Air Force Missileers - University of...

Volume 26, Number 2 “Advocates for Missileers” June 2018

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

Air Force MissileersThe Quarterly Newsletter of the Association of Air Force Missileers

Welcome to the 90 MW 1Cheyenne in October 2The Missile Badge - 60 Years 3New Series - My Journey in Missiles 5Quebec-01 Update 11Ohio History Day Winners, MiMi Fees 12Hastings UFO Update, A Word From AAFM 13Taps for Missileers, Book Review, RV Update, Panel Request 14New Members 5Donations Pages 16Member Application Inside Back CoverReunions and Meetings Back Cover 2018 National Meeting Registration - Inside Front Cover

AAFM Thirteenth National Meeting, Cheyenne, WY, 9-14 October 2018Celebrating the 25th Anniversary for AAFM

Register On-Line, and use a Credit Card, at http://afmissileers.org on the Reunions and Meetings PageRegistration - You must register using the form below no later than 8 September 2018. SORRY - NO WALK-INSReservations - Make your hotel reservations directly with the Little America Hotel, and ensure you say you are with Air Force Missileers. Rate is $93, including breakfast for two each morning. You must make reservations before 5 September 2018. Call 307-775-8400 or 800-235-6396. Not Staying at the Hotel? - If you are staying in a motor home, other hotel or with friends, or live in the area, you can attend any or all of the events. Complete the reservation form for the events you would like to attend. Hospitality Suite - Open every day when no other activities are scheduled, with snacks and refreshments. Registration fee covers suite operation and mementos.Attire - Casual dress for all events. Banquet business casual (open collar shirts, coats optional, no jeans)Refunds - Registration fees can only be refunded if you cancel by 1 September 2018. Inform us immediately if you have to cancel.Special Needs - Let us know of any special diet needs, handicapped access, etc. Schedule of Events - Tuesday, 9 October - 0830 - AAFM Board of Directors Meeting and DinnerWednesday, 10 October - 1300 - Registration, Hospitality Suite open 1800 - Welcome Reception - Stand up buffet and pay as you go bar, $29 per person.Thursday, 11 October 0700 - Breakfast (included in room rate)0830 - Depart hotel for tour of FE Warren AFB - lunch on base - $37 for bus and Santa Maria BBQ lunch.1800 - Dinner at the hotel, Italian Buffet - $30 per person.Friday, 12 October 0700 - Breakfast (included in room rate)0830 - Depart hotel for Tour of Cheyenne attractions, including Old West Museum, Botanic Gardens, Terry Bison Ranch and the Depot Museum, lunch at the Depot Museum. Return to hotel at 1630, $60 per person.1800 - Dinner at the hotel - Western Buffet - $30 per person Saturday, 13 October 0700 - Breakfast (included in room rate) 0900 - General Membership Meeting 1100 - Board of Directors meeting - open to all. Lunch on your own. 1200 - Optional Tour - $25 per person - Q-01 Missile Alert Facility State Museum, and 3901 SMES Reunion Meeting at hotel.1800 - AAFM Banquet with featured speaker and special program. - $37 per person, choice of prime rib or chickenSunday, 14 October 0700 - Breakfast (included in room rate), Depart hotel

For Base TourFor Active/Retired Military or spouse with ID card - Full name and SSN for eachMember___________________________________ SSN _________________________________Guest______________________________________ SSN ____________________________________For those without active/retired ID cards, Full Name, State Driver’s License No and last four digits of SSNMember______________________________ DL No__________________State_______SSN Last Four_________DOB_____Guest _________________________________DL No __________________State _______SSN Last Four _______DOB_____

Registration Form - 2018 National MeetingMail with check to AAFM, PO Box 5693, Breckenridge, CO 80424

Name______________________________________Address____________________________________City, State, Zip_______________________________Phone_____________ Number Attending________Spouse/Guest Name___________________________Arrive_____________ Depart______________Special Requirements_________________________(Enter names as preferred on name tags)_________________________________________________

556 SMS Reunion ____ 3901 SMES Reunion ____

Number AmountRegistration fee - $15 each _____ _______Reception Buffet - $29 each _____ _______Thursday Tour - $37 each _____ _______ Thursday dinner - $30 each _____ _______Friday Tour - $60 each _____ _______ Lunch - Ham_____ Chicken_____Friday Dinner, $30 ______ ______ Optional Saturday Tour - $25 ______ _______Banquet - $37 each _____ ______Prime Rib ____ Chicken____

Total Amount ______________

Air Force MissileersThe Quarterly Newsletter of the Association of Air Force Missileers

Volume 26, Number 2 “Advocates for Missileers” June 2018

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Left, Col Stacy Jo Huser, Commander, 90 MW

Right, the 90 MW Emblem

Welcome to the 90th Missile Wing - By Col. Stacy Jo Huser, 90th Missile Wing Commander and AAFM Mbr No A2243 On behalf of the Mighty Ninety, I would like to welcome the Association of Air Force Missileers to F. E. Warren Air Force Base (AFB), home of the missileer! The Mighty Ninety is tasked with completing one of the highest priority missions in the Department of Defense: Defend America with the world’s premier combat-ready intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to host you and look forward to showcasing our ICBM mission to you on Thursday, 11 October! F. E. Warren AFB boasts a rich history spanning over 150 years, providing the front line of defense for America and its allies. Cheyenne and the base were both established in 1867 to help ensure the progress of the transcontinental railroad. Originally named Fort D. A. Russell, the name of the base changed in 1930 to Fort Francis E. Warren to honor Wyoming’s territorial governor, first state senator, and American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient. In 1949, the fort became a base and was renamed Francis E. Warren AFB. Warren has the distinction of being the Air Force’s oldest continuously active installation. The base and the community thrive in a spirit of friendship and cooperation built over these past 150 years. During the early years of the post, more than 220 red brick buildings were constructed. Many of the early brick buildings were stables that housed nearly 20,000 horses and mules. All of these brick buildings remain in use today. The base maintains the historic exterior of each building with appropriate interior modifications for today’s living and working environment. Because of the lasting integrity of the base’s historic architecture and setting, the central core of the base was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and the base was designated a National Historic Landmark. In 1958, Warren housed 24 Atlas missile sites under Strategic Air Command (SAC). While it was not the first designated missile wing, Warren became the first fully operational missile wing in the command. In 1960, the 564th Strategic Missile Squadron (SMS) was declared the first fully operational ICBM squadron. These firsts have given Warren the title “Home of the Missileer”. Only two years later, the new Minuteman replaced the Atlas, and on 1 July 1963, the 90th Strategic Missile Wing (SMW) was activated. During the early 1970s, the SAC ICBM Force Modernization Program began replacing Minuteman I with Minuteman III missiles. In November 1973, the 400 SMS marked the transition by becoming the first all Minuteman III squadron at Warren. The 90 SMW was selected to base the Peacekeeper missile in 1975. Warren was home to the Peacekeeper missile from 1986 to 2005, when deactivation was completed. Today, the Mighty Ninety operates approximately 150 Minuteman III launch facilities on full alert 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. These missiles are deployed over a 9,600 square-mile area spread across three states: eastern

AAFM NewsletterVolume 26, Number 2 June 2018

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Wyoming, western Nebraska, and northern Colorado. The base also hosts 20th Air Force (20 AF), whose mission is to prepare the Nation’s ICBM force to execute safe, secure, and effective nuclear strike operations and support worldwide Combatant Command requirements. The base employs about 3,300 military and 900 civilian employees; with the wing employing about 3,600 of those personnel. Family members add about 5,500 people to the local population. About 5,000 military retirees reside in the area as well. Our Mighty Ninety missileers fall under the 90th Operations Group, which has command and control of all 15 missile alert facilities. Our operators are distributed throughout three squadrons - the 319th, 320th, and 321st Missile Squadrons. The operators, maintainers, pilots, security forces, facility managers, chefs, and support personnel work together daily with the rest of the wing to accomplish the significant mission of protecting America with nuclear deterrence. The 90th Maintenance Group provides world-class maintenance across the entire installation. It maintains around 200 specialized maintenance vehicles and thousands of mission-specific pieces of equipment, ensuring a safe, secure, and effective ICBM force for the nation’s security and defense. The 90th Security Forces Group provides command and control for all personnel directly responsible for active defense of the weapons storage area, all missile alert facilities and launch facilities. It also provides law enforcement for the base, and manages the force protection, combat arms training, resource protection, and pass and identification programs for Warren. Also important to mission success is the 90th Mission Support Group. It supports the 90th Missile Wing, 20 AF, and other hosted units with base engineering, communications, logistics, contracting, food services, billeting, recreational programs, central base administration, and personnel services for all base employees and their families. Finally, the 90th Medical Group provides exceptional health and preventative care to all beneficiaries. Services include family practice, flight medicine and PRAP, pediatrics, and much more in order to keep the Mighty Ninety and our families healthy. Another group vital to our mission is the 582nd Helicopter Group, a direct reporting unit to 20 AF and headquarters for all helicopter squadrons at Air Force Global Strike Command ICBM bases. The 37th Helicopter Squadron at Warren falls under this group and provides integrated helicopter support to 90th Missile Wing nuclear security operations. The squadron operates a fleet of 8 UH-1N helicopters to execute armed escort, air assault, air interdiction, C2ISR (Command and Control, Intelligence,

Surveillance and Reconnaissance), and casualty evacuation. They also provide airlift for Tactical Response Forces for ICBM launch facility denial, recapture and convoy operations. During your visit, your tour will stop by the Air Force’s ICBM Heritage Museum, giving you a closer look at our proud ICBM history. The museum is housed in the first permanent hospital built on base, which is the oldest non-house building and one of several hundred buildings listed on the National Register. Exhibits also offer a unique look at how our base has grown and changed over the years. A collection of unique items are available at the gift shop for purchase. It is an honor to serve in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where we are proud of our close relationship with the community. Cheyenne and the surrounding communities offer something for everyone. Every July the city hosts Cheyenne Frontier Days, “The Daddy of ‘Em All,” the country’s largest outdoor rodeo, in conjunction with Fort D. A. Russell Days, Warren’s open house. Cheyenne Frontier Days draws in fans and rodeo participants from all over the country. I am extremely proud of each Airman and civilian who support the mission of the 90 MW and keep it running smoothly every minute of every day. We are excited to host you here in October and I look forward to meeting you. We sincerely hope you enjoy your visit to F. E. Warren Air Force Base!

October at Cheyenne and Warren When we gather in Cheyenne 9-14 October, at the Little America Resort and Hotel, you will have an excellent opportunity to reacquaint yourself with FE Warren AFB and the city of Cheyenne. In addition, you will hear some out-standing speakers and be entertained by a band formed by and made up partly by Missileers, Ground Zero.” Col Huser and Maj Gen Stoss, the 20th Air Force commander, are going all out to support our visit. On Thursday, Col Huser will welcome us with a mission brief, followed by tours of operations, maintenance and support activities, and we will enjoy a lunch of Santa Maria BBQ prepared by Warren’s senior noncommissioned officers. For those who join us on the city tour on Friday, you will see the new Botanic Gardens, the Old West Museum, Terry Bison Ranch and have lunch and tour the Depot Mu-seum. On Friday night, Ground Zero will entertain us with some of the old Groobers songs as well as music for danc-ing. Saturday’s General Membership Meeting will fea-ture a number of speakers, and a senior Air Force leader will join us for the banquet that evening. As usual, we will invite a number of young enlisted members and officers and their spouses to join us at the banquet as our guests - it is always great to have the opportunity to have some interchange be-tween today’s missilees and our members. Saturday afternoon will include the 3901st Strategic Missile Evaluation Squadron reunion.


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The Missile Badge – 60 Years – by Col (Ret) Charlie Simpson, AAFM Executive Director

The very first recipients of our badge were Col Wil-liam C. Erlenbusch, commander of the 864th Strategic Mis-sile Squadron (SMS), the Strategic Air Command (SAC) Ju-piter training squadron, and MSgt Jake Kindsfather, technical NCO of operations in the 4504th Tactical Missile Training Squadron, Tactical Air Command’s Matador training unit. The two were selected by their commands as “representative of airmen and officer missile specialists.” Air Force Chief of Staff General Thomas White pinned on their new badges in a brief ceremony at the Pentagon in July, 1958. Apparently, some took exception to the fact that both of these individuals were from training units rather than combat units because another supposed “first” ceremony took place on 26 Sep-tember 1958, at Dallas, TX, during which “The newly au-thorized missile badge was presented to the Air Force’s first operational strategic missilemen by Maj Gen David Wade, at the Air Force Association’s Space Age Luncheon.” Capt Walter A. Loughridge and MSgt James J. Mustaine, both of the 576 SMS were the recipients. Another early recipient of the Air Force’s newest insignia was the comic strip character Steve Canyon! Mass issues soon followed.

It took several years to develop the distinctive badge, and in the 60 years the badge has been around, there have been many changes. We thank AAFM Life Member Maj (Ret) Greg Ogletree for his superb history, which AAFM of-fers in our collection of missile history documents. Greg’s history was the basis for this article – he detailed the entire history of the development and the changes to the badge in his 28 page “brief” history. We won’t go into all the detail about changes in who was authorized the badge, how long it took to earn various levels or other changes – you can order Greg’s history from our Store/Donations area if you want to read the whole story.

The first tactical missile unit, the 1st Pilotless Bomber Squadron (Light), was activated in 1951. There was much talk that a special mark of recognition was warranted, and there are even rumors that some of these sentiments ap-peared in Air Force Times during the early and mid-1950s. The earliest surviving record (there may have been others)

of an official proposal to create a badge for missileers is a 2-page memo, dated 25 September 1956, from 1st Lt Rich-ard T. Boverie (an early AAFM Member) of the 11th Tactical Missile Squadron (USAFE), one of United States Air Force Europe Matador units. The “tactical missile” designation had replaced the “pilotless bomber” title earlier.

On 28 April 1958, Gen White directed that, no later than 1 June 1958, “a distinctive badge for wear by missile-men will be designed and available for issue or purchase by those individuals authorized to wear the badge.” An Ad Hoc Committee was formed that day, and quickly established some strict guidelines: “The AF wants the design not to in-clude wings of any type. The badge is to be of silver (no enamel). It is to be simple, yet tell the story of the missile. It should be no larger than the pilot wings and some smaller designs are requested.”

On 23 May 1958, Air Force Regulation (AFR) 35-5, Guided Missile Insignia, was published. It stated that “The Guided Missile Insignia has been established to recognize and identify those individuals within the Air Force who, by virtue of their job assignment and attainment of command, operational or technical skills, have a direct, distinctive, and important role in the development, maintenance, and/or operation of guided missiles.” Called the “Guided Mis-sile Insignia,” it was authorized for those individuals who, for 3 months or longer, performed duty in or were directly associated with weapons that included the Bomarc, Goose, Mace, Matador, Snark, Jupiter, Thor, Atlas, Titan, and Min-uteman missile systems. Yes, Minuteman! The initial missile badge regulation published in 1958 listed the Minuteman, even though the first Minuteman I missile would not assume strategic alert status until late 1962. Much later, the Gryphon ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) and MX/Peace-keeper weapon systems would also make the list.

The design selected was attributed to Fred W. Vetter, Jr., who retired as a brigadier general in 1970. The generic missile was used so that no particular missile in the inven-tory would be represented. The vertical bands beside and beneath the missile portray vapor trails created by a missile during flight, a reminder of the lightning-quick speed with which it strikes the enemy. The horizontal “tracking” lines darken the background to represent the blackness of space,

Mrs. William Erlenbusch, Gen Lord and the Badge Presented to Col Erlenbusch in 1958


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and the star cluster (four stars, two on either side of the mis-sile) is indicative of both the aerospace role assigned to the Air Force and the traditional stars and stripes associated with our democracy. The hourglass shape signifies the weapon’s round-the-clock readiness.

Over the next few years, there were many discus-sions and changes in guidance about “who gets to wear the badge.” Changes made issue more restrictive for support and staff personnel above the Air Division level. On 24 March 1959, a change to the regulation stated: “The intent is to au-thorize the wearing of the insignia by those personnel who contribute directly to the attainment of a guided missile ca-pability ....” Revisions followed shortly that lengthened the minimum duty period from 3 to 6 months and expanded the definition of “Guided Missile Unit” to include space systems, and included a list of Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSCs) specifically excluded from eligibility for the badge. One revision deleted research and development, testing, training, staff, logistics, and planning specialties from consideration, and another incorporated Guided Aircraft Missiles (GAMs) and Guided Aircraft Rockets (GARs) into the list of eligible weapon systems. This revision reinstated development and test personnel, and allowed award of the badge to those in staff positions for 18 months if a course at a guided missile school had been completed.

The 26 December 1963 revision changed the name of the badge to the “Missileman Badge’’ and established the basic badge (the original badge), “Senior Missileman Badge and Master Missileman Badge” (senior with the star at the top, master with the star and wreath). It took a while to re-solve who was authorized the two new levels – at first only combat crew time counted (3 years for Senior and 7 for Mas-ter) but after a few months, the regulation was changed to in-clude all “Missilemen” as eligible for the star and the wreath. A 1974 revision allowed missile combat crew members to wear the badge after completing training rather than after 6 months of duty. This revision introduced a form to apply for the badge and the next revision, in 1977, deleted the require-ment for publication of special orders to award the badge.

By the late 1970s, the missile career field was no

longer all male, with women now in missile maintenance on Titan II crews. The “Missileman Badge” became just “Mis-sile Badge” with the three levels now the “Basic Missile Badge, Senior Missile Badge and Master Missile Badge.” A few years later, the time required to earn the star and the wreath changed to 5 years for the senior badge and 10 years for the master badge, and a tour of duty in a guided missile unit became mandatory for the advanced-level badges. The 5 year requirement was short lived, since it meant one who spent a “normal” four year controlled tour wouldn’t earn the star, so that requirement was changed back to 3 years and was made retroactive. The 10-year criteria would not be changed until 1993. From the beginning, there had always been a fac-tion who thought that the badge should only be awarded to missile launch crews, or operators. Others, including the author, were of the strong opinion that the badge was for all Missileers – not just operators. In 1986, a process was started to develop a modification to the badge to provide a unique version for operators, but it was 1988 before the new badge was ready for issue. Initially referred to as the “Mis-sile Operator Badge,” the new badge sported a large wreath on either side of the old badge. This wreath was called the “Operations Designator,” and the three levels were called the “Missile Badge with Operations Designator, Senior Mis-sile Badge with Operations Designator and Master Missile Badge with Operations Designator.” The badge without the large wreath, worn by those not in missile operations, even-tually became known the “Missile Maintenance Badge,” with the previous three levels. For a period, the “Master Missile Badge with Operations Designator” became the “Command Missile Badge” but reverted back to “Master” in 1996. The minimum period of qualifying service for the senior and master badges changed a few times over these same years.

In 1993, General Merrill A. McPeak, the CSAF, di-rected a complete review of all specialty badges, with a goal of standardizing the wear of badges for all service members. One result was the original Space Badge (worn above the rib-bons) would gradually replace the missile badge on the uni-form of active duty Missileers and was renamed the “Space/Missile Badge.” The plan was that all future Missileers would earn this new badge, but those who already wore one of the various versions of the missile badge could continue

Missile Badge with Operations Designator and the Space and Missile Badge

The Space Badge


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for an extended period. However, when Gen McPeak retired before some of the new policies were fully implemented, the new Chief of Staff, Gen Ronald R. Fogleman, reversed many of his predecessor’s policies and said, basically, that if an individual earned a badge, it could be worn for the remain-der of his or her career, and he later officially reinstated the missile badge for new Missileers.

In 2005, as part of the integration of the missile force into the space force, the Missile Badge with Operations Des-ignator was replaced by the new Space Badge. Between 31 October 2005 and 6 June 2008, missile crew members (mis-sile operations officers) were issued the new “space wings” or “spings” instead of the missile badge. The only people still allowed to wear the missile badge with operations des-ignator were those officers who had moved to other career fields and were therefore not eligible to wear the new Space Badge. Wear of the new Space Badge was governed by a complex certification and training program that required cer-tain levels of accomplishment before an operator could wear the basic, senior or command Space Badge. Maintenance personnel continued to earn and wear the Missile Mainte-nance Badge.

On 6 June 2008, at a ceremony at the National Mu-seum of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Air Force, Mi-chael Wynne, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen Michael Moseley, announced the return of the Missile Badge with Operations Designator for missile crew members and other missile operations personnel. In the ceremony, a group of officers representing each of the missile wings and other specialized organizations were presented with the “return-ing” badge. At the same time, missile wings were renamed “Missile Wings” to replace the “Space Wing” designation that had been used for several years. At the end of 2011, those who completed missile operations training were only awarded the missile badge with operations designator. The “new Space Badge” now only goes to Space Professionals who complete the required space courses.

You may have noted that throughout this article, we never used the term “Pocket Rocket.” This nickname for our badge has been around a long time – we called it that early in my missile career, which began in 1961. If any of you knows the origin of the term, let AAFM know – that is a part of our history that we need to document.

My Journey in Missiles – by Col (Ret) Charlie Simpson, AAFM Executive Director We’ve done a couple of series that each resulted in a large number of personal stories from members and other Missileers, “How I Got Into Missiles” and “What I Did After Missiles.” It is time for another series that you can contribute to – the story of your own personal journey as an Air Force Missileer. Whether you served a full career as a Missileer as an operator, maintainer or in some other specialty, or your Air Force career led you into other areas or you only served a single tour of duty as a young officer or enlisted member, we want to hear your story. We start this issue with stories from three of your AAFM Board of Directors – we know that these tales will energize many of you to send in your own journey.My Own Journey My own tale is of most of my 30 years spent as a Missileer, but my career didn’t start that way. I entered active duty Thanksgiving Weekend, 1959, assigned to Laurence G. Hanscom Field, MA, as a mechanical engineer, but when I processed into the 6520th Test Group (TG), an organization tasked with testing electronic and geophysical projects in a wide variety of aircraft, I was told I would be an aircraft maintenance officer. About a year later, I saw an Air Force Times article asking for volunteers for duty in the new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), the Atlas and the Titan I. That looked like a better career path for a young non-flying officer (most of the officers in the 6520 TG had wings on their uniforms) so I applied. A few weeks later, Gen Bernard Schriever, the commander of Air Force Systems Command, came to Hanscom to talk to about 100 lieutenants, most engineers and scientist, and most planning to leave the Air Force. We met in the Officers Club and he asked each one of us, “What job can I give you that will keep you in the Air Force?” I was one of a very few with an answer, and I told him I already had applied for missiles. He smiled and said, “Great, Lieutenant.” In September, 1961, my wife Carol and I headed to Sheppard AFB, TX, to begin missile training. Four and a half months at Sheppard included almost three months of missile fundamentals, followed by five weeks of Titan I training. Most of my classmates were headed for Atlas, and the other members of my Titan class were going to be crew members, either at Mountain Home AFB, ID, with me, or to another Titan I base. I was the only maintenance officer in the class, and as a fairly new first lieutenant, the junior member. In February, 1962, Carol and I made our way to the new assignment in the Idaho desert. When I arrived, the unit had no sites and no missiles – the contractor would turn over our system to us a few weeks later. From mid-February 1962 until May 1965, I served as the squadron Job Control Officer, then, after returning from Squadron Officers School (SOS) in January 1965, also as the site maintenance officer for C-Site. When I arrived back

All Six Versions of the Missile Badges


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at the 569th Strategic Missile Squadron (SMS) in January, the squadron was well on the way to deactivation, with about half of the missiles already removed. In early 1965, Strategic Air Command (SAC) personnel teams visited the closing missile units, and talked to us about our preferences for future assignments. I told SAC I wanted to stay in missile maintenance at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, in Titan II, in the new wing there. Instead, I received orders to Grand Forks AFB, ND, to become a member of the newest and last Minuteman wing, the 321st Strategic Missile Wing (SMW). I began my missile career in a unit that was just opening as one of the first members of the unit, and would do the same for my second missile tour. In late May, Carol, son Steve, daughter Deb and I started a two week long leave on the drive to North Dakota. When I arrived in the 321 SMW, the situation was similar to that when I arrived at Mountain Home – the sites were under construction and the wing had no operational missiles. I was initially assigned to the 446 SMS as a crew commander, but in July, SAC and the Air Force decided we would change to a three man crew system, so I was reassigned to the 447 SMS as an Alternate Missile Combat Crew Commander (AMCCC). My crew commander was Capt Joe Lear, a navigator who had served as an Atlas F crew commander at Shilling AFB, KS, and our deputy was 1st Lt Gary Grim, with crew duty at Forbes AFB, KS, in Atlas E. We were the 11th crew formed in the wing, so we were designated as an instructor crew even before we went to training at Chanute AFB, IL, and Vandenberg AFB, CA. We completed training in mid-December, and had our first alert the week before Christmas, 1965, at one of the two launch control centers that had been turned over to the wing. We spent a year instructing new crews in the local upgrade program. In January 1967, Joe (now a Major) and I were selected for Senior Standardization and Evaluation Crew duty, with Capt Dick Couzins as our deputy, with Gary upgraded to AMCCC. In November 1968, SAC changed back to a two man crew force, so I became an Evaluator crew commander. Over the next year and a half, I would compete in the 1969 and 1970 SAC Missile Combat Competitions. In 1969, our crew was part of the twelve man team that brought the Blanchard Trophy home to Grand Forks. In 1970, we locked up last place in every category. I spent all the other time as a crew commander in the Evaluation Division. Since I was always either an instructor, evaluator or competitor, I only pulled 115 alerts in the four and a half years I was combat ready – far short of what most crew members accomplished. During the graduation ceremony for the first Minuteman Missile Education Program class in September 1969, the commander of Air University told me that my application for Education with Industry would be delayed for consideration in 1970, since the 1969 program

was not funded. During training for the 1970 competition, I was selected for duty as the senior Minuteman II operations evaluator in the 3901st Strategic Missile Evaluation Squadron (SMES), and also pinned my Major’s leaves on 1 April 1970. A month after the competition, we departed North Dakota after five years and five days of a “four year” crew assignment and drove to Vandenberg. Over the next three years, I would travel to at least six missile wings every six months as part of the 3901 SMES evaluation team, spending almost two weeks at each wing. I went to five of the six Minuteman wings and one Titan II wing for each six months. The first year, I was the senior of two Minuteman II crew evaluators, with Walt Skrainy as my partner. The second and third year, I was the chief of the Minuteman Operations Evaluation branch, overseeing the seven crew evaluators for Minuteman I, II and III. In the spring of 1973, I was called by a friend at SAC Ballistic Missile Evaluation (BME) at Offutt AFB, NE, and offered a job, so the family headed east at the end of May, 1973. BME, a small, selectively manned organization assigned directly to the SAC Chief of Staff, was responsible for developing the Single Integrated Operational Plan missile performance factors used in war planning. My first year, I was the senior Accuracy Evaluator, tasked with determining the accuracy (circular error probable) for Minuteman I, II and III, and Titan II. In the summer of 1974, I replaced John Fortenbury as Chief, Evaluation Division, overseeing the eight officers, two Chiefs and two civilians that developed the annual reports for the Commander in Chief, SAC, for approval by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs for use in missile war planning. I pinned on Lieutenant Colonel on 1 April 1976, and was selected for Air War College the following year. I joined Ed Bender, Charlie Belt, Bill Fedor, Tony Hogan and Oscar Lindahl as the Missileers in a class of 263. There were a handful of other students who had served a missile tour early but had taken other Air Force career paths. About a week before graduation in May 1978, then Col Ralph Spraker, commander of the 44 SMW at Ellsworth AFB, SD, told me he was glad I was heading for his wing, where the missile career advisors, including Ted Rinebarger, said I had the best shot at becoming a squadron commander. When we drove onto Ellsworth in early June, I told Carol I needed to stop by and tell my new boss, the Deputy Commander for Operations (DO), Col Meyer Garber, that I was there and would be at work Monday. Col Garber welcomed me (I was dressed in tennis shorts and golf shirt) and said that we needed to talk to the new wing commander, Col Howard Tarleton, right then. We walked in to his office, I saluted, and Col Tarleton said, “Charlie, can you take command of the 68 SMS Monday morning?” Ellsworth was definitely the “best shot” at getting a command slot. I commanded the squadron for a little less than two years, and in February 1980, shortly after being told I was a


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colonel selectee, became the Assistant DO. For a short time between Col Garber’s departure and Col Tom Logan’s arrival, I was the acting DO, and I pinned on my eagles on 1 September 1980. In May 1981, Col Dick Schoonmaker, the 44 SMW commander, told me I would become the Base Commander in a few days – I would command the 44th Combat Support Group (CSG) and support the 44 SMW, the 28th Bomb Wing and the other base units. In January 1983, Maj Terry Schwalier, from Air Force Colonel Assignments, called and offered me the job as Base Commander/487 CSG Commander at Comiso Air Station, Sicily. I asked him what Comiso was, and he said, “Your job will be to build a new ground launched cruise missile (GLCM) base there.” I talked the assignment over with Col Joe Stone, my boss and the 44 SMW commander, then with Carol to ensure she would agree for me to leave her for a year for an unaccompanied assignment, and relinquished command of the 44 CSG in March 1983. On 30 April 1983, after a week at Ramstein AB, Germany, getting updated on US Air Force in Europe and North Atlantic Treaty Organization policies and procedures, I walked onto a bombed out World War II Italian/German fighter base that had not been touched since the 1944 invasion of Sicily. A few days later, I was joined by about 500 officers and enlisted members, some permanent party and some on extended temporary duty, tasked with getting first a temporary base, then permanent facilities, ready for the GLCM mission. In October, the first GLCM flight of 16 missiles, transporters, equipment and personnel, arrived one night from Arizona in several C-5s and the 487th Tactical Missile Wing (TMW), now with almost 1,500 people, was declared combat ready with a nuclear mission. By May 1984, I was at the end of my 12 month tour with no reasonable chance that the Italian government would revise their stance and allow families to come to Comiso, so I called the commander of 16th Air Force and told him I needed a job and would like to stay in Europe, accompanied by my wife. For the next four years, I commanded two more units, first the 39th Combat Support Squadron, a Group called a Squadron because the Turkish Air Force forced us to use their unit levels. Our Wing was called a Group so it didn’t sound more important than the Turkish Group that was our host at Incirlik Air Base (AB), Turkey. There I was called “the American Base Commander.” Then it was on to command the 406 CSG at Zaragoza AB, Spain, and again, I was “the American Base Commander.” After two tours on fighter bases, each two years in length, it was time to head back to the states. I called Col Susan Fisher, who was now Gen Jack Chain’s special assistant at Headquarters, SAC. Susan, who was the Director of Personnel at Incirlik while I was there, told me all she

could find was an Air Division slot at Minot AFB, ND, and I replied, “I hear Minot has a great golf course.”

My last seventeen months were in the 57th Air Division at Minot. I arrived just as the force structure changed to make the Air Division the host unit on all dual wing SAC bases, and I became the 57 AD Chief of Staff, the senior colonel responsible for all base support activities, overseeing the 91 CSG and all of the other base units and agencies supporting the missile and bomb wings at Minot. My boss, Brig Gen Ray O’Mara, and the two wing commanders, concerned themselves with the nuclear mission of the two wings, and I spent my time with the support organizations and working with the Minot community – a great way to end a 30 year career as a Missileer.I wanted to fly airplanes… - by Maj Gen (Ret) Bob Parker, AAFM Board Member and AAFM MbrNo A0145, San Antonio, TX

In my story for the “How I got to be a Missileer” series, I told how, during my first few weeks in the Air Force, I realized that I did not want to be an Administrative officer and was told by Personnel that I was not qualified for any-thing else in the Air Force, so I volunteered for missiles. My Minot tour may have been one of the shortest in history, July to September 1963. My new orders directed me to White-man AFB, MO, with a Temporary Duty (TDY) enroute to the Air Training Command (ATC) school house at Chanute.

In those days, the basic missile operation, electron-ics, hydraulics, and communications were taught by ATC be-fore we went to the 4315th Combat Crew Training Squadron (CCTS) at Vandenberg. This was actually a very interesting school since we got to learn in-depth how the Minuteman missile worked. We had coloring books where we were re-quired to trace the data flow to and from the launch facility (LF) to the launch control facility (LCC). Sometime while I was at Chanute, my Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders were changed, reassigning me to the 44 SMW at Ellsworth. In less than six months, my orders were changed from my original assignment as an intelligence officer in the 5th Bomb Wing (BW) at Minot to an admin type in the missile wing to Whiteman to redirect-ing me to Ellsworth. This may be some type of record or the Air Force wasn’t sure what to do with me. I found out later that several of the original 44 SMW crewmembers weren’t qualified for the “The Ohio State” Minuteman Education Program, so I was a back fill to the original cadre. I was one of only a handful of 2nd Lts, with many of the crewmembers Captains and even Majors.

After training at Vandenberg, I returned to Ells-worth, went through an abbreviated upgrade program, in-cluding three LCC training rides. On my check ride with a Standardization/Evaluation (Stand/Eval) crew commander and his deputy, I did great and was certified Combat Ready in April 1964. My first crew commander was Major (soon to be Lt Col) Dale Kellum which was to my great fortune. He gave me check ride problems on every tour so I got to know the hardware and checklist procedures very well. He was a


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Senior crew commander in the 68 SMS, and as such he was Alternate Command Post (ACP) qualified, but because I was a 2nd Lt, the Wing wasn’t sure I could pull this duty. They needed Major Kellum in the ACP so they let me tag along. I did get a major error (my only one) from the 3901 SMES, as did my commander. My gross violation was not carrying my abbreviated checklist to open the blast door and my boss got one for not supervising me! I wanted to fight this gross injustice when I became 20th Air Force commander, but the statute of limitations had run out.

My next position was as an Instructor and my new crew commander was Larry Garrett, another great role mod-el for a young “brown bar”. We stayed as Instructors for about a year, and were moved over to the Stand/Eval shop. Back then, most of the crews assigned to the shops were still in their squadrons with only the Senior Crews being as-signed to the DO.

In early 1967, SAC realized that our LCCs were vul-nerable to the more accurate Russia ICBMs so the Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS) was activated. Finally, I would get a chance to fly. Through pure luck, I was assigned as a deputy on the first Stand/Eval crew with Maj Howard Tarleton, another super role model. We were certified by the 3901 SMES after we trained them on this new weapon sys-tem, and I flew on the first ALCS combat mission.

My next assignments came in rapid secession. While on an ALCS crew, I was selected to attend SOS at Maxwell AFB, AL, and while there, I was reassigned to the 4315 CCTS as an ALCS instructor. After a short two-year tour I moved back to Ellsworth when the ALCS was moved out of the missile wings into the new Post Attack Command and Control System (PACCS) within the 4th Airborne Com-mand Control Squadron in the 28 BW. This lasted less than two years, when I was reassigned to SAC in the Directorate of Operations-Airborne Division where I flew as a Stan/Eval on Looking Glass. I got the chance to fly aboard the same aircraft nearly twenty years later as a General when I served as an Airborne Emergency Action Officer (AEAO). During my SAC tour I was fortunate enough to serve as Executive officer to several SAC General Officers including Gen Bob Herres who became the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)

After SAC, I was assigned to the Pentagon as a Nuclear Weapons plans officer and in this capacity worked closely with the Joint Staff on matters pertaining to weapons development and deployment. I then became an Executive officer to Lt Gen George Miller, a true gentleman who later became Vice CINCSAC.

I attended Air War College in 1980 after four years on the Air Staff and somehow managed to be a Distinguished Graduate. My follow-on assign was as the ADO in the 321 SMW at Grand Forks. I was again fortunate to have a great

mentor, Col Chuck McAndrews, as true missileer, with over 20 years of operational experience. He went to the Wing Commander and suggested that he be moved over to be the RM so I would be given the opportunity to be the DO. After about a year as the DO, I received orders to be the Vice Wing Commander at Malmstrom under Col Ben Knight, another mentor and friend. The 341 SMW was my first true com-mand, never having been a Squadron or Base Commander. In addition to a change of command, on my first day, we had a Base Open House, with the Thunderbirds, my Divi-sion Commander and a Congressional delegation on base. Welcome to command!

I was at the 341 SMW about a year and a half when late one Friday night I got a call saying I was going to move back to Grand Forks and take command of the 321 SMW. Due to the short notice and being in the winter, it took sev-eral weeks to name my replacement, thus I was in command of two missile wings simultaneously. I made several trips across North Dakota and Montana until a friend, Teddy Rinebarger assumed command of the 341 SMW. Fortunate-ly, during my short tour at Grand Forks, the “Warrior of the North” won the Missile Competition in 1987.

Because of the Goldwater-Nichols law, I was in-formed I need a Joint tour to be eligible to make Flag Of-ficer, so I had a one-year tour working for the Chairman of the JCS, Admiral Crowe. After I was selected to Brigadier General, in 1987, the Chief of Staff, AF called me in to tell me my next assignment would be in the State Department as Senior Military Advisor to the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA). I told the Chief that I was sure this was a mistake but Gen Larry Welch impressed upon me that there was no mistake! ACDA turned out be a most “career broadening” tour, exposing me to the interwork-ing of the Federal Government. After nearly two and a half years and being promoted to Major General, I was assigned as Director of the US On-Site Inspection Agency (OSIA). This happened only after I was alerted that I was going to Space Command. Once again, there seemed to be a trend on changing my assignments. OSIA gave me the opportunity to travel to Russia on over twenty occasions inspecting their Strategic and Conventional forces. I even learned to tell the difference between Russian T-54 and T-55 tanks.

Next move was a brief one-year tour as Air Force Space Command Director of Operations. My primary task was to integrate the space and missile career fields. I obvi-ously was not successful in this endeavor.

My next and final assignment was as 20 AF Com-mander and what a way to close out a 30+ year career af-ter fifteen moves and various staff and command positions. Commander of the most powerful fighting force in the world, operated, maintained and guarded by the finest military in the world!!My Time in Missiles – CMSgt (Ret) Mike Kenderes, AAFM Board Member and AAFM Mbr No L222, Santa Maria, CA

It all started in January, 1958, when I joined the AF


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as I turned 17. During basic training at Lackland AFB, TX, we took 4 tests and one of the tests was electronics. I knew absolutely nothing about the subject, as I thought the sig-nal for a radio came from the wall socket. However, one of my flight buddies had an associate degree in electronics. I explained my plight and he told me I could sit next to him during the test and copy his results. While I was copying I noticed he left a few of the questions unanswered and went back to them later. I didn’t wait to copy those answers but just took a guess at them. A few days later the results and assignments came out. Only two of the 72 in our flight were selected to aircraft radio/radar school at Scott AFB, IL, and I was one of them. The other 70 were going to be Air Police-men! I really felt sorry for him but there was nothing either of us could do about it without exposing both of us as cheat-ers.

After my 8 months of schooling at Scott, we re-ceived our assignments and I was to go to Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico. My buddy from Wisconsin got an assignment to Lowry AFB, CO, but he wanted to “see the world” so we got our assignments switched. Little did I know that this would change my entire life, both careerwise and personally, as I met my wife of 59 years, Martha, in Denver. I arrived at Lowry in October 1958, after just been demoted at Scott via Article 15, so I arrived with no stripes but a SSgt at the flight line radio shop became my mentor. He was black, and that plays into how I got into missiles. In 1960, he got orders to go to Sheppard for missile maintenance training. Since he was black and married to a lovely Korean lady, they would have to remain on base as Texas did not permit interracial marriages (in 1967, the Supreme Court ruled that barring in-terracial marriages by state law was unconstitutional). He chose to decline the assignment and I applied and was ac-cepted to take his place.

I was told the assignment to Sheppard was a TDY and I would return to Lowry, so I temporarily left my fam-ily in Denver close to Martha’s parents. Upon arriving at Sheppard I was told by Personnel Section that my assign-ment had been changed from TDY to PCS. So, I drove back to Denver, loaded up a U-Haul with our possessions (back then, E-1 through E-4’s moved at their own expense) and our 3 children (the youngest less than 1 month old) and moved to Texas. At Sheppard, I became a trainer maintainer for the Titan I and Titan II operations trainers. I got my training on the Titan II operations trainers at Baltimore, MD, with Martin Marietta engineers. I re-enlisted in January 1962 and the Base of Choice program allowed first term re-enlistees to get an assignment of their choice. I applied for Lowry and was turned down. I went to Personnel Section and asked who could waiver the denial. I was told only the Secretary of the AF could. That sounded fishy but I wrote to him and his office approved my transfer. The guy at Personnel couldn’t

believe it. Like my dad always told me, “You can’t get a hit unless you swing the bat!

I was assigned to the Electronics Shop, 451 SMW, in Denver. We were the only Titan I wing, with 2 missile squadrons each with 9 missiles. Then something happened in October 1962. I was on my first day of a five day leave high up in the Colorado Rockies scouting for deer/elk on the eve of opening day. We returned to our campsite and read a note on our radio antenna (I finally figured out how a radio got its signal). The note read: “This is not an exercise. Report to base immediately, signed “the Game Warden.” He must have seen our base sticker on the bumper. We re-turned home, and I called the shop and was told the Russians were pulling some crap in Cuba and get to work ASAP. I would be dispatching to the field and needed to plan for an extended dispatch. I grabbed my alert duffle bag, reported in, reviewed our maintenance logs to determine which parts/electronic drawers failed the most, got a truck, went to base supply and loaded all the parts I thought I might need, went to Keys and Codes to get my entry and duress codes and departed base. I arrived at Launch Complex 724C as the sun was just coming up. Shortly later, SAC went to DEFCON 2. For the next 20 or so days I rotated through the 724th squadron repairing the 9 missiles. I cannibalized parts from different electronic drawers, soldered relays, etc., and had the crew run system checks. I kept meticulous records of what I had done outside of Tech Orders so the system could be restored to proper configuration. I cannot remember a single time any of our nine Titan I’s came off alert during the crisis. I clearly remember, underground, praying those Russians would turn their ships around so we could see our loved ones again. I returned to base in mid-November as Gen Power, CINCSAC, kept SAC at DEFCON 2 until 15 November. This single experience changed my entire atti-tude for the remaining 24 years of my AF career.

In 1963, the Minuteman force was really gaining traction and I volunteered to cross train into Minuteman ICBMs. I drove from Lowry, and we crashed late that night in Chanute’s transit quarters. About noon there was a knock on the door and it was the maid. She said that President Ken-nedy had just been assassinated in Dallas. After Chanute Minuteman I training, I was assigned to 90 SMW at Francis E. Warren AFB, WY, to a Target and Alignment Team (TAT). The 90 SMW was just starting its initial posturing, and it was a wild time. Just after we got our first squadron on alert (the 319 SMS), the wing was notified by SAC that all 50 mis-siles would have to be recycled to Hill AFB, UT, because the Stage I propellant (Morton Thiokol) was suspect and the original posturing schedule would continue. In 1965, our Quality Control (QC) TAT was unqualified by 3901 SMES at Vandenberg during an Operational Test Launch (OTL) evaluation. At 0400 the next day, I got a call from my TAT Team Chief, Capt Densmore. He told me that our QC team-would be flying to Vandenberg to replace them. The next day we were evaluated by SMES and we received 21 Highly


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Qualified grades out of 21 tasks. Our wing commander was leery that SMES would evaluate a replacement TAT so he kept us TDY for 6 more OTLs (90 days). When we finally got back to Cheyenne we were told our team was the new QC Targeting team. In 1967 our team was selected to rep-resent the 90 SMW in the first SAC Missile Competition, Curtain Raiser. We performed an error free exercise but, al-though within technical order tolerances, lost 60 points for being .8 arc second off dead center.

In 1968 I was assigned to 394 SMS at Vandenberg and transferred to 3901 SMES a few months later. I was a Combat Targeting Evaluator along with fellow Missileer board member, Bob Kelchner. I was also an evaluator for the next 4 missile competitions (1969-1972). We got SAC’s missile maintenance directorate’s (LGB) concurrence to test a new evaluation concept whereby SMES would evaluate unit maintenance evaluators evaluating their unit personal and maintenance trainers evaluated while training unit per-sonnel. Both programs were a great success and became the new norm for all areas evaluated, i.e., Operations, Mainte-nance, Communications etc.

In the summer of 1972, I moved to QC, 341 SMW, at Malmstrom, as Targeting evaluator and later was put in charge of performing maintenance Activity Inspec-tions. This assignment was very instructive as it required knowledge of managerial compliance with specific manual/regulation requirements instead of just technical order re-quirements. This was my bridge from technician to man-ager. Later I was assigned to be noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC), Team Training Branch (TTB) which had just received an unsatisfactory rating from 3901 SMES. The next SMES inspection we got an excellent rating, first for a Minuteman Maintenance Training outfit. Our Deputy Com-mander for Maintenance came down to congratulate us and he asked what he could do for us. I asked him if he could see his way to authorizing a MA-1 type flight jacket for all the TTB folks. By golly, he did and we started getting our jackets every quarter as funding would permit. We gave the jackets to lowest ranking members first and I will never for-get seeing Airman Woejechowski, our clerk, proudly strut-ting around the hangar in his new jacket! Good times!

In 1976, I was asked if I wanted to be assigned to 8 AF, Barksdale AFB, LA, as a missile staff member. I accept-ed and it turned out to be my worst assignment. But there was a bright spot. Barksdale was SAC’s command post al-ternative if Offutt should go down so we conducted exer-cises in case 8 AF was called upon. I was on the team that wrote the exercise scripts. The exercises usually lasted 5-8 days and would gradually build up from normal to DEFCON 1. We had a crusty old GS-15 that ran our Force Division that monitored all SAC A-CAP sorties. After he briefed us I asked him why he didn’t monitor our 6 Emergency Rocket

Communication Rockets (ERCS) at Whiteman. He stated he was only required to monitor A-Cap sorties. Personally, I had always considered those 6 ERCS ICBMs more impor-tant than any six A-Cap sorties because of target overlap. So, next exercise I methodically eliminated all 6 ERCS ICBMs for various reasons, and then the script had our ERCS sorties launched. But, alas, no one knew they were all off alert. You had to have been there. Anyway, after that ERCS were mon-itored at both Offutt, Barksdale and 15 AF, March AFB, CA. But, I really didn’t have a job at 8 AF with only 3 missile wings, Davis-Monthan, Little Rock and Whiteman AFBs. I did attempt to combine the 3 Titan II wings to 8 AF and the 6 Minuteman wings to 15 AF but when I briefed the 8 AF Commander he said, “Sergeant, do you really think I am going to give up a weapon system?” And so it goes. SMES was required to brief 8 AF, so when Col Ralph D. Scott, who had been my previous 341 SMW Commander and was now SMES Commander, briefed our 8 AF Commander, who in-cidentally fell asleep during the briefing, I cornered him and begged him to get me reassigned as I hated golf. He said he would get back to me and 2 months later I had an assignment back to 3901 SMES as the NCOIC, Minuteman Division. Like the fellow said, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.”

My second SMES tour (1978 - 1982) was fantastic! We implemented a SMES maintenance staff assistance team concept whereby if a unit failed so badly SMES would offer to SAC/LGB to revisit with an abbreviated SMES team as an assistance team. This worked very well at Grand Forks. Af-ter our visit we would meet with all the maintenance folks at the Noncommissioned Officers Club and each of our NCO-ICs would stand up and brief the group on his findings. We would leave all our findings with our unit counterparts and a simple one page letter would be sent to SAC/LGB, i.e, we arrived on date and departed on date. The wing has been briefed of our findings. I also toughened up the missile main-tenance competition scripts with malfunctions.

In 1982, I moved to the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, (AFOTEC) unit at Vandenberg, as NCOIC to test and evaluate the Peacekeeper (PK) missile. The Peacekeeper was a fantastic weapon system but it was a political football. Congress could never get its stuff together as far as deployment, etc. We had to come up with a brief-ing to a house committee to show these congress critters the accuracy of the Peacekeeper so we came up with Robert F. Kennedy Stadium with the 50 yard line as ground zero and then placed all of the reentry vehicle impact points we had from Kwajalein atoll on the stadium overlay...it was very im-pressive! In June 1985, I retired from the AF and as I told folks at my retirement, “When I got on that plane in Newark in 1958, I never thought the ride would have lasted almost 28 years and been so satisfying! All the great folks I met along the way and to be able to serve America the best ways I knew.” Last thing, I’m 77 and I might have goofed with


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a fact here or there, but I did my best at Charlie’s request! BTW, “Where would we Missileers be without Col Charles G. Simpson??”Hank Habenick’s Career in Missiles – by CMSgt (Ret) Hank Habenick, AAFM Board Member and AAFM MbrNo L264, Cot-tage Grove, OR I grew up in Santa Barbara, CA, where I enjoyed a typical sunshine state childhood. As a teenager, I played football and rode horses. While riding horses I always looked up and watched the airplanes that would soon be-come my future. After graduation from high school I had to make a decision about whether to go to college or join the military. In 1959, I chose to join the Air Force. After basic training I was trained as an aircraft flight engineer at Shep-pard and loved it. After graduation, I was shipped to Osan AB, Korea, as a flight engineer on a C-131, flying classified missions up to the 38th parallel. I was then re-assigned to RAF Bovington, England, where I performed flight checking for Air Force Navigation Systems. In 1963, after a mission to Libya, I was notified that I was being sent to Chanute, for training to become a Minuteman Missileer. I was in school for 52 weeks to be-come an Electro-Mechanical Team (EMT) member. While I was at school, I met the love of my life, Kay, in Champaign-Urbana, IL. I graduated in 1964 and was transferred to Van-denberg, to become part of their EMT. Kay and I were also married that year in Lompoc. There was more school at Vandenberg for three months and then it was back to Illinois to the Technical Anal-ysis Division (TAD) for 26 more weeks of training. This was so I could become part of the technical analysis division at Vandenberg to start the initial validation of Minuteman III Missile. I returned to Vandenberg in 1967 and was placed in the initial Minuteman III testing program. I worked that program for three years. I was then notified that I was being reassigned to Malmstrom, where I became an EMT Team Chief. In August 1969, I returned to Vandenberg and was assigned to the 3901 SMES training division. In 1973, I was back in Montana as an EMT flight chief. In 1974, I was promoted to Master Sergeant and was later asked to become the Branch Chief of EMT. The Branch was responsible for three different weapon system configurations during the Minuteman upgrade cycle. During this period EMT was twice awarded an Outstanding Branch by the SAC Inspector General and twice by the 3901 SMES. In 1976, I was named the SAC Maintenance Man of the Year. I was then asked by the Deputy Commander for Maintenance to become NCOIC of Maintenance Con-trol. I remained there for three years at which time I got a line number for Chief Master Sergeant. In April 1980, I was notified by the “Chief’s Group” that I was being reassigned to March, as technical advisor for ICBMs to the Commander

of the 15 AF. I held this position for three years until I re-tired from the USAF in 1983. In retirement, I applied for and was offered the job of the ICBM System Test division for TRW (Northrop Grumman). There I was in charge of test evaluations where we tested and evaluated all test require-ments for the Peacekeeper Missile System and the rapid ex-ecution and combat targeting systems (REACT). After 18 years with Grumman, I retired again. Kay and I moved to Cottage Grove, OR, where we built our home next to the Row River (it’s full of trout and salm-on!). We enjoy small town living where we can spread our wings and enjoy the wide-open spaces.

Quebec 01 Missile Alert Facility State Historic Site - by Brian Boner, an AAFM Life member who served for 6 years as a crew commander in the 319th Missile Squadron, as an instructor and evaluator in the 90th Operations Group , and as a 20th Air Force staff member. After active duty, he returned to his family’s ranch in Douglas, WY, and now represents Platte and Converse Counties in the Wyoming Senate. I write you as both a former missileer and current legislator. As many of you know, Q-01 of the 400th Missile Squadron north of Cheyenne, WY, is in the process of being converted into a state historic site. While Q-01 was shut down in 2005, the New START Treaty allowed us to keep a missile alert facility (MAF) intact for historic interpretation. We look forward to opening the facility after the General Services Administration gets it back into its 2005 condition and expect the transfer to take place in late June of this year. This transfer is the result of legislation at the federal and state level. Most recently, the Wyoming Legislature appropriated one-time funds to get the site up and running and passed a bill to allow the fees paid at Q-01 to be reinvested back into the site. I want to thank anybody who helped in the efforts to support these measures. Col (Ret) Scott Fox worked especially hard to organize efforts locally in Cheyenne to support both the funding and the policy work as we get Q-01 up and running. We anticipate the site will be very popular. This will be the only Peacekeeper historic site in the world and it sits

The Topside at Q-01


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Ohio History Day Winners to Join AAFM in Cheyenne On Saturday, 21 April, over 700 students from all over Ohio competed at the Ohio State History Day compe-tition. This year’s theme was Conflict and Compromise. Devin Corrington and Parker Williams, 7th grade students from Tri County North Middle School, Ohio, won 1st place

on a prime location just north of the rapidly growing front range. We look forward to leveraging the Wyoming Office of Tourism to ensure this site is well known as a new option for the growing nuclear tourism industry in this country. If the initial response among the local veteran community is any indication, it would seem we have a large source of potential volunteers who wouldn’t mind giving tours, thus saving our state government much needed resources. This journey has been an incredible experience. While we still don’t have a hard date for reopening Q-01, I am confident it will be available for a tour in time for the AAFM national meeting in Cheyenne on 13 October - I hope to see you there! You can also follow our progress and share your story regarding the 400 MS or the Peacekeeper at http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/index.php/places-to-go/quebec-01 or by following the “Quebec 01” Facebook page. If you have any questions about this process, please contact me at [email protected] or (307) 359-0707.

for their exhibit; Nuclear Conflict, Peaceful Compromise, in the Ohio State History Day competition in April. They also won the Advanced Digital Researcher Award, the Maritime Award, and $275. Devin and Parker competed in the Na-tional History Day Competition at the University of Mary-land, in June. Devin and Parker spent countless hours over the past year researching and learning about the Cuban Mis-sile Crisis. The boys visited March Air Force Base, CA, where they learned about the Minuteman II Missile. At The John F. Kennedy President Library and Museum in Boston, MA, they found many of their primary sources; including letters, photographs, and newspaper articles. The boys inter-viewed three Missileers, Charlie Simpson, Joe Andrew and Jim Widlar. At home in Ohio, Devin and Parker visited the National Museum of the United States Air Force and an old fallout shelter in Lewisburg. Devin and Parker were asked to write a article for the Ohio History Connections magazine, Echoes, about their experiences and their story was published in May. Devin and Parker, along with Parker’s mother, will join us in October at Cheyenne, and the boys will make a presentation to AAFM members about their project.MiMi Seeks Public Comment On Proposed Fee Increase Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is seeking input about a proposed tour fee change for the ranger-guided tours at the Delta-01 Launch Control Facility. If approved, the new rates would take effect 1 January 2019. The thirty-minute ranger-guided tour of the control center at Delta-01 begins with a walk through the grounds and topside support building. Visitors then descend via el-evator 31 feet underground to the Launch Control Center to see the electronics used by missileers to control ten Minute-man II missiles. To protect the historic facilities and to pro-vide for visitor safety, each tour is limited to six participants. This fee covers only the ranger-led tour at Delta-01; there is no entrance fee to visit the park. The current expanded amenity fee and tour struc-ture is $6 per adult and $4 per youth (ages 6 to 16) for a thirty minute tour of Delta-01. The park proposes a fee of $12 per adult and $8 per youth (ages 6 to 16) and an increase in the tour duration to forty-five minutes. "The tour through Delta-01 provides the public with the opportunity to view a unique and once restricted place,” said Superintendent Eric Leonard, “A review of the current structure last summer re-vealed that the present fee is well below the common market rate for similar services and like facilities.” Tour revenue is kept by the park to use for deferred maintenance and preservation projects. To comment on the proposed rate increase, respond by 17 August 2018, to [email protected], or by the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/delta01fee.

Devin and Parker


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A Word from the AssociationA Missiles and UFOs update from Robert Hastings - Robert Hastings, AAFM Mbr No A2096, Villa Grove, CO In December, The New York Times covered a recently-revealed unidentified flying objects (UFO) study conducted by the Defense Intelligence Agency between 2007 and 2012, designated the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program. The former director, Luis Elizondo, said that among the cases reviewed were those involving UFO incursions at Minuteman sites in Montana in 1975. The chief Congressional sponsor of the program, now-retired US Senator Harry Reid, confirmed this in an interview in Las Vegas. Reid said, “It’s all in the documents...Scores and scores of mostly men up there [in the missile field] would come out and say, ‘Oh, I wonder what that is up there?’ And [the UFOs] wouldn’t leave. The communications in the missile defense installation would shut down. It didn’t happen once. [It happened] more than once.” Some of the documents relating to these incidents are NORAD log entries from 7-9 November 1975, which have been declassified via the Freedom of Information Act. They describe multiple sightings by Security Alert Team members of aerial objects that appeared as glowing balls of light that hovered or moved at high velocity. One object was described as disc-shaped, another released a smaller tubular-shaped object. Once radar contact with the UFOs had been established, F-106 fighters were launched to intercept them. As the jets closed in, the unknown objects extinguished their illumination and dropped in altitude, making them difficult to detect. Once the fighters returned to base, the UFOs became brightly-lit once more and continued to maneuver above the missile field. The log entries may be read in their entirety at www.ufohastings.com/documents. Having learned of similar incidents at Malmstrom AFB, MT, in March 1967, when my father, SMSgt Robert E. Hastings, was stationed there, I have spent 45 years investigating these cases and have to date interviewed more than 160 USAF veterans about them. A number of these individuals are former missileers who appear in my documentary film, UFOs and Nukes: The Secret Link Revealed, which is available online. Since 2002, the AAFM Newsletter has published four of my articles concerning UFO sightings at missile sites over the years. More than 40 AAFM members have contacted me with their personal stories. Anyone wishing to do so may reach me at [email protected].

Address letters to AAFM, Box 5693, Breckenridge, CO 80424, or send by e-mail to [email protected]. Letters may be edited to fit - content/meaning will not be changed.

Letters to AAFM

Cheyenne in October - If you haven’t sent in your regis-tration yet for our 25th Anniversary National Meeting in Cheyenne 9-14 October, you need to do it soon. You saw the welcome from the wing commander at Warren on page 1, as well as the short summary of activities on page 2. We have had 12 great National Meetings - this will be no ex-ception. We have invited the Secretary of the Air Force to join us on Saturday night and speak at our banquet, and her staff is hoping to make that happen, but, as you know, the demands on this top officer sometimes make it difficult to schedule events like ours. Maj Gen Stoss, the 20th Air Force commander, plans to give us a great rundown on the missile force today and tomorrow, and Lt Gen Tony Cot-ton, the Air University commander, plans to join us and talk about education in the Air Force today. And, as you can see on the registration form on the inside front cover, we have lots more planned.3901 SMES Reunion - for those who will also be attending the SMES reunion during our Cheyenne meeting, we know you will enjoy hearing Maj Gen Stoss talk about the inspec-tion and evaluation program in operations and maintenance today - a program much different from that those of us who served in the 3901 SMES were familiar with.AAFM Executive Director - Over the next few months, the “staff” and leadership of AAFM will change as we transition to our new Executive Director, Col (Ret) Jim Warner. Jim has already joined me at meetings in Cheyenne and at War-ren, and is beginning to take over some of the other day-to-day duties. I will work with Jim over the next year to ensure a smooth transition. There won’t be a “Change of Com-mand Parade” during the Cheyenne meeting, but I under-stand there will be a recognition for your outgoing director. I don’t intend to go away - I will be as involved as Jim and the Board of Directors want me to be to keep our great orga-nization as involved and active as it has been in our first 25 years. We continue to add new members, and we are adding new board members every two years whose experience with missiles is much more recent than some of us have.AAFM Newsletter Participation - The series we started in this issue, “My Journey in Missiles,” needs your input. Many of you told your personal stories for our “How I Got into Missiles” and”What I Did After Missiles” series. Keep it up on this new series. Your personal tales let the rest of our members know more about each one of us - it doesn’t matter if you served a single tour or a whole career - your story is important to this series. .

We have no letters to publish this isssue.

Check your dues status by checking the number above your name on the mailing label - 919 means

September 2019 - or email [email protected].


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Taps for Missileers

Reentry Vehicle Identity - In the 1966 to 1968 time frame, there were some very unusual tests of the Minute-man II with a different Reentry Vehicle (RV) configuration from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL. These tests were from Launch Complex 32B silo. As a result of

some research and inputs from some Air Force missileers, it was determined that these six tests (10 Jul 1966, 18 Jan, 25 Feb, 17 Aug, 6 Nov 1967 and 7 Feb 1968) were related to the Research and Development of a new RV, the General Elec-tric Mark 12. A shroud was over the RV during the launch. The Minuteman II used for these tests were serial numbers 463 to 468. This RV, the Mark 12, was being developed for and was deployed on the operational Minuteman III.

Oscar Zero Panel Robert Branting, the director at Oscar-Zero, the “Deuce” capsule in Cooperstown, ND, is missing one key piece of launch control center interpretation, the code-enable panel at the commander’s console. Right now, they have a trainer mock-up. If anyone in AAFM knows where the State Historical Society of North Dakota might locate one for the site, contact Robert at 701-797-3691 or email at [email protected].

Col (Ret) Max M. Axelsen, an AAFM founding Member, served in Titan I in the 395 SMS, in Titan II in the 308 SMW, in Minuteman in the 321 SMW and in 1 STRAD, and lived in San Antonio, TX.MSgt (Ret) Vonard Bedker, an AAFM Member, served in Atlas in the 551 SMS and in Minuteman in the 341 SMW, and lived in Zillah, WA.Lt Col (Ret) Lucien E. Bourcier, an AAFM Member, served in Minuteman maintenance in the 44 SMW and the 341 SMW, and lived in Great Falls, MT.Col (Ret) Ronald V. Buchert, an AAFM Member, served in Titan II in the 308 SMW, 381 SMW and 390 SMW and in Minuteman in the 321 SMW, and lived in St. Petersburg, FL.Col (Ret) Martin M. Burdick, an AAFM Life Member, served in Minuteman and Peacekeeper in the 321 SMW and as Commander of the 90 SMW, in Space systems, at SAM-SO and 1 STRAD, and lived in Littleton, CO.MSgt (Ret) Rick Criss was Facilities Manager Superinten-dent in the 67 SMS and lives in Ohio.Lt Col (Ret) Andres Cuellar served in Atlas in the 579 SMS and Minuteman in the 321 SMW and lived in Laredo, TX.Lt Col (Ret) Joseph “Steve” Downs served in Minuteman in the 321 SMW and 44 SMW/MW, at SAC and in Arms Control, and lived in Herndon, VA. Col (Ret) William F. Gavitt, Jr, an AAFM Founding Mem-ber, served in Atlas F in the 550 SMS, in Minuteman in the 44 SMW, 91 SMW and 321 SMW and at 15 AF, and lived in Riverside, CA.MSgt (Ret) Bobby J. Haralson, an AAFM Member, served in Titan II in the 308 SMW and in the 3901 SMES, and lived in Jacksonville, AR.Col (Ret) Anthony T. Hogan, an AAFM Member, served in Minuteman in the 455 SMW, 321 SMW and was com-mander of the 91 SMW, in ALCS and on the Air Staff and at SAC, and lived in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.MSgt (Ret) Larry Kimball served in Maintenance in the 321 SMW and lived in Vermillion, SD.SMSgt (Ret) Bob Klein served in missile maintenance and after retirement, in quality assurance at Kennedy Space Cen-ter, and lived in Florida.Lt Col (Ret) Steven A. Thomae, an AAFM Member, served in Titan II in the 308 and 390 SMW, in the 4315 CCTS, and in GLCM in the 485 TMW, and lived in Navarre Beach, FL.

Air Force One, The Aircraft of the Modern US Presidency This new book by Robert Dorr and Nicholas Ve-ronico is an excellent history of all of the Presidential air-craft, with lots of photos and descriptions. While there is not much specifically about missiles and missileers, many of you served in command and control jobs and had involve-

ment with the Presidential aircraft. While those members who worked at the Air Staff and Headquarters Strategic Air Command level, especially those of you in the Airborne Launch Control business had a closer relationship with the Air Force One mission, all missileers knew about our com-plex command and control system. This work by Dorr and Veronico goes all the way back to the beginning of the use of aircraft by our Presi-dents, and has a lot of information about all of the aircraft used, from the Ford Trimotor used by Franklin D. Roosevelt to today’s modified Boeing 747. The book was published by Motorbooks, part of the Quarto Group, and information is available at QuartoKnows.com. The book is also avail-able at Amazon.com and at other outlets. Note that there are other books about Air Force One with titles close to this title.

Launch Enable Panel


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The New Members Page AAFM continues to add new members. One important facet of AAFM is that the dues have not changed since we began in 1993. Annual dues 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, in full color in the electronic edition, 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 monthly, 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, a frequently updated “Warble Tone” section with the latest news about missileers, meetings, books and much more, including our “Taps for Missileers” list of missileers who have passed away, and more. Our page also includes access to Greg Ogletree’s collection of missile patches and our entire newsletter library. - 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 April 2018 - Mark Anderson, Bill Bacle, Terry Bernth, Kim Buffington, John Coffee, Robert Dames, Earl Durant, Matthew Gregor, Marilyn Hollis, George Marsh Jr., Arthur Menke, Joy Mosdell, Michael O’Neill, Carlos Olivo, Jackie Perdue, William Perry, Frank Rogers. New Life Members (some transitioned from regular members) - Gary Emmons, Phillip Layman, Deborah McCarty, Kurt Mickus, Darreld Walton, Henry Wilson.

Join us in Cheyenne 9-14 October 2018 for AAFM’s 25th Anniversary National Meeting - Little America Resort and Hotel

Great Speakers, Base and Cheyenne area tours, and a great opportunity to spend time with a large number of other missileers. The 556 SMS and the 3901 SMES will be joining us for the meeting. Register now using

the form on the inside cover or at afmissileers.org

Available for Members 2018 Membership Directory - 90 pages with information on current, past and deceased members. Free electronical-ly or $10 for a mailed copy. Email [email protected] or send a check to AAFM, PO Box 5693, Breckenridge, CO 80424.

AAFM Email List - addresses for all members who have made them available, email [email protected] to request 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.

Donate to AAFM Missile Heritage and Enlisted Recognition Funds

Lapel Pins - $5 each or 3 for $10AAFM - 1 ___ 3 ___ SAC - 1 ___ 3 ___Cuban Crisis - 1 ___ 3 ___Minuteman II Alerts - 100 - 1 ___ 3 ___ 200 - 1 ___ 3 ___Master Technician - 1 ___ 3 ___Total for Pins $ ___________

AAFM Patch - $5 each ____ 3 for $10 ____ Total $______Subterranean Sentinels Patch - $10 each ____ 3 for $25 ___ Total $______Cuban Missile Crisis 2012 Commemorative Patch - $10 ____3 for $25 ___ Total $_____Reproduction Patches - Made for reunions and donated to AAFM - $10 each 341 MIMS ___ 321 OSS ____ 6555 ATW ____ SAC with Stripe ___ 50 Years Deterrrence $10 ___ ICBM Deterrence $10 _____ Total for Reproduction Patches $______

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Missile Badge Lapel Pins - Silver, 1 1/4 inch , Indicate quantity of each - $5 each or any 6 for $25 Basic Badge ____ Basic with Ops Designator ____ Senior Badeg ____ Senior with Ops Designator ____Master Badge ____ Master with Ops Designator ______ Total Amount $_____________

Space Badge Lapel Pins - Sil-ver, 1 1/4 inch, Indicate quan-tity for each - $5 each, any 3 for $10 or 6 for $25 Basic ___ Senior ____Master ____Total Amount $________

AAFM Coin - $10 each ____ 3 for $25 ____ 3901 SMES Mission Complete Coin $10 each ____ ICBM Deterrence Coin $10 each _____Missile Competition Coins - $5 each, 3 for $10. Indicate Quantity for eachGuardian Challenge Coins (AF Space Command Competitions) 2006 _____ 2008 _____Global Strike Challenge (AF Global Strike Command Comp) 2010 ______ 2011 ____ 2012 (Cuban Missile Crisis) ______ 2014 _____ Total Amount for Coins $__________

Lapel Pins and Badges

Challenge Coins

Finish, styles and sizes - NS Non-shiny, CF chrome finish, FS full size, SS, smaller size for shirt outer wear. Mark quan-tity below. Not all versions, sizes or finishes availalbe.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.

Patches

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 - Total Amount - $_________CD sets - AAFM and Historical Data ____ Early and Airlaunched Missiles ____ Atlas D, E, F _____Titan I and II ____ Minuteman I, II and III ____ Competions 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 - $10 ___The Groobers Missile Music CD - - $10 ____

AAFM 2012 National Meeting at Malmstrom - $10 ___

Publications - 1998 AAFM Book, “Air Force Missileers” - $30 ___ Greg Ogletree’s “History of the Missile Badge” - $5 ___ Bill McKee’s Cartoon Book, “Missile Business” - $5 ___ AAFM Poetry Collection - $10 ____ AAFM 2012 Book “Missileers and the Cuban Missile Crisis” - $15 ____ Prints - Signed/numbered Print “Countdown - 5,4,3,2,1” - $15 each - Quantity _____ Total Amount _______ Randy Mayse signed print for Malmstrom 25th Anniversary - TE on site - $25 each Quantity ____ Total $______ Cuban Missile Crisis Painting of Malmstrom’s A-06- $15 each - Quantity _______ Total Amount $________Joe Andrew’s painting, “The Guardians” - $10 each Quantity _________ Total Amount $________

Full Size Reproduction Missile and Combat Crew Badges

Name:Address:City, State, Zip code: Total Donation___________ (Due to increased postage costs, order must be least $10

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 5693, Breckenridge, CO 80424. Shipping included.

Bob Wyckoff’s Collection of Poems - plus AAFM’s “We are Missileers” For the poem Missileer - choose graphics preference - circle one, more or all - Missile Badge - Basic Senior Master Missile Badge with Ops designator Basic Senior Master Space Badge Basic Senior Master All Poems printed on Photo Paper for Framing - $10 ________

AAFM Golf Cap $15 Each Quantity ____ Total $______AAFM Brief Case $15 each Quantity ____ Total $______

AAFM Golf Shirt and AAFM Long Sleeve Dress Shirts - available in limited sizes and colors - call or email AAFM if you want to order - prices and availability vary.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.

Membership Categories - Free for Active Duty EnlistedAnnual ($20) ____ Active Duty/Student ($5) ____ Three Years ($50) ____ Active Duty/Student ($14) ____

Lifetime ($300) ____ (Payable in up to 12 installments) Member Number _________________

Association of Air Force Missileers - Membership ApplicationComplete and mail to AAFM PO Box 5693 Breckenridge, CO 80424 or log on to afmissileers.org

Name

Address

City

Awarded Missile Badge - Yes _____ No _____Can AAFM release this information - only to members and missile organizations? Yes ____ No ___

State Zip

E-Mail

Phone

Signature

Rank/Grade

Active Duty ___ Retired ____ Discharged/Separated ____Guard/Reserve _____ Civilian _____

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, evaluationn 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 5693 Breckenridge, CO 80424

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PAIDNorfolk,NEPermit # 125

Reunions and Meetings

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, Monument, 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, Benton, LA Executive Director - Col (Ret) Charlie Simpson Next Executive Director - Col (Ret) Jim WarnerAssociation of Air Force Missileers, PO Box 5693, Breckenridge, CO 80424 970-453-0500

afmissileers.org [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected]

390th SMW - 26-30 September 2018, Colorado Springs Marriott. Contact: John or Susan Lasher - 520-886-3430 or email [email protected] All members of 308 SMW, 381 SMW and 395 SMS welcome to join us.455/91 SMW/MG/MW Maintainers, 3-4 August 2018, Minot, ND, including wing tour and Northern Neighbors Day with the Thunderbirds, along with other activities. Contact. Chuck Emery, [email protected], 701-573-5563.556 SMS, Plattsburgh AFB, NY, Atlas - 9-14 October 2018 as part of the AAFM National Meeting in Cheyenne, WY. Contact Leon Hojegian at 973-7883-5738 or [email protected] SMES - 9-14 October 2018 as part of the AAFM National Meeting in Cheyenne, WY. Contact Cliff Dobbins at [email protected], phone 573-418-2322.SAC Airborne Command Control Association (SAC ACCA) - 12-15 September 2018, Courtyard by Marriott South- Bellevue, Bellevue, NE, contact Norma Kathman, 402-250-7065, [email protected].

Association of Air Force Missileers - 9-14 October 2018, Little America Hotel and Resort, Cheyenne, WY, details on the inside cover. AAFM Board meeting on 9 October, opening reception on 10 October.

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.

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