had an adjacent underground, four story building called were enormous. The crew that conducted the first “Blue the equipment terminal that housed all the mechanical, Suit” launch of the Atlas had 108 officers and enlisted electrical, pneudraulic and electronic equipment related to Missileers (photo on page 2). The Warren AFB, WY, Atlas that specific missile. D launch witnessed by President John F. Kennedy had an A Titan I site, with its three missile silos, launch eleven man missile combat crew, a Missile Combat Crew control building, power house and antenna terminal stretched Commander (MCCC), or Launch Control Officer (LCO), over a quarter mile underground, with a large access elevator Guidance Control Officer (GCO), Electronic Digital Data for personnel and equipment in the center near the power Processing Repairman, Missile Pneudraulics Repairman, house. The power house had three or four (depending on two Ballistic Missile Analyst Technicians (BMAT, also the unit) very large diesel generators, with at least one in called missile systems analysts), Missile Electronics operation all the time to provide day-to-day power for the site. Repairman Technicians, Missile Mechanic (later called The Atlas D coffin configuration was about as large and as Missile Maintenance Technician or MMT), and two Rate complex. The Atlas E and F were smaller only because each Track Systems Technicians (including AAFM Member site had only one missile, since both had inertial guidance, Frank Waters). An article about the first Titan I unit at but all the other system requirements were similar. Lowry AFB, CO, described the crew required to maintain It was no wonder that a liquid system ICBM squadron three missiles on alert at a giant Titan I complex with two was a large unit. While Titan I only had three sites for its officers and eight enlisted members, including the LCO 9 missiles, and therefore only required 16 combat crews to and MCCC, the GCO, one BMAT, two MMTs, one missile cover the 24 hour alert schedule, the system needed a lot of system plumber, one refrigeration equipment specialist, maintainers. A squadron had about 500-800 members, with two missile electrical repairmen and two electrical power Atlas E and F units having far more officers and enlisted production technicians (EPPT). members since they had more combat crews. An Atlas F unit While these were described as “launch crews,” in had 12 sites, with over 60 crews per squadron. Even with fact, some members were actually not operators – they were the larger number of crew members, there were still far more missile maintainers and were assigned to the maintenance maintenance personnel in the unit than other specialties. part of an Atlas or Titan I squadron. The designation of The first big surprise to someone who had worked for crew positions changed a couple of times, with some with the new AFM 66-1, the maintenance bible, was the first specialties considered crew members part of the time and look at the “SAC Version.” SAC had a penchant for adding maintainers at other times. In Titan I, for example, the four to every Air Force regulation and manual – the additions basic crew members were the LCO, GCO, BMAT and MMT. usually included much more specific direction, leaving less The two EPPTs were considered part of the crew some of the up to interpretation and judgement. These additions, called time and maintainers at others. The line between operations “SAC Supplements,” were colored pages opposite each page and maintenance was blurred at times – many of the tasks impacted in the original Air Force publication. The SAC performed by “operators” were really maintenance tasks. version of the manual was about a third thicker than the The early ICBM systems dictated a large maintenance basic version. SAC decided that the missile units needed effort. The three Atlas versions and Titan I were all very even more guidance, so there were SAC Manuals (SACM) complex. None of the operational sites had an outside that covered every aspect of maintenance management in power or water sources. Atlas D and Titan I were guided even more detail. SACM 66-12 was the major command from ground-based computers, housed in the launch control directive for ICBM maintenance. centers. Much of the technology still depended on vacuum The squadron maintenance organization was led tubes instead of newer compact electronic components. by the Chief of Maintenance reported to the squadron The missiles were stored horizontally in shelters called commander. The Chief of Maintenance had the same coffins or vertically in deep silos, and had to be erected maintenance staff agencies as an aircraft wing. or elevated above ground for launch. Large elevators One of the real concerns, as it was in the aircraft weighing hundreds of thousands of pounds, operated either business, was off alert time caused by a lack of parts. The electrically or hydraulically, brought a missile loaded with aircraft maintenance folks used the term “Aircraft Out of liquid oxygen (LOX) and kerosene, or rocket propellant Commission, Parts (AOCP)” so our term became ”Missile (RP-1) up to launch. Sites had control equipment, pumps Out of Commission, Parts (MOCP).” ” Any time we had an and piping to move both LOX and RP-1 from storage to MOCP situation, one of the Air Force Depots got involved, the missiles – LOX was stored in what amounted to an and parts were flown in using LogAir, the scheduled enormous thermos bottle, which required topping off often charter logistics air freight service that flew to all the bases using large oxygen transporters from the support base. daily. Shortly after we got all nine missiles on alert, the The systems also required storage and equipment related leadership decided that there should be a Logistics Officer 4 were part of the host bomb wing, including RV Maintenance, AAFM Newsletter LOX, RP-1 and Fluids/Gases Servicing, machine shop and Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 fabrication support and all the RPIE functions. We had full time technical representatives (tech reps) assigned to the squadron from the Martin Company, American Machine and Foundry and companies involved with the ground electronic systems and the guidance system. The Atlas and Titan I units went through major modification programs that began in late 1963 and continued even as we began phasing out the systems. Mod programs like “Red Heat” and “Top Banana” improved the mechanical systems associated with LOX loading, improved the electronics and corrected other design deficiencies. At Mt Home, more than once, we accepted a missile back from Ops and Maintenance Troops on Break in a Titan I Chow Hall the depot modification team and a few days later, took the in Maintenance Control, so a Major was detailed from the missile off alert for the last time and removed it. Supply Squadron. A significant amount of the maintenance In mid-1964, there were rumors about the phase-out on a Titan I site involved Real Property Installed Equipment of some or all of the Atlas units. Initial rumors didn’t mention (RPIE), so the decision was also made to place a Civil Titan I, and I attended a maintenance planning conference at Engineering (CE) Officer there, too. All of the powerhouse, 15th Air Force that summer, and was told Atlas D, E and F much of the plumbing and electrical lines and equipment phase-out would begin later in the year, but Titan would stay. for water, waste water and fire suppression, as well as the A few days later, Secretary of Defense McNamara surprised big diesel generators and a whole lot more was RPIE, which us all when he announced that all Atlas and Titan I units meant there was a large Missile CE presence in the base CE would be closed by the middile of 1965. I left the Titan I and squadron. Titan I had two Air Force depots that supported headed to Grand Forks AFB, ND, for duty as crewmembers the system, the Sacramento Air Material Area (SMAMA), at in the brand new 321st Strategic Missile Wing (SMW). McClellan AFB, CA, and San Bernadino AMA (SBAMA), In the early days in the 321 SMW, many of us in Norton AFB, CA. SMAMA provided support for guidance operations spent a lot of time with the missile maintainers. and electronics, SBAMA for the missile systems, the missile We took part in site acceptance inspections at launch control and support equipment. centers (LCC) and launch facilities (LF). Crewmembers Each site had a large maintenance element to were involved as we brought Minuteman missiles to alert, maintain a very complex system. The maintenance officer and for a couple of years later when guidance systems were and site chief oversaw a powerhouse chief, a mid-range replaced, as couriers for the Permutation Plug (P-Plug). noncommissioned officer (NCO), and his staff of several This coded component had to be kept separate from the plumbers, electricians and EPPTS. Each silo had a pad chief, coded components in the guidance and control (G & C) units usually a SSgt or A1C, with a more junior assistant pad chief. being installed by the missile maintenance teams. Two of There were also several Missile Facility Technicians (MFT) us, armed with .38s, would pick up a P-Plug from the Codes who worked with the pad chiefs on electrical and hydraulic Vault and meet the team at the LF as they began to install or problems. There was a tool crib operator, a technical order replace the G & C unit. Right before they lowered the G & C clerk/site administrator, and, we added a maintenance onto the missile, we would take them the P-Plug, watch them coordinator couple of months after we got fully operational. install it, and stay until the site was secured. During alerts His job was to maintain direct contact with Job Control and in the first year or so, we had a lot of maintenance presence Plans and Scheduling. During “work hours” there were two at the LCCs, as maintenance coped with a new version of the cooks on site along with 4-8 security policemen. The work Minuteman ground system. But over the following years, day was supposed to be eight hours on site, five days a week, that constant interface between operations and maintenance but during our first year of operation, it was often 12-14 hours shrank, as a new, reliable ICBM system required less and and six or seven days per week. Travel time by bus or truck less interchange between the two disciplines. was about half an hour to 45 minutes each way. The crews, When the Minuteman and Titan II wings started including the two EPPTS, rode back and forth on buses, as up in the early to mid-1960s, those on SAC bases with did some maintenance folks, the cooks and security forces. bomb wings relied on the bomb wing or air division A bus also ran at the end of the day to transport some of the support activities (logistics, transportation, munitions, civil “daily” workers, but most drove out in pickup trucks or vans. engineer, comm and base support), since either the division On busy days, there could be over a hundred people on site, or bomb wing commander was designated the installation especially if there were significant numbers of shop or CE commander. Where there was an air division on base, personnel doing work. Some of the shops that supported us the combat support group was directly under the division 5 AAFM Newsletter Air Force Depots - by Col (Ret) Charlie Simpson, Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 AFM Executive Director Emeritus commander part of the time. At others, the bomb wing was The Air depot system began early in Air Service considered the “host wing” and the air division only had a history, with locations set up around the US and at some small staff. During the late 1960s, the demands on the bomb overseass locations to manage the logistics and supply pro- wings due to bomb missions in Viet Nam resulted in the grams for Air Force systems. Over the years, some of these missile wing commander being designated the installation depots, which changed names but not basic missions, were commander, and it stayed this way until 1988. responsible for specific systems (like electronics, metrology, The missile wings were organized similar to weapons, etc.) while others were given the responsibility aircraft wings, with a Deputy Commander for Operations for specific types of aircraft or missiles. Depots operated (DCO) and a DCM, along with a combat support or air the supply chain for systems from procuring from manufac- base group commander for all support functions. The turers to acting as the centralized storage location for parts DCM had a missile maintenance squadron (MIMS) and inventories. Depots also managed modifications, tracked all maintenance staff functions that were common in both changes in configuration, provided technical data, and ran bomb wings and the Atlas and Titan squadrons. All of the or oversaw programs that monitored the reliability and ag- missile maintenance specialties were on teams like missile ing impact on systems, components and parts. Depot teams maintenance teams, electro-mechanical maintenance teams modified aircraft and missile systems, both at the depots and (EMT), missile handling teams (MHT), facility maintenance at the operational bases. teams (FMT), combat targeting teams (CTT) and others. Research and development and logistics functions The communications and civil engineering units on the were operated separately during World War II and were base provided the maintenance for comm and RPIE. On 1 united for several years in the late 1940s under Air Materiel Oct 1975, the tri-deputate system of command to include Command (AMC). During this time, there were air depots operations, maintenance and resource management was both in the states and overseas, as well as air depot wings. In implements. The Deputy Commander for Resources 1950, research and development became the responsibility (DCR), took over transportation, supply, fuels, finance of Air Research and Development Command (ARDC). In and contracting activities that had been under the Combat 1961, AMC became Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC) Support Group commander. The MIMS were inactivated and ARDC became Air Force Systems Command (AFSC). and maintenance personnel were assigned to two new AFLC headquarters was at Wright Patterson AFB, units, Field Missile Maintenance Squadrons (FMMS) and OH, and AMC/AFLC had several major logistics centers, Organizational Missile Maintenance Squadrons (OMMS). or depots, originally called Air Materiel Areas (AMA). The This arrangement was similar to the practice in the aircraft AMAs that had a missile-related mission included Ogden business, with Organizational Maintenance Squadrons AMA, Hill AFB, UT, for Minuteman and cruise missiles, (OMS) responsible for day-to-day flight line maintenance Sacramento AMA (SAMA), McClellan AFB, CA, for some of the aircraft and the Field Maintenance Squadrons (FMS) early missile guidance systems and electronics, San Anto- “heavy duty” maintenance like structural repair, engine nio AMA (SAALC), Kelly AFB, TX, for reentry systems, rebuild, and machine, welding and fabrication shops. Up to San Bernadino AMA (SBAMA), Norton AFB, CA, for Atlas 1988, there were some changes in names and terminology, and Titan missiles, and Warner Robins AMA (WRAMA), and functions like CTT went away with changes in the way Robins AFB, GA, for Matador and Mace. There were Minuteman was targeted. Reentry Systems were maintained other AMA with aircraft missions in Guam, Pennsylvania, by the MMS in the bomb wing . On missile bases with no Alabama, Oklahoma, the Philippines, New York, Japan and aircraft unit assigned, the MMS was part of the missile wing. France. The Air Force Metrology Center, at what was once In 1988, SAC changed the air division structure, Newark Air Force Station, OH, was originally part of the and the air division commander became the installation Dayton depot, part of Wright-Patterson AFB, OH,and part commander. An air division was activated on each dual of its responsibility involved missile guidance components. wing base (only Warren was a single wing with no bomb Pantex, a facility in Amarillo, TX, has been involved in nu- wing counterpart). The missile and bomb wing commanders clear support for the missile force. were charged with the nuclear mission, and all support was In 1974, the AMAs were redesignated as Air Logis- under the Air Division Commander and his Chief of Staff. tics Centers (ALC), and in 1992, AFLC became Air Force The missile maintenance function remained the same until Materiel Command (AFMC). a 2012 AFMC reorganization after SAC went away in 1991, Gen McPeak implemented his eliminated 7 of the 12 depots operating at that time, leaving new wing, group and squadron polices, and ICBMs moved 5, with the newly designated Ogden Air Logistics Complex from SAC to Air Combat Command to Air Force Space still responsible for Minuteman. Command. 6 constructs and us to secure resources and define organiza- AAFM Newsletter tional that support our needs because our outstanding young Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 men and women in maintenance have a no-fail creed. In the early days of the Ogden Air Depot and the Og- den Air Material Area, Hill AFB, UT, maintained Titan II/III and workload was continually expanding as we supported a variety of weapon systems to include Advanced ICBM (M- X) Missile system, Advanced Cruise Missiles, Air Launched Cruiuse Missiles and, of course, Minuteman. When you examine the evolution of where the Depot has come though time, we have been a key storage and assembly/disassembly point for our boosters; we have evolved into providing MRO support for our fleet of special purpose vehicles. In 1985 we supported a new program called Rivet MILE (Minute- man Integrated Life Extension) which was intended to be a short-lived program, but Rivet MILE evolved and became a key sustainment capability for our units in doing some phase The Ogcen ALC Emblem cycles to ensure our LFs and Launch Control Centers (LCC) maintained key capability sets for our Operational Ground Evolution of the ICBM Depot - by Col (Ret) Randy Tymofichuk, AAFM Board Member, Mbr No L665, Layton, Equipment (OGE) through a “programmed depot process”. UT Through this period as the roles evolved for the de- The 309th Missile Maintenance Group (MMXG) pot, the Program Office and customer interaction was not provides depot-level maintenance and support to America›s always optimal. Some of the hallmark events in recent his- land-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) Air tory that have redefined how depot operations are conducted Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCM). Four geographically included a complete course shift in how we drove process separated units provide on-site depot-level maintenance, accountability (especially after the Taiwan 4). Through a repair and modifications of 450 Minuteman III launch herculean effort to rebaseline all technical data, incorporat- facilities (LF) and 45 missile alert facilities (MAF) spread ing two “I” verification on all workload and starting the de- across five states. The group plans and directs repair of liberate process of recertifying our production processes, the ICBM operational ground equipment, transportation and workforce refocused their efforts to ensure they were key handling equipment, reentry systems and unique support contributors to reinvigorating the nuclear enterprise. From equipment. It controls movement, provides storage for personal experience, through challenge came a great oppor- Minuteman III weapon system boosters, and performs tunity to showcase what the Depot did and the talented team static firing and depot-level maintenance for the Minuteman that supported the mission. While hosting a majority of AF III weapon system. Accountable assets are tracked for the leadership over a yearlong period was sometimes distract- New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty by the group. The ing from executing a workload, it was a dividend that paid group also conducts strategic and tactical rocket motor off later as we had renewed support from key AF- leader propellant dissection and analysis, tests missile integrated ship, which had not been seen since cold war days. Several systems, repairs shelters and radomes, and performs Radar initiatives were introduced during this timeframe to include Cross Section characterization testing of aircraft and flight Maintenance Quality Standard and became the focus of hardware. how production would be planned and executed, leading to Throughout the past decade and really this century greater collaboration between shops and more importantly (when you use those terms it sounds ominous with respect looking for ways to improve maintenance effectiveness and to the age of our weapon system) our ICBM Depot (309 efficiency and reducing flow days to return assets to the field MMXG) has undergone some transformative change to help quicker with fewer exceptions. bring it in line with standard Air Force processes and ad- Air Forve Materiel Command (AFMC) also dressing the critical sustainment needs of our aging weapon underwent several organizational changes in this timeframe systems. Minuteman III had an original design life of 10 to include how our Rivet MILE detachments would be years, so as we modeled the construct to provide mainte- organized under a squadron construct to link them back nance, repair and overhaul (MRO) support, the infrastruc- to the parent depot organization to bring process under ture we established probably was not optimal for sustain- AFMC direction and truly align their phase tasks under ment of the platform over the periods we are asking of it. As the Depot umbrella. This ensures tasks stay on schedule with the B-52 and other Air Force platforms, we are asking and served the customer requirements of both the ICBM the impossible of our maintainers, and they always deliver, System Program Office (SPO) and the operational units which has sometimes made it a challenge for sustainment and creates a professional MRO activity at both the parent 7 AAFM Newsletter Minuteman Electromechanical Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 Team Maintenance - by CMSgt (Ret) Mark Silli- man, AAFM Board Member, Mbr No l553, London, OH Building 306 (Old SAGE Building and built prior to my time), Grand Forks AFB, ND, will bring back memo- ries for a few readers. The Electromechanical Team (EMT) Section was in the northwest corner of the first floor. Codes Vault was in the northeast corner of the building. This was prior to a new maintenance facility, Building 314, east of the vehicle barn and built within a year of my arrival at Grand Forks. Trying to find a parking spot east of Building 306 with an operating plug-in for the car’s frost plug heater was always a challenge. Along with that strange electrical plug hanging out the front of the vehicle radiator, everyone car- ried a spare screw-in fuse for the electrical receptacles in Launch Facility Shelter Used During Depot Maintenance the parking lot. I carried a small electrical engraver with organization as well as each organization under the 583rd me and tested the receptacle before I left my vehicle for 16 Missile Maintenance Squadron. This was a key alignment hours while dispatching to ensure I had wheels to get home. as the Depot in conjunction with the SPO moved to a I also carried a can of ether spray if the carb needed a little comprehensive Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM) boost when the temps dropped below zero...and stayed there. approach to normalize ICBMs and bring it into line with Finally, a snow shovel and scraper were mandatory. If it was standard Air Force process. A defined cycle schedule with not snowing at Grand Forks, it was blowing and the gray discreet tasks was laid out to enable the units at the ICBM stuff was a combination of snow and dirt...or SNIRT. The bases could complete defined tasks to enable site preparation SNIRT managed to blow everywhere. in advance of GBSD deployment. The pilot project started It was Labor Day weekend, 1974, when I arrived in 2015 and in the short time of its existence, 53 LFs and 7 at Grand Forks AFB to sign in at my first duty station as a LCCs will be completed at Malmstrom AFB alone in the 316XOH, Missile Systems Analyst Specialist. I was an “H” first cycle, with Minot and FE Warren following suit. This shred-out meaning my specialty was the B-System at Grand program is integrated into a long-term schedule that will Forks and Malmstrom AFB, MT, (564th Missile Squadron). synchronize with Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) It appeared that sometime in the future, I could also go back and extending the life of OGE until the next generation of to Chanute AFB, IL, to be a Tech School instructor and Van- ICBMs is deployed, and then continue the cycle through the denberg AFB, CA, but my first assignment options were lim- lifecycle of Minuteman III. ited. I was to become a Warrior of the North at the 321 Stra- While processes have evolved, organizations tegic Missile Wing assigned to the 321 Missile Maintenance changed, and more rigor instituted to ensure delivery of Squadron (MIMS)! One of my first Squadron Commanders outstanding product capability, the one constant continues was Lt Col James Crouch. to be the professional civilian and military men and women I was greeted by four noncommissioned officers who ensure combat capability each day, whether they are (NCO) in the EMT Section on Tuesday morning following at Hill, Malmstrom, Minot, Warren or Vandenberg. These the holiday weekend. I had just received a badly needed maintenance professionals continue to demonstrate an haircut at the base barber shop after my bride tried exer- outstanding dedication and commitment to the mission, cising her haircutting talent on my head. The barber only ensuring our systems remain combat effective and our asked, “Who got ahold of you?” Needless to say, I had a maintainers are able to focus on their primary mission of clean cut, military style, high white side repair job. TSgt generating combat capable sorties and LCCs. George Choris, SSgt Wayne Champagne, SSgt Glen Hunt, This was clearly one of the highlights of my career and SSgt Tony Bommarito (who smoked a cigar longer than serving among these proud professionals and being affiliated he was tall) were the EMT Section leadership and they were with the long line of Commanders before me. If you are glad to see a new troop arrive to assist with the end of day ever afforded an opportunity to visit the 309 MMXG, I am office details. sure the new Commander, Col Ken Benton would love to My first days in EMT included a field trip tothe showcase his great capability and outstanding workforce. missile field with SSgt Champagne, buffing the office floors (halls and walls), making coffee and emptying ash trays and trash at the end of the day. We also did tool inventory of several team tool boxes for some type of inspection on the 8 tronics Laboratory (E-Lab), Power and Refrigeration Shop, AAFM Newsletter Pneudraulics Shop, Mechanical Shop and the Vehicle and Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 Equipment Sections. The Deputy Commander for Mainte- nance (DCM) and the Technical Advisor ran maintenance. Plans and Scheduling did just that to include projecting out 30 days into the future, and Job Control ran the daily mainte- nance effort. There were other agencies to include Material Control, Maintenance Data, Briefing Debriefing, Technical Engineering and Training. There may have been more shops, but the big dif- ference was that Facilities Maintenance Teams (FMT) did not exist and -6 work cards were accomplished by the shops I just mentioned in MMS and FMS. EMTers accomplished diesel, environmental control system, and sump pump main- tenance, installed their own workcage and a few other main- Maintenance on a Minuteman LF tenance tasks now being accomplished by other mainte- minds of the EMT NCOs. I did learn to ensure the floor nance organizations such as FMT and Periodic Maintenance buffer was off before plugging into the wall receptacle only Team. There was a Power Production office that worked after watching it bounce down the hall and crash into the on the standby generators if there was a major problem. I water fountain. Running the large floor buffer did require can remember the refrigeration shop dispatching one of their some talent and balance or it would take you for a ride. It technicians to solder a chiller line versus replacing the entire was obvious someone did an unauthorized modification to chiller unit. Once FMT was stood-up in the FMMS, a lot of the buffer. Some days the floors looked good after buffing the facilities type work transferred out of EMT. and some days not. Kudos to Wayne and Cindy Champagne EMT ran three High Priority Maintenance Shifts (A, for inviting my wife, D, and I over for dinner shortly after B, and C) covering 24 hours with 12 hour turns after a 16- arriving at Grand Forks. hour uninterrupted rest. Keeping missiles on alert or “chas- I will say that some Air Force changes are for the ing green time” was our mission and we worked closely with good. I can remember coming home from work with my the other MIMS sections to make it happen 24/7 365 days a uniforms smelling of cigarette/cigar smoke. Sometimes you year. The EMT Section had about 15-20 qualified teams and only needed to make coffee once, especially if you didn’t half a dozen regular supervisors in the office. There were drink it and took a guess at the amount of grounds to add. also scheduled dispatches for -6 type work or maintenance Coffee mugs were the closest things to an environmental that required much planning or a seldom performed task. hazard next to PD680 or sodium chromate. Red cigarette The list of work orders for each site was called the tub file, butt cans were required to be emptied at the end of the day so there was always work to be done. and do not empty them in a dumpster or at least get caught All scheduled and unscheduled dispatches were doing it. planned for 16 hours in duration. Normal dispatch sequence Prior to Team Training Branch start, we were brought was to arrive at the EMT office and review the work pack- up on the Human Reliability Program (HRP) vs Personnel age, head to the vehicle barn, inspect and sign for the truck Reliability Program (PRP).. HRP was really the same pro- and sign the truck inspection forms, drive to the equipment gram repurposed. We accomplished our ancillary training barn for the equipment load and inventory your load list, (no open book codes testing), received our tool boxes, and load up the equipment and ensure it was tied down securely, individual equipment (winter gear including bunny boots, head for the Technical Order (TO) Library and sign out a parkas, face mask and etc). I started EMT Team Training TO kit (half the size of a coffin and about the same weight) Branch (TTB) training with two other recent arrivals (Steve and pass by the EMT office to get a tool box from the EMT Carpenter and Wayne Fecht) and the weather at Grand Forks equipment room. Additionally, read the “Read File,” recent was getting cold - winter of 1974 was approaching quickly TO changes and safety briefing. Drive to Building 306 and and I needed to get that frost plug heater installed on my car. go to briefing, pick up parts (electronic drawers from sup- Sergeants Tony Davis, Michael Woods, Sheldon Irish, and ply point or codes), Security Escort Team, and call Job Con- Rod Kulhman were our EMT instructors assigned to TTB. trol with the pre-dispatch information. It took a little less Just a little background on the maintenance organi- than two hours to get off base on average. With travel to the zation within the 321 MIMS Squadron from my recollec- Launch Facility (LF) approximately 1-1 hour 45 minutes, tion. We had Site Security Maintenance Teams (SSMT), an hour to penetrate the site and lower equipment, accom- Electro-mechanical Teams (EMT), Combat Targeting, Mis- plish the task and close up the LF, drive to the next site and sile Maintenance Teams (MMT), and Missile Handling. penetrate/backout and accomplish maintenance, and do the The Field Maintenance Squadron (FMS) included the Elec- reverse of the loading operation back at base, it took easily 9 had the post 9-11 emphasis, as today. I can remember pen- AAFM Newsletter ning a site in the middle of the night with two Security Es- Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 corts “guards” and sometimes we would only have one on a night time High Priority Maintenance shift. That limited us to support building work unless an Armed Response Team was sent from the LCF...now called Missile Alert Facility. I ran as an assistant EMT Team Member for about 6 months before being selected as a Team Chief. I was paired with great assistants, first Ben Share and then Dennis John- son and we worked well together and were successful at dis- patching and clearing work orders, without notable problems or issues. Only Production Inspectors could clear Red “Xs” or Red “Ws” in the site logs and never make a mistake or you Maintenance Team During Missile Competition would catch the wrath of the debriefer. Remember, this was a time of no computers and all discrepancies and work orders 11-14 hours on average. When there is a problem with the were on “paper” media…no printouts. When you debriefed maintenance, security reset or travel, we were always push- after dispatch, you would have to turn in any new work or- ing our 16-hour timeline. ders, with carbon copy and order parts using a Form 2005. Midway through the Cold War in the mid-70s main- I was selected to be an EMT Instructor after almost tenance was a 24-hour operation in the missile field and LFs two years in the field. Our training records, 623s, were all were opened up at any time to complete maintenance. Code initialed by the student and instructor when qualification re- Change was a non-stop effort. Missile pulls/emplacements quirements were accomplished. I never went unqualified never stopped until the LF was back on alert. Guidance Sys- until I was assigned as an instructor in the Team Training tem or “Can” changes started as soon as the site was con- Branch when I condemned a good part mistakenly. I de- firmed as a failure by the Autonetics (Division of Rockwell served the trip to the Unqualified Board (UQ) and retained International) representative assigned to the wing. Strategic my instructor status for another two years. My only beef was Air Command (SAC) and the Air Divisions were always that Quality Control personnel could evaluate instructors. asking when sites would be back on alert. I read recently We learned how to drive the Maintenance and Bat- that the Cold War began in 1953 and lasted until the wall tery Vans and the art of “double clutching” to shift gears. came down and victory declared. My arrival at Grand Forks These were well used International Trucks and had hoists in maintenance was probably in the last half of the Cold War. in the back to lower equipment/batteries down the Person- It was a time when there were six Minuteman Wings and al Access Shaft. The Line Vans (L-Vans) came soon after three Titan Wings. my arrival; however, we loaded a lot of our equipment in Like all maintainers, I have dispatches that I will pickup trucks with toppers and sometimes we just had open never forget. The coldest I remember was at L-11 after a bed trucks available. The equipment was never in the best Can change and MMT could not get a good security reset on of shape and I can remember looking at a GSM 121 Test the Launcher Closure Door switch loop. Inner Zone security Set that looked like it had been dragged to the site several would not reset and it was dark, cold and windy. We had a times then dropped down the access shaft. Equipment never carry-all that had little to no heat, and the wind was coming looked great but did operate as necessary. I remember things through the cracks in the doors. I will only say that it was like keeping the PSM-6 switches in the safety “L” position damn cold. We did not get camper team relief until about and always zeroing the meter prior to doing a continuity 0300. We were happy to see them arrive and headed to the check, using a crescent or Ford wrench in the right direction Launch Control Facility (LCF) to warm up, gas up then head and using good torque wrench practices. EMT TO Kits were home. We did get some food from the cook because he/she practically two-man lift because we carried TOs for Environ- just fed the camper team headed to relieve us. mental Control System, Ancillary Systems, Power Systems, A much better maintenance dispatch that I remem- SAC Civil Engineering Manuals (CEMs) and the Guidance ber was a warm Sunday afternoon trip to E-46 on the west and Control Chiller. side of the Grand Forks missile complex. It was an elec- When the B-System went through the Command tronic drawer change in the LF and we did a missile startup Data Buffer (CDB) upgrade in 1976, we received new test and the LF came back on alert. It was one of those perfect equipment and training. In the Pre-CDB system, we used days and we were back on base in about 6 hours including the 85 gear (jack boxes and adapter cables w/clocking) to clearing the work package by hand in the briefing/debriefing do continuity checks and relay tests on the Distribution Box. section. Post CDB modification, we had a new D-Box test set and it Security was always very important, but we never was a great improvement (bells and whistles). I will not bore 10 Six Ring Alert meant just that be able to answer AAFM Newsletter the phone before it rang 6 times. Inspector General (IG) Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 Inspections required much preparation and lots of preplan- ning for the arrival of the inspection team. Quality Control and Training Teams reported to the regular work centers and were considered normal maintenance teams during the in- spection. You may be identified as team or member of the Reconstitution Force (RF) and load your vehicle and equip- ment and go park in a simulated dispersal location until that part of the inspection/exercise was complete. The RF had the capability to disperse to remote locations and accomplish maintenance actions if/when directed. Additionally, we did diesel runs for the IG to show the sites’ ability to assume secondary power in an event that commercial power failed. The 3901 SMES evaluations focused on unit instructor and evaluator proficiency evaluations (IPEs/EPEs) and a few work center team evaluations on selected tasks. I spent two years in Job Control and during that time we were hit by a massive winter ice storm in 1977 resulting in loss of most commercial power within the missile com- plex and severely taxing the standby power system. We had Maintenance on a Minuteman LF help from Headquarters SAC and other units with the storm you with all the warfighter capability CDB added but it was response and keeping track of site status. Job Control was a large modification that affected most of the LF hardness, always the center of activity and ran the day-to-day mainte- ground equipment and Launch Control Center Equipment. nance effort. Job Control was a fun place to work and there The modification impacted our training and maintenance was always competition between the shifts. greatly. Maintainers love sports and we had a great flag foot- In 1976, I competed in the missile competition ball team that won the base championship in 1976. Com- (Olympic Arena) and the task was D-Box troubleshooting manders Calls were usually conducted in the Equipment and checkout. My Team Chief was Mike Woods and we Barn High Bay, and there were usually pitchers of beer, pop were doing the task in the pre-CDB configuration, meaning and chips to be enjoyed after the event. I snagged an incen- using the old 85 gear with jack boxes and adapter cables. tive flight out of Grand Forks one weekend to Pease AFB, The other wings were operating in the CDB like configu- NH, and it was cold there too. What also disappeared were ration and had a D-Box test set. We had the task and the pink pages (Code Pages) and burn barrels hanging from the equipment perfected and were ready for anything the 3901st LF gates to allow you to burn/destroy the pink pages once Strategic Missile Evaluation Squadron (SMES) could possi- they were used. Fortunately, no one tried to write a TO pro- bly throw at us. We placed last in the competition when we cedure to burn a code page with a match, in a metal barrel could not get a continuity check to pass on the last test. We with holes in it hanging from a LF fence. made a critical error and we burned time that cost us in the I was selected to go to the Technical Engineering in end. It was terribly embarrassing at score posting, but we 1979 and attended training at Chanute AFB. Technical Engi- managed to survive and woke up the next morning. At the neering was manned by unit officers (engineers) and enlisted final debriefing with the SMES evaluators, they said we had maintenance personnel. Technical Engineering addressed the competition wrapped up but had just one little problem. problems beyond the scope of normal technical data, prob- When I look back on the missile competition, it really was lem sites and new modifications. I can remember one large an opportunity to put the book aside and be creative on how effort was the Minuteman Power Processor installation and maintenance could be accomplished when we were chal- how the new computer interacted with legacy electronics. lenged or innovation was encouraged. My last comment The new computer system uncovered a lot of existing wir- about the competition was the Grand Forks team’s competi- ing problems and other standby power system deficiencies... tion dinner outfit. This was the time of the John Travolta especially those discovered during the 1977 storm. movie “Staying Alive” with its “Dance Fever”...we had lime My final Grand Forks assignment prior to moving to green leisure suits with orange shirts. We thought we looked Vandenberg AFB was to Quality Assurance as an EMT Eval- pretty sharp until showing up for the competition dinner and uator (I cannot remember if it was Quality Control or Quality seeing the Roughriders from Minot, Wranglers from Chey- Assurance). After attending infamous Evaluator School at enne and the Cowboys from Montana. Where were the fash- the Vandenberg School House (the one with the fireplace), I ion police? spent the next 6 months as an evaluator. I will admit I made 11 Minuteman III is deployed at three missile wings; AAFM Newsletter Malmstrom AFB, MT, Minot AFB, ND and FE Warren Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 a better instructor than evaluator and fortunately headed to AFB, WY. Each wing has 150 LFs and 15 launch control Launch Analysis at 1st Strategic Aerospace Division at Van- centers (LCC) for a total of 450 LFs and 45 LCCs. Under denberg to support the Minuteman Follow-on Operational the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty 50 LFs across the Test & Evaluation Program and prepare for the Peacekeeper fleet will be in a non-deployed status where the flight assets Operational Test Program. Who has all the pictures of the are removed. This provides a prime opportunity to perform evaluator classes held at Vandenberg that were hanging on extensive PDM as technicians are able to perform welding the wall? and corrosion work in the launcher equipment rooms as well My return to missile maintenance was in 1994-97 at as in the launch tube with the flight assets removed. Air Force Space Command in the LG Directorate followed Throughout the life of Minuteman, there was never a by maintenance superintendent positions at FE Warren AFB comprehensive sustainment approach based on RCM. The in the 90th Missile Wing from 1997-2000. Those couple high reliability of Minuteman and the desire to maintain as years are the subject of my next article. high of an alert rate as possible encouraged a “fly to fail” ICBM Maintenance is difficult to describe but more approach to maintenance where problems were addressed important are the responsibilities that accompany the job. and fixed after they manifested themselves as failures. From the training, self awareness, self reporting and over- There is a monumental shift underway that fundamentally sight of others, doing the right thing and being responsible changes how Minuteman III weapon system sustainment to say something when you see something is wrong. Tak- is conducted. The PDM effort marks the departure from ing ownership of your actions and leaving things better than a “fly to fail” reactive approach to a sustainment strategy when you received them, I assess are what maintainers strive that embraces RCM. For the first time in its 54-year to do daily....24/7 365 days a year. history the Minuteman III weapon system is aligned with standard Air Force processes; programmed through Aircraft Programmed Depot Maintenance; Missile Requirements and funded through Centralized Asset Management. This approach enables predictable resource A Major Milestone in Minuteman demands with an ability to accurately forecast parts and III Sustainment - by Col Brian Young. This article commodity requirements while simultaneously supporting has been cleared for public release by Hill AFB Public Affairs and was industrial capacity. published in The Hilltop Times Newspaper in July 2017. “The entirety of the Minuteman III weapon system The Minuteman weapon system has been the is included in the execution of the reliability based cornerstone of America’s nuclear deterrence since it was first maintenance plan,” stated Mr John Faulkner, the Minuteman brought on alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. In III Product Support Manager. The PDM effort targets four recent years there has been a fundamental shift in how the Air major areas through an 8-year cycle: the LF, LCC, booster Force approaches Minuteman III sustainment moving from (stage 1, 2 and 3), and the Propulsion System Rocket Engine a “fly-to fail” mentality to one firmly grounded in reliability (PSRE). Within the LFs and LCCs, there are a variety of centered maintenance (RCM). The first Launch Facility components targeted to ensure the readiness and health of (LF) to have completed Programmed Depot Maintenance the site, including shock isolators, various launcher closure (PDM) and have a booster and Propulsion System Rocket components (cables, lock-pin, multiplying linkage and Engine (PSRE) that have also completed PDM installed will ballistic actuator) blast valves, blast doors, enviromental soon be brought back to alert status. This event marks a control system ducts/hoses and brine lines. Booster PDM significant point in the history of Intercontinental Ballistic refurbishes the flight controls for each stage and PSRE PDM Missiles (ICBM) and is the culmination of many efforts to apply a sound life cycle management approach to ICBM sustainment and provide the warfighter with the most capable assets possible. While Minuteman was fielded in the early 1960s, Minuteman III was fielded in 1970 and offered a major advance in capability; multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV). Minuteman III was initially designed for a ten-year lifespan. A series of life-extensions have ultimately determined Minuteman III will have a service life into 2036 when Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent will be operational. A rock-solid sustainment strategy is essential to provide a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent through this transition period. Minuteman Launcher Closure Door Undergoing PDM AAFM Newsletter 12 Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 replaces the axial engine actuators. PDM is a dynamic activity, it adapts to changing environments and is based upon engineering assessments. Fiscal Year 2017 marked the start of PDM and focused on the work discussed above. “The weapon system tells us what it needs and consequently PDM will continue to grow and include subsystems and components identified in failure and condition analyses,” said Faulkner. The first year’s PDM has 38 combined tasks for the LF and LCC. The task Peacekeeper Emplacer at Hill AFB Museum count grows to 41 in 2018 and 42 in 2019. The long range Peacekeeper Maintenance - the projection for tasks shows 58 by FY 22. Review of PDM tasks is a continuous part of the process and tasks will be Next Generation - by Col (Ret) Blaine McAlpin, AAFM Mbr No L446, and CMSgt (Ret) Dave Clark, Cheyenne, WY. added or removed as necessary. Unlike the Minuteman weapon system that was Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and at one time deployed at six different wings and has been Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) seamlessly team deployed in one version or another for almost 60 years, throughout the process, from clearly defining requirements the Peacekeeper weapon system was only deployed in and establishing funding parameters to managing the the 400th Missile Squadron (MS) at FE Warren AFB, execution of maintenance at the wings. AFGSC’s missile WY. Consequently, while there are literally thousands of wings configure and prepare the site for PDM while AFMC maintainers who are familiar with Minuteman maintenance, Depot Field Teams from the 309th Missile Maintenance there are probably many of those folks who are unaware of (MMXG) complete the PDM tasks. We share a common set the differences between Minuteman and the Peacekeeper of metrics and continuously interact to improve the process. system. Central to the shift in ICBM sustainment philoso- Originally deployed in modified Minuteman phy towards a RCM approach is the Predictive Health Mea- III launch facilities (LF) in 1986, the sheer size of the sure. Mr. Frank Adams of the ICBM Systems Directorate Peacekeeper missile drove many major changes, not only to described the Predictive Health Measure as, “a quantitative, the LFs themselves, but also to the way missile maintenance, predictive force health metric by LF/LCC ‘tail number’ and and most significantly, stage handling operations, were its central theme is calculating where each LF or LCC is at conducted. For example, just the first stage of the Peacekeeper within its cyclical 8-year health cycle. This unique metric missile weighed more than an entire Minuteman III missile. is different than other metrics in that it informs on the most Obviously, roads, bridges and culverts, or vehicles, would efficient and optimized maintenance practices to yield the not be able to handle a “full up round” Peacekeeper missile. most reliable weapon system operation by taking into ac- Thus individual stages were delivered to Warren by rail in count a wide variety of weapon system health considerations specialized shipping containers, and off-loaded with a crane such as duration since last LF/LCC PDM, periodic mainte- similar to those seen loading and unloading ships at major nance inspections (PMI), time compliance technical orders, port facilities. Individual stages were then rolled into storage hardness discrepancies, communication systems, security buildings while awaiting installation. systems and flight asset health (booster PDM, propulsion The Peacekeeper was a cold launch system in which system rocket engine (PSRE) PDM and missile guidance set a hot gas generator was used to create steam to eject the operating hours).” missile from its canister before first stage ignition during This comprehensive analysis examines how well the launch. For maintenance operations, an air elevator system weapon system is maintained across its lifecycle and pro- was used to raise and lower the missile in the canister to vides a standardized, holistic assessment of Minuteman III enable mating and demating operations. A full build-up health in a much more refined way than other metrics have or teardown of a Peacekeeper missile was a complicated done previously. This defined, data-driven health analysis operation that typically required a full week or more to ultimately enables stakeholders to make better-informed accomplish. On the first day, the air elevator platform set sustainment decisions from the unit level through the own- would be installed around the top of the canister. This ing command to the program office. platform, which enabled technicians to install/remove Richard Cummings, the LF and LCC Program Man- mating bolts was a complicated set-up which required ager concluded with, “We have come a long way since I lowering approximately 150 “lowering bags” of equipment joined the Minuteman III team in 2013. We have built the down the Personnel Access Hatch. Also, the Emplacer, program from the ground up and are on target to reach FOC which was similar to the Minuteman Transporter-Erector in FY 19”. 13 Personnel Reliability Program (PRP) certified and worked AAFM Newsletter on the system all the way through deactivation. Another Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 evolution was that as the system matured, more and more active duty technicians were trained and incorporated into teams working side by side with the “more experienced” civilians. Even though Peacekeeper LFs had been converted from their original MM configuration, there were some parts of the facility that had either been minimally altered, or had not been changed at all. Thus, functions such as standby power, environmental control, and security systems maintenance were performed by teams that were dual qualified on both the Minuteman and the Peacekeeper system. Peacekeeper was only deployed in 50 LFs, and maintained by a relatively small cadre of personnel, but its status as a completely different weapon system drove testing requirements that were enormous for Peacekeeper Peacekeeper maintenance personnel compared to the testing requirements was usually installed on the first day. On a stage install day, on their Minuteman compatriots, which were spread a stage would be delivered by a Type II Transporter in a among six separate wings at the time of deployment. For specialized container. Once the Type II Transporter arrived, example, Peacekeeper maintenance personnel could count and was lined up with the tied down Emplacer, bridge rails on a complete system teardown and reposture as previously would be installed and the stage would be rolled into the described for test launch purposes at Vandenberg AFB, CA, Emplacer. Then the Emplacer would be erected to lower the every year. Also, the Peacekeeper version of a Simulated stage onto the air elevator system. The process was repeated Electronic Launch Peacekeeper (SELP) was a yearly for each of four stages and the Mark 21 Reentry System. occurrence. In addition to the Type II Transporter and the Emplacer, Another difference between Peacekeeper and staging operations also required an Air Elevator Support Minuteman was the execution of a Reentry Vehicle On-Site Trailer (AEST), which had a huge compressor that provided Inspection (RVOSI) for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. the “cushion” of air to raise and lower the missile on the air Unlike Minuteman RVOSIs which were conducted at the elevator control system. Additionally, the Missile Guidance LF, the size, complexity, and configuration of the Mark 21 Control Set van, affectionately known as a “Rambo” truck Reentry System precluded inspection at the launch facility. was used to transport the platform set and miscellaneous So, rather than allowing Russian inspectors to observe the equipment. With all these vehicles, along with the tractors number of shrouded reentry vehicles as on a Minuteman required to move the Emplacer and AEST, staging operations RVOSI, for a Peacekeeper inspection, the entire Reentry could create quite the traffic jam on a LF. system was removed (via the AEST, Emplacer, and Type II Many of these vehicles were constrained by Transporter) and returned to the Weapons Storage Area at FE wind limit restrictions, (35 mph for the Rambo) that were Warren for inspection. From start to finish, a Peacekeeper incompatible with the topography and climatology of the 400 RVOSI was at least triple the time of a Minuteman RVOSI. MS, especially in the winter time. Creative scheduling, such Despite its size and complexity, Peacekeeper had as very early start times, and pre-positioning of assets and obvious technical advantages and improvements over its personnel at Missile Alert Facilities sometimes overcame predecessor. For example, a guidance system replacement those hurdles, but often operations were postponed until was a “drawer swap.” Emergency power was provided by better weather allowed continuation. an inverter rather than a motor-generator. The W87 warhead Peacekeeper maintenance evolved over its almost on the Mark 21 Reentry system was the newest and safest twenty year life, both with respect to the manpower assigned warhead in the ICBM fleet and has since been retro-fitted and the organizational structure. Originally envisioned onto the Minuteman system, and the guidance system as depot level maintenance, early staging operations were provided an accuracy with a Circular Error Probable (CEP) accomplished by Detachment 60 personnel, a detachment of that was about half the accuracy of Minuteman. depot personnel working at FE Warren, but assigned to the Finally deactivated in 2006, Peacekeeper lives on missile maintenance depot at Ogden Air Logistics Center, today as a milestone of capabilities that could be achieved UT. Relatively early in its life cycle, those civilians were or improved upon with the deployment of the new Ground transferred first to Strategic Air Command, and then to Air Based Strategic Deterrent missile system. It also lives on Force Space Command as civilian maintenance technicians in the minds of many of those who maintained it as the assigned to the 90th Missile Wing. Many of them were “Cadillac” of ICBM weapon systems. 14 The replacement system will employ a new on-base AAFM Newsletter Integrated Command Center (ICC). The ICC will be a highly Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 secure management center that co-locates maintenance, What Future Maintenance Can security, transportation, cyber defense, intelligence, and leadership functions in one facility. Maintenance controllers Look Like - GBSD is Coming! - by will be charged to perform advanced diagnostics and quick CMSgt (ret) Shane Finders, AAFM Mbr No A0235, Bossier City, LA. He works for Booz Allen Hamilton providing operational and technical reaction maintenance actions, reducing frequent, sometimes analysis and subject matter expertise to AFGSC/A5I and the GBSD repetitive dispatches (Launch Facility (LF) temperature, program. The article is a simple summation of the GBSD Requirements launch tube water checks, etc.). The ability to push and should not be considered direction for system design by any industry keys/codes updates from the ICC will be a huge step to partners. eliminating annual code change requirements. ICC analysis My first MMT (Missile Maintenance Team) by maintenance controllers will sharply reduce in-field dispatch was in December of 1987. At that time, Horace troubleshooting, assuring the right parts are taken for each (Pat) Patterson was my team chief and mentor. He taught action. me the Minuteman III system while serving as a cage LFs will be completely modernized and will include man. He dedicated countless hours talking about the an all new personal access system, new ground electronics, hurdles and frustrations of running the field. Some were and a fully integrated security suite employing enhanced obvious; the drive times, the temperatures, the long hours detection, characterization, delay and deny capabilities. The due to mechanical issues. However, beyond the physics new flight system will contain long-lasting propellants and of maintenance, unforeseen problem would come up…an allow for line replaceable guidance system maintenance A-circuit that wouldn’t come out of the pit, a failed Payload repairs. In-silo booster repair actions will likely eliminate Transporter hoist in the middle of a can change, a B-plug the need for missile recycles outside of the Periodic Depot that wouldn’t secure, or the ever-looming security system Maintenance (PDM) cycle. Improved Mean Time Between that wouldn’t set up at the end of the day. We just considered Failure on all subsystems will also reduce routine dispatch it to be part of the maintenance dispatch “fistfight” that made requirements and allow for a reliability-based maintenance running the field interesting at best, but many times, painful. concept (tech refresh and upgrade when the Air Force wants However, Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) fell to…not during a premature failure). In aggregate, these victim to nuclear atrophy after the cold war. Consequently, improvements will solve long-standing maintainability and in the 30+ years since my first dispatch, problems have gotten sustainability issues, lower taxpayer ownership costs, and worse…significantly worse. In some cases, those problems reduce operational risks to the missile wings. have become demoralizing and so manpower-taxing that The Weapon System Command and Control commanders are pressed to make maintenance decisions system will also be replaced. Minuteman III is truly a based on human and repair parts availability and competing hodge-podge system-of-systems that have been added in-field priorities. Numerous system modification shortfalls over time and sustained with little focus on integration. and promised improvements failed to come to fruition. Our GBSD Requirements dictate this will be a thing of the past, young operations, security force, and maintenance personnel mandating enhanced battlespace awareness, and greatly have felt this pain for so long, many have become numb to improved voice and video capabilities through the missile it. They are the remaining “fist-fighters,” scrapping in the complex. New maintenance databases, configuration late rounds of this 50-year battle to keep the ICBM available control, parts ordering, and parts disposition will become and an effective deterrent. But the end of the internal fight almost transparent to the next generation team chief. is near. The GBSD system is a national defense asset and The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) is one of the DoD’s top 5 acquisitions. This is for good program is well underway and two highly-capable industry reason. Adversaries understand the significant deterrent partners (Boeing and Northrop Grumman) are working value of the ICBM. It delivers high availability, extremely tirelessly to solve many of the issues plaguing the aging capable effectiveness, and does it at the lowest cost of any system. They are close to submitting their best design other system in the triad. GBSD will (further) lower the cost solutions (at their best price-point) in hopes to secure the to operate, improve missile wing operations and improve opportunity to build, test, certify and field the world’s most quality of life. capable land-based ICBM. Yes, they must utilize the same I hope that Pat Patterson and I can reunite on the missile bases, same missile silos, and same missile field access road in 2029, on the day of the first “green light.” roads, but they have been challenged to deliver a system Maybe we will have the chance to toast the next generation that supports traditionally high alert rates, lower numbers of maintainers. I know they will continue the long tradition of dispatches and repair actions, reduced weapon exposure, of ICBM pride…just with a few less bruises along the way. and shorter task times. This is no small commission; but both can do it…one of them will do it. 15 maintenance; another was dispatched far out in the Eastern AAFM Newsletter complex; and the fourth in the Western complex. Ours was Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 the only available T-van, and we were almost to the front gate! We turned onto 57th Street, the base leg leading to the 2nd Avenue North main gate. Job Control called me on the radio,“Tango-9, what’s the condition of your van?” I was feeling good! I felt like the cavalry coming to the rescue! I picked up the microphone, pressed the button and said, “Job Control, Tango-9. Hot and ready to roll!” No sooner had I hung up the mic, there was a bang as the front end of the short drive shaft, connecting the front and rear dual axles fell out, dragging on the ground! I called Job back, informing them of the situation, and we limped back to the Missile Maintenance Squadron (MIMS) hangar. Another time, we were scheduled to depart on an 0700 dispatch to replace either the light bulb or the whole Early Maintenance Van C-21P photo-electric auto-collimator, at LF November-11. And The Trucks We Rode In On - This only required an A-van. But one of the inside rear tires by Capt (Ret) James W. Barnard, AAFM Mbr No A0549, Highlands was flat. I went to hunt up a spare while my troops (and Ranch, CO Col. Early Lilly, the MIMS Commander, bless him) started A major and critical part of maintaining the removing the outside tire. But no spare could be found! We Minuteman missile system was the means of transportation were given a different vehicle, which meant cross-loading of equipment and personnel from the support base (in this our equipment. By the time we departed the base and case, Malmstrom AFB, MT) to the various launch control reached Stanford, MT, it was noon, so we stopped for lunch facilities (LCF) and launch facilities (LF) throughout the at the By-Way Café. complex. These ranged from station wagons to ferry launch When we finished eating, my two troops and the officers to the LCFs, and pickup trucks used by various security guard went to the truck. I paid my bill, walked to maintainers, to Reentry Vehicle/Guidance and Control (RV/ the truck, climbed into the “shotgun” seat, and said to (the G&C) tractor-trailers, Transporter-Erectors for missiles, and late) Sgt. Ron Mullinix, “OK! Let’s go!” Whereupon, he A-vans (alignment vans) and T-vans (targeting vans), used handed me the gearshift lever, which had come loose, and by Targeting teams, including my own, call-sign Tango-9. said, “Here, Lieutenant, you shift for awhile!” I did a Both A-vans and T-vans were six-passenger cabs double-take that would have done credit to Johnny Carson, (a sixth person could straddle the floor-mounted gear-shift and replied with some words best left unprinted! lever), 5-ton vehicles with a large metal box on the rear. We call Transportation Control and reported the A-vans were primarily used to haul our equipment for jobs situation, and were told that there was an International not requiring targeting the Minuteman I guidance system. Dealer on the other street, and since the A-van was in 2nd A-vans were International products, purchased in 1964. gear, we drove over, only to find that their mechanic was The box on the T-vans also contained the large not available. The dealership suggested we try “Joe’s” on targeting console for the Minuteman I G&C. A large cable the next corner. Whether he thought someone there could was connected to the console inside the truck, and the other actually help us, or whether he was suggesting that’s where end dropped down the personnel access hatch to connect the truck belonged, I don’t know. “Joe’s” was a junk yard! with the electronics rack on the upper equipment room level We drove back to the café and eventually were met of a Launch Facility (LF). The trucks were Dodge products by a team driving a pickup truck, into which we crammed of 1965 vintage. our gear, and proceeded to the job site. Such were but two Considering the distances travelled within the of the incidents with vehicles and missile maintenance. complex, probably totaling more than 100,000 miles a year, or maybe much more, keeping the vehicles and the targeting (Jim has more stories of missile maintenance in his book, consoles up and running was a miraculous job on the part of “And The Truck You Rode In On”, by James W. Barnard, those who maintained both! © 2018, contact [email protected] or call (303) 791- Sometimes, however, things just didn’t go right, 6068.) making the job of missile maintenance even tougher than usual. This could be frustrating, but at times also humorous! One time, my team and I were coming back from an unusually short, easy targeting job in Alpha-flight, using a T-van. There were only five T-vans at Malmstrom, and on that particular day, we were short on available T-vans. One was down for vehicle maintenance; another for console 16 and replacement. Major maintenance actions include re- The entry system, guidance set, post boost stage and downstage removal and replacement. Typical maintenance actions take 20th Air Force from two to seven hours to complete, and the progress of Page major maintenance actions is closely monitored by the par- ent wing, 20th Air Force and Air Force Global Strike Com- mand leadership. After maintenance is complete, the team closes and secures the LF and coordinates with the missile combat crew and missile field security prior to departing and driving back to base. Upon return, the team chief debriefs the work that was accomplished and documents any open work orders or new discrepancies found on site. While this is happening, the rest of the team will wash, fuel and unload their equip- ment from the vehicle prior to turning it back into the Ve- hicle and Equipment Section. After the vehicle is turned in and the work is documented, the team can go home - their maintenance mission is complete for the day. Maintainers have proudly dispatched to the missile field for over 60 years with pride, driving in all weather, day Transporter erector raisd during an annual proofload test at Minot and night, 365 days a year with the highest work ethic to AFB, ND. (USAF photo by Sr Amn Ashley Boster) ensure our nation’s long range strike capability. Day in the Life of a Maintainer - By TSgt Samuel D. Savoie, ICBM Electrical Systems Manager Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) have had many names over the years - Atlas, Titan, Peacekeeper, Min- uteman I, II, and III - and the entire time missile maintain- ers have been dispatching to the missile field to ensure our nation’s long range strike capability. Even with changes to launch facility (LF) configurations, missile alert facilities (MAF), missiles and security, a maintainer’s dispatch to the field has remained fairly consistent - show up, drive, fix and go home. Typical maintenance days can start anywhere from 0500 to 1800, with the goal of accomplishing the assigned Sr Amn Edgar Beckford, 90th Missile Maintenance Squadron topside maintenance actions within 12 hours. However, this time- technician, opens the launcher closure door to a missile silo, in the F. E. line can be extended as needed with leadership approval. Warren AFB missile complex. (USAF photo by A1C Braydon Williams) Teams start with a pre-task briefing/table top, where The “Global Twentieth” – 75 Years the team goes over the specifics of the day. The team then - By Dr. Jeremy Prichard, 20th Air Force Historian goes to the Vehicle and Equipment Section to inspect vehicle It was both an extraordinary and astonishing remark, and equipment required for the dispatch. Once everything is perhaps even hyperbolic. On 7 August 1945, Gen. Carl A. checked out and loaded into the vehicle, the team may load Spaatz wired a message to the Twentieth Air Force (AF) additional task-specific equipment from their section. Next, e Chief of Staff in Washington, Brig Gen Lauris Norstad. the team will return to the dispatching shop and receive a Spaatz, only weeks earlier having assumed command of the pre-dispatch briefing prior to driving one to three hours to US Army Strategic Air Forces (USASTAF) at Guam, in- get to the LF requiring maintenance. formed Norstad of his recent inspection of 20 AF “Baker Upon arrival, the team and team chief will follow Two Nine” (B-29) stations throughout the Pacific region. In specific security procedures to gain access to the LF, enters his assessment, Spaatz considered this “The best organized the LF and the team chief contacts the missile combat crew and most technically and tactically proficient military orga- at the launch control center (LCC) to provide a description nization that the world has seen to date.” of the maintenance actions taking place. Next, the team will The date was noteworthy as Spaatz delivered his follow specific procedures to access the interior of the LF. message one day after a 20 AF crew deployed an atomic When the LF is fully opened, the team is able to bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, though his dispatch execute their maintenance actions. These can range from neglected that detail. diesel generator troubleshooting to storage battery removal Another interesting observation was that until only 17 devastating the Japanese into submission, thus rendering a AAFM Newsletter proposed land invasion of the home islands unnecessary. Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 Accomplishing such a feat would provide an added postwar benefit, one that Arnold clearly intended: demonstrating the value of an independent air force, a co-equal military branch to both the Army and the Navy. He placed responsibility for that massive undertaking on the new 20 AF. To prevent a theater commander from usurping his envisioned B-29 program in the Pacific, Arnold took the un- usual step of assuming command of 20 AF while retaining his overall charge of the Army Air Forces. This arrangement established a precedent of specified commands reporting di- rectly to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, akin to Strategic Air Com- mand (SAC) during the Cold War era. The first 20 AF bombing operation on Japanese- occupied territory occurred 5 June 1944, one day prior to General “Hap” Arnold the D-Day Invasion in Europe. Those initial bombing cam- one month prior, Gen Spaatz had spent the majority of the paigns against Japanese objectives demonstrated early me- war in Europe pursuing and destroying the German Reich chanical and targeting shortfalls with the B-29 program. and its Luftwaffe, of which he and the Allies were ultimately Aware that President Franklin D. Roosevelt was intimately successful. After briefly making his rounds in the Pacific, monitoring B-29 operations over Japan, Arnold decisively the former air commander to Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower replaced leaders that failed to produce timely results. commended the “Global Twentieth” as a more efficient and Arnold and his program benefitted from two devel- structured enterprise than the renowned air armada that he opments beginning in late-1944. First, the Allied capture of helped direct in defeating the Nazis. More than that, though, the Mariana Islands placed B-29s within 1,500 miles of To- the truly surprising part of Gen Spaatz’s comment was that kyo. From there, Maj Gen Curtis E. LeMay, commander of at the time of his wire, 20 AF had existed on paper less than the XXI Bomber Command – a subunit of 20 AF – changed a year and a half. B-29 tactics from high-altitude daylight bombing to low- On 4 April 1944, Gen Henry H. “Hap” Arnold, Com- level area nighttime attacks, with effective results. For five manding General of the US Army Air Forces, formed the last months beginning in March 1945, 20 AF crews routinely numbered air force of the war, 20 AF. This organization was bombed Japan’s industrial and urban centers. So destruc- responsible for the major bomber commands operating out tive were those incendiary air raids that, even before the two of India and, eventually, the Mariana Islands. Units that fell atomic bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japanese under 20 AF flew the new B-29 Superfortress, one of the Premier Suzuki was convinced that his nation should sur- most expensive weapons programs that the US pursued dur- render “merely on the basis of the B-29s alone.” ing World War II. Unlike its fellow four-engine bombers, the Thus was 20 AF’s legacy and the end of World War B-17 and B-24, the B-29 was a strategic aircraft that could II, one that Gen Spaatz lauded as “the best organized and fly faster, further, and carry a heavier bomb load than those most technically and tactically proficient” in history. Despite wartime predecessors. its brief tenure, the “Global Twentieth” gained an enduring Gen Arnold envisioned these long-range bombers reputation for its outsized contribution during the war. That attribute resonates with today’s 20 AF, the enterprise having replaced long-range bombers with long-range strike capa- bilities via its Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) ar- senal. And while the weapons and tactics have changed since the organization’s early days in the Second World War’s Pa- cific Theater, contemporary 20 AF Airmen inherited from its forebears a projection of strength and unparalleled combat capability first developed 75 years ago.

20 AF personnel and guests gathered on 4 April, 2019 at FE Warren Air Force Base, WY,. to celebrate the 75th anniversary of 20 AF with a diamond and denim theme gala. AAFM Newsletter 18 Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 Letters to AAFM MiMi Special Exhibit “Silent Silos: Address letters to AAFM, Box 652, Johnstown, CO 80534, or send by e-mail to [email protected] Letters South Dakota’s Missile Field” - A may be edited, content/meaning will not be changed. National Park Service Press Release Victor Alert - The Indiana Military Museum (IMM) of The new exhibit “Silent Silos: South Dakota’s which I am the Curator is proud to possess a Mace missile Missile Field” openied 1 June at the South Dakota Cultural which your organization has so graciously awarded us funds Heritage Center in Pierre. The exhibit, which will be for some important cosmetic restoration. Our sincere thanks open through February 2021, is a collaboration between for the monetary help. Since our museum also has an F-16 Minuteman Missile National Historic Site and the South fighter aircraft we found the article Victor Alert written Dakota State Historical Society. The two institutions have by Maj Gen Trulan Eyre, past Commander of the 140th been working together since June 2018 on the project. Wing, Colorado Air National Guard , was one of the most “2019 marks the 25th anniversary of the official interesting articles I have ever read. The fact that the F-16s end of the missile field in South Dakota and the twentieth carried a heavy burden of the nuclear payload while serving anniversary of the congressional authorization of the park. in Germany was eye opening and extremely interesting. It This exhibit is timed to be on display for those anniversaries,” gave us here at IMM a new and greater appreciation for the said Superintendent Eric Leonard. “This partnership allows F-16 aircraft we have in our aircraft line up. The capability us to showcase the park’s artifacts and tell a uniquely South of that bird and service during the Cold War period is much Dakota story with museum director Jay Smith and his staff.” more exciting than we ever imaged. We wish to extend Featuring never-before-seen artifacts from the thanks to Maj Gen Eyre for the most interesting story and collections of the park and the State Historical Society, the details concerning the combat readiness of the F-16s in his exhibit traces the development of the Cold War-era missile command. Our compliments to the Air Force Missileers field in South Dakota to house the Minuteman missile magazine for continuing such interesting information about designed to deter a Soviet nuclear attack on the United our defense during that time in history. Jim R. Osborne, Curator, States. Indiana Military Museum, Vincennes, IN. From local protests about land use to the life of the missileers who operated both above and below ground, the INF - The March 2019 edition of the AAFM Newsletter was exhibit employs photographs, artifacts, music, video, oral truly outstanding! Besides the exceptionally informative histories and interactives that bring this complex story to and well-written articles, the new format is very attractive light. Artifacts such as a transport container that once held and easy to read!! Col (Ret) Rick Baker, AAFM Mbr No A3240, the missile guidance computer, the launch keys that two Herndon, VA. missileers had to simultaneously turn to launch missiles, and other items will be displayed in the museum exhibit. The A Call For Help On Larson Titan I - I would like to contact exhibit also features oral histories from the missileers who veterans of the Titan I squadron at Larson AFB, WA, 568th described what it was like to work in the missile field. The SMS, for information on a history of the squadron that I am exhibit also addresses the closure of the missile field and the working on. Lee O’Connor, Seattle, WA, oconnorlee@msn. impacts the missile field had on western South Dakota. com, 206-427-7827. The South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center is open from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CDT Monday through Saturday, and 1-4:30 p.m. CDT on Sundays and most holidays. Call 605-773-3458 for more information about exhibits, special events and upcoming activities. Cold War Museum Briefing On 24 April 2019, members of the Air Force Association (AFA) Gabriel Chapter and AAFM gathered at Vint Hill, VA, for a Cold War Museum briefing on the “The Cuban Missile Crisis – Missileers, SAC and DEFCONS” by Col (Ret) Charlie Simpson, a founder and Executive Director Emeritus of the AAFM. A number of AAFM members attended as part of the more than 50 attendees. MSgt (Ret) Richard Somerset, an AAFM member who served in Atlas, traveled the most distance for the event, all the way from Vermont. AAFM Members at Cold War Museum 19 AAFM Newsletter The New Members Page Volume 27, Number 2 June 2019 Annual dues are free for active duty enlisted and still $20 per year ($5 for active duty officers and students), $50 for three years ($14 for active duty officers and students) and $300 for a lifetime membership. Life membership donations can be made in up to 12 monthly installments. Dues can be paid by mail with a check or on our web page using PayPal. No other credit card options are offered. Our benefits and programs: - Quarterly newsletter featuring articles and stories by members, official news releases and other information, at the end of March, June, September and December. For those who prefer the print, mailed copy, the mailings follow the release of the electronic version by about three weeks. - Email updates to every missileer on our contact list. Keep AAFM advised of email address changes. - AAFM’s web page, at afmissileers.org, featuring information about all of AAFM’s programs, “Warble Tone” with the latest news about missileers, meetings, books and much more, including “Taps for Missileers.” Greg Ogletree’s collection of missile patches, the entire newsletter library and the on-line museum are included. - Member Directory every three years, available free electronically and for $10 a mailed print copy. Interim updates. - National Meetings every two years, always near a base with a missile-related mission. - Occasional local area meetings at locations around the country. - Missile Heritage Grants to museums, donated in memory of members who have passed away, to museums for missile and missile-related displays. AAFM has donated over a quarter million dollars to date to museums for displays. - Participation in Air Force events, including the Bomb and Missile Competitions. - A large library of publications, videos and CDs about missile history and missile programs. - A Donations/Store area with a wide variety of logo items, lapel pins and badges, CDs and DVDs, models, books and much more. A link is on our web page. New Members since 1 January 2019 - Riock Ahrens, Wayne Hudson, MichaelJones, Phil Jones, ,Daniel Konkol,,Frederick Notar, Stephen Putnoki. New Life Members (some transitioned from regular members) - Alan Chalfont,Joe Dhrum, Williss Funn, Brian Millburn, Eric Neiheisel, David Rest, Jon Schnorr, Harold Springs, Chuck Sterns.

Taps for Missileers Maj (Ret) Steven Brooks, an AAFM Member, served in Titan II in the 390 SMW and Minuteman in the 341 SMW and lived in Las Vegas, NV. Maj (Ret) William A. Christians, an AAFM Member, served in Operations in Minuteman in the 44 SMW and 90 SMW, and lived in Denton, MT. Capt Stuart M. Foss, an AAFM Member, served in Thor in the United Kingdom and lived in Birmingham, AL. Col (Ret) Michael Heinmeyer served in Minuteman in the 321 MW, 341 MW, 91 MW, 4315 CCTS and 3901 SMES, at BMO, STRATCOM, USEUCOM and the State Department, and lived in Lewiston, ID. Dan Lawrence, an AAFM Member, joined recently and lived in Rantour, IL. Lt Col (Ret) Herbert S. Schaeffer served in Minuteman in the 44 SMW, at SAC and the 4392 ASW, and on Martin Marietta’s Small ICBM program. Lt Col (Chaplain, Ret) James O. Sheerin, an AAFM Member, served in Atlas in the 556 SMS and Minuteman in the 90 SMW, and lived in Rutherford, NJ. He was also the Base Chaplain with your Executive Director Emeritus in Spain.

Keep your mailing addrss, email address and dues current with AAFM. Email us at aafm@ afmissileers.org, call 719-351-3962, or mail to AAFM, PO Box 652, Johnstown, CO 80534.

Available for Members 2018 Membership Directory - 90 pages with information on current, past and deceased members. Free electroni- cally or $10 for a mailed copy. Email [email protected] or send a check to AAFM, PO Box PO Box 652, Johnstown, CO 80534. AAFM Email List - addresses for all members with email, email [email protected] for a copy. Dues Status - check the address block on your mailed copy of the newsletter - the number above your name (919 means dues expire in September 2019) or email [email protected] if you receive the electronic newsletter. 16 Donate to AAFM Missile Heritage and Enlisted Recognition Funds Use the Form Below for Mail or go On-line to afmissileers.org Lapel Pins

Missile Badge - Silver, 1 1/4 inch , Indicate quantity of each - Basic Badge ____ Basic with Ops Designator ____ Senior Badge ____ Senior with Ops Designator ____Master Badge ____ Master with Ops Designator ______Space Badge - Silver, 1 1/4 inch, - Basic ___ Senior ____Master ____ Other Lapel Pins - Indicate quantity for each AAFM - ____ SAC - ____ Cuban Crisis - ____ Minuteman II Alerts - 100 - ____ 200 - ____ Master Technician - ____ Any Two Pins - $10. Any 6 pins - $25. Any 15 Pins, $50. Total Amount for Lapel Pins $______Full Size Reproduction Missile and Combat Crew Badges Finish, styles and sizes - NS Non-shiny, CF chrome finish, FS full size, SS, smaller size for shirt outer wear. Mark quantity below. Not all versions available Basic, No Ops Designator - NS FS____ SS ____ Senior, No Ops Designator - NS FS ___ SS ____ Master, No Ops Designator - NS FS ___ SS ___ Basic, Ops Designator - NS FS ___ CF SS ____ Master, Ops Designator - CF SS _____ Combat Crew Badge NS FS ____ $10 each - Total Amount for Badges Ordered $______Official Chrome Finish badges, any of the six in either full size or shirt size available by special order, prices vary. Challenge Coins AAFM - $10 each ____ 3 for $25 ____ 3901 SMES Mission Complete $10 each ____ Missile Competition Coins - Any $3 for $15. Guardian Challenge Coins (AF Space Command Competitions) 2006 _____ 2008 _____ Global Strike Challenge (AF Global Strike Command Comp) 2010 ______2011 ____ 2012 (Cuban Missile Crisis) ______2014 _____ 25th Anniversary of AAFM _____ Total Amount for Coins $______Indicate Quantity for each Patches

AAFM - 2 for $10 ____ 5 for $25 ______Subterranean Sentinels - $10 each ____ 3 for $25 ___ Cuban Missile Crisis 2012 Commemorative - $10 ____3 for $25 ___ Reproduction Patches - Made for reunions and donated to AAFM - $10 each 341 MIMS ___ 321 OSS ____ 6555 ATW ____ SAC with Stripe ___ 50 Years Deterrence ___

AAFM CD and DVD Collections - for research and historical use only - CDs include Photos, Tech Orders, ar- ticles, publications, other data, DVDs are Collections of films and videos from various sources, including documentaries that AAFM advised on. $10 for each CD or DVD set - Indicate Quantities. CD sets - AAFM and Historical Data ____ Early and Airlaunched Missiles ____ Atlas D, E, F _____ Titan I and II ____ Minuteman I, II and III ____ Competitions and Peacekeeper ______GLCM ____ Matador and Mace ____ All Eight CD sets - $50 - _____ DVD Sets - AAFM and Historic Videos ____ Atlas D, E, F and Titan I and II ____ GLCM ____ Minuteman I, II, III and Peacekeeper____ Early Airlaunched Missiles ____ Air Force Space Videos ____ SAC ____ Competitions _____ All 8 DVD sets - $50 ____ SAC Memorial DVD - Dedication at Dayton ___ AAFM 2012 National Meeting at Malmstrom ____ The Groobers Missile Music CD ______Total Amount for CDs/DVDs $______Publications - Greg Ogletree’s “History of the Missile Badge” - $10 ___ Bill McKee’s Cartoon Book, “Missile Business” - $10___ AAFM Poetry Collection - $15 ____ AAFM 2012 Book “Missileers and the Cuban Missile Crisis” - $15 ____ Prints - Signed/numbered Print “Countdown - 5,4,3,2,1” - $15 each - Quantity _____ Randy Mayse signed print for Malmstrom 25th Anniversary - TE on site - $25 each Quantity ____ Cuban Missile Crisis Painting of Malmstrom’s A-06- $15 each - Quantity ______Joe Andrew’s painting, “The Guardians” - $10 each Quantity ______Total Amount for Publications $______AAFM Golf Cap, $15 Each Quantity ____ Total $_____ AAFM Brief Case, $15 each Quantity ____ Total$______Bob Wyckoff’s Collection of Poems - plus AAFM’s “We are Missileers” All Poems printed on Photo Paper for Framing - $15 ______Minuteman I, II and III 14 inch Desk Models - in white or real colors. Delivery time about four months - $220 each - call AAFM for details and to order or go to our web page. Limited number of MMIII in current real colors - $175. Order and Pay on-line at the Donations/Store area on our web page, afmissileers.org with a credit card. Books and Special Collectibles (pins, patches, prints, and more) also shown there. Or complete the form and send your payment (checks only) to Association of Air Force Missileers, PO Box 652, Johnstown, CO 80534. Shipping included - Note that the minimum order amount is $10 due to increased cost of shipping. Order Information

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Address Phone

City State Zip Rank/Grade

Signature Active Duty ___ Retired ____ Discharged/Separated ____ Guard/Reserve _____ Civilian _____ Awarded Missile Badge - Yes _____ No _____ Can AAFM release this information - only to members and missile organizations? Yes ____ No ___ List your Missile Experience including Systems and Units - e.g. - Minuteman, 90 MW, Atlas 556 SMS, Hound- Dog 319 BW, etc. Include all higher headquarters, training, test, evaluation or other special assignments. ______

Specialties - Operations___ Maintenance___ Munitions___ Comm___ Facility Mgr___ Safety___ Civil Eng___ Support___ Research/Devel/Test___ Instrumentation___ Security___ Contractor___ ( ) Other ______Missile Competition Participant___ Years______Commander -Sqdn___ Group___ Wing___ Other______

Association of Air Force Missileers PO Box 652 NON PROFIT Johnstown, CO 80534 US POSTAGE PAID Change Service Requested Norfolk,NE Permit # 125

Reunions and Meetings 455/91 SMW/MG/SW/MW Operations, 24-29 September 2019, Holiday Inn on the Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX, contact Richard and Diana Sarfin 210-818-9402 [email protected] or Vince and Terry Soll 210-323-5347 [email protected].

TAC Missileers (Matador and Mace) - 10-13 September 2019, Newport News, VA, Contact Max Butler at maxandlois05@ gmail.com, Phone 812-307-0187, or go to tacmissileers.org.

Titan 2 PTS Reunion – 10-13 October 2019, Wyndam Riverfront Hotel, Little Rock, AR Contact Randy Welch, phone 925-785-5655 or email [email protected].

Association of Air Force Missileers 2020 National Meeting - Planning underway for our next meeting in 2020. Bring your unit reunion to our National Meeting.

Plan your unit reunion in conjunction with our National Meetings and let AAFM take care of all the details. Get your reunion notices in early so we can help spread the word. Keep in mind that a significant number of our members do not use Facebook or email, so include a telephone contact number in your announcement.

AAFM is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization under section 501c(3) of the IRS Code. The Newsletter is published quarterly, printed by Lakes Marketing and Printing, Spirit Lake, IA. Board of Directors - President - Gen (Ret) Lance Lord, Aurora, CO Vice President - Col (Ret) Bob Mattson, Cheyenne, WY Secretary - CMSgt (Ret) Mike Kenderes, Santa Maria, CA Treasurer - CMSgt (Ret) Bob Kelchner, Torrance, CA Maj Gen (Ret) Don Alston, Cheyenne, WY CMSgt (Ret) Mark Salyards, Layton, UT CMSgt (Ret) Hank Habenick, Cottage Grove, OR Col (Ret) Randy Tymofichuk, Layton, UT Col (Ret) Tom Cullen, Colo Spgs, CO Col (Ret) Patricia Fornes, Omaha, NE Maj Gen (Ret) Bob Parker, San Antonio, TX CMSgt (Ret) Mark Silliman, London, OH Executive Director - Col (Ret) Jim Warner Newsletter Editor - Col (Ret) Charlie Simpson Association of Air Force Missileers, PO Box 652, Johnstown, CO 80534 719-351-3962 afmissileers.org [email protected] or [email protected]