planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

My dad worked on the weapons systems of the B-1 in a manner of speaking. He was a project engineer at Northrop Defense Systems in the Chicago suburbs for some large number of years, mostly designing guidance and jamming equipment. He also worked on a bunch of other expensive planes and traveled to TX and CA a number of times to make sure everything was going alright or solving problems.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

My dad worked on the weapons systems of the B-1 in a manner of speaking. He was a project engineer at Northrop Defense Systems in the Chicago suburbs for some large number of years, mostly designing guidance and jamming equipment. He also worked on a bunch of other expensive planes and traveled to TX and CA a number of times to make sure everything was going alright or solving problems.

Larry Powell Loc: Columbus OH

I think your trainer is the one at The National Museum of the Air Force. It is MMI or maybe II.

I worked almost everyday with Combat Crew officers when we installed or de-installed the P Plug in the Guidance & Control.

If I ever get back in the area I certainly will visit the museums.

The museum at WPAFB does not have a volunteer to talk about the missiles. I took a friend there that wanted to know about it. I started to tell him about the LF and LCF, etc I turned around and had a crowd listening.

The E-labs guys had a year long tech school at Chanute. We covered in detail the entire electronic part of the system. No diesel back ups or communication but most everything else. I felt like we knew the system better than anyone else including design engineers. The design & build guys had their section. We had it all down to components and schematics. It was an incredible experience.

The electronics education and experience was the key to my life.

It's great to hear from "one of us." There are not many of us.

If you ever plan a trip to Dayton and the USAF Museum, give me a call. I live in Columbus. It would be my pleasure to meet you and share some stories.

Keep em in the Green.
Larry

Minitman Loc: Centreville, Virginia

Can't recall did the MPT have a REACT console (wasn't deployed to Wing II)? Also the missile nose cone is not for a Minuteman III - can't tell exactly from the photo if it's a I or II. Also, it was possible to tour the LF Trainer on base. Are the on base items still available to the general public? I highly recommend the tour of the NPS site. When I last visited in 2005 there were only two tours a day and groups had to be no more than 6 as I recall due to elevator size.

HRBIEL Loc: Rapid City, SD

Not familiar with a REACT console but then I haven’t been in the museum in many years. The missile is identified as a Minuteman ll. I think the on-base LF trainer is still available. Yes the elevator was pretty small and I seriously can’t imagine 6 people crowded into the LCF (wonder if the shock isolators could handle all the weight?).

Larry Powell Loc: Columbus OH

Those shock isolaters are designed to protect the LCF with a direct nuclear hit.

The RV is definitely not MMIII. It may be the lens used or the angle but I see a bulge effect on the guidance and control under the RV. That did not exist.

I never saw any markings at all on a missile in alert status. The USAF stuff must be for display only.

HRBIEL Loc: Rapid City, SD

The shock isolator comment was just kidding! If you want to see shock isolation, visit the Cheyenne Mountain Complex sometime. All the individual buildings are isolated. Spent one of my tours there.

Larry Powell Loc: Columbus OH

I wish I could visit the complex. That would be interesting. With the enlarged bodies running around today the capsule might shift a little.

Minitman Loc: Centreville, Virginia

Larry, Interesting to hear about you giving a talk on missiles at WPAFB. I had a similar experience at the Park Service Minuteman site.

My family and I were at a conference in Rapid City which is 90 miles from the site so I arrived too late for the last tour. I'd worked for TRW for 18 years on Minuteman as an advisor to BMO so the family was anxious to see a site even though we never upgraded Ellsworth. Since we missed the tour, I was explaining some things to the family about the displays topside and was overheard by one of the guides. He told me if I'd explain to him why some of the items were designed as they were, he'd give us a private tour the following day.

He was former crew and we had a great visit and tour.

Larry Powell Loc: Columbus OH

That's pretty cool. Nice experience. I did not realize the site is so far from Rapid City. From images I have seen it appears all one can see at the LF is look down on the missile. No entry. It would be nice if they could open it up so visitors could access the equipment levels.

I visit the National Museum of the Air Force at WPAFB fairly often. t disappoints me greatly that there is nothing at all in the gift shop about MM. No books, no models, no pix. Nothing. Why? Minuteman was a crucial component of SAC and we served and still serve a valuable role in the Cold War.

The museum has a very nice missile display area and the LCF trainer is on display. Two MM RVs are on display. One took a trip to the South Pacific and the other is intact. It amazes me how small the MM warhead is. The actual bomb must be about the size of a basketball. The nukes carried airborne in B29, B36, etc were huge. I think Fat Man weighed 10,000 pounds.

It is all on display at WPAFB. No admission fee. Great trip.

They have MMI and MMIII erect along with Titan, Thor, Atlas and several others.

Minitman Loc: Centreville, Virginia

Larry,

Yes the missile site is very disappointing - just a plexiglass lid so you can see the top of the missile. Fortunately, I was able to get the family an on base tour of the LF trainer - has an outside stair way so you don't have to go down the latter (I always hit my head at the foot of the ladder so it's probably not a good idea to open of the laugh site. Also I doubt there is much equipment other than the ECS still there). I hope people can still get on base and tour the LF trainer, but don't know if that's possible.

Larry Powell Loc: Columbus OH

How were you able to ger an on base tour? Retired? Officer?

I contacted Malmstrom several years ago and they were going to set up a base tour for me. That was before the world went crazy though. Today??

Minitman Loc: Centreville, Virginia

I was still working at that time and had a CAC card. I'm thinking it would be pretty had today to even get on base as a private citizen let alone arrange tours.

Larry Powell Loc: Columbus OH

That is what I would expect today. Maybe a DD214 showing my AFC and an active or retired escort might help. But doubtful.

Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA

Nice set. Pocket rocket? Thanx for sharing.