In November 1962, the 455th Strategic Missile Wing was the fourth
United States Air Force LGM-30 Minuteman ICBM wing, the third with the
LGM-30B Minuteman I. In 1962 and 1963 150 missiles were deployed to silos controlled by three squadrons of 455th in North Dakota. On 25 June 1968 the 91st Bombardment Wing was reassigned to Minot AFB from
Glasgow AFB, Montana which was closed and assumed control of the three Minuteman squadrons of the 455th. The senior 91st SMW had organizational roots dating from
World War II and had been deployed from Glasgow AFB to
Southeast Asia, where it had been flying combat missions with the
B-52 Stratofortress during the
Vietnam War. The 455th SMW was inactivated.
Between April 1970 and December 1971 the Minuteman I ICBMs were replaced with the
LGM-30G Minuteman III. All of the 91st Wing's Minuteman III missiles were reduced from three warheads to a single warhead by
START I between 1991 and 2001. The three active squadrons are commanded by the
91st Operations Group.
Facilities
Missile Alert Facility
Launch Control Center
Minuteman III Launch Facility
The Missile Alert Facility (MAF) consists of a buried and hardened Launch Control Facility (LCC) and an above-ground Launch Control Support Building (LCSB). MAFs were formerly known as Launch Control Facilities (LCFs) but terminology was changed in 1992 with the inactivation of Strategic Air Command (SAC). In addition, a MAF has a landing pad for helicopters; a large radio tower; a large "top hat" HF antenna; a vehicle garage for security vehicles; recreational facilities, and one or two sewage lagoons. The entire site, except for the helicopter pad and sewage lagoons are secured with a fence and security personnel. About a dozen airmen and officers are assigned to a MAF.
The underground LCC Launch Control Center (LCC) contains the command and control equipment for missile operations. It is staffed by the two launch officers who have primary control and responsibility for the 10 underground and hardened Launch Facilities (LF)s within its flight which contains the operational missile. Each of the five LCCs also has the ability to command and monitor all 50 LFs within the squadron. The LF is unmanned, except when maintenance and security personnel are needed.
A squadron is composed of five flights; flights are denoted by a letter of the alphabet with the facilities controlled by the flight being designated by a number, 01 through 11, with 01 being the MAF.
Units and locations
740th Missile Squadron
Activated by Strategic Air Command on 28 June 1962. Organized on 1 November 1962
Emblem of the 740th Missile Squadron
740th Missile Squadron – Missile Alert Facilities and Launch Facilities
In November 1962, the 455th Strategic Missile Wing was the fourth
United States Air Force LGM-30 Minuteman ICBM wing, the third with the
LGM-30B Minuteman I. In 1962 and 1963 150 missiles were deployed to silos controlled by three squadrons of 455th in North Dakota. On 25 June 1968 the 91st Bombardment Wing was reassigned to Minot AFB from
Glasgow AFB, Montana which was closed and assumed control of the three Minuteman squadrons of the 455th. The senior 91st SMW had organizational roots dating from
World War II and had been deployed from Glasgow AFB to
Southeast Asia, where it had been flying combat missions with the
B-52 Stratofortress during the
Vietnam War. The 455th SMW was inactivated.
Between April 1970 and December 1971 the Minuteman I ICBMs were replaced with the
LGM-30G Minuteman III. All of the 91st Wing's Minuteman III missiles were reduced from three warheads to a single warhead by
START I between 1991 and 2001. The three active squadrons are commanded by the
91st Operations Group.
Facilities
Missile Alert Facility
Launch Control Center
Minuteman III Launch Facility
The Missile Alert Facility (MAF) consists of a buried and hardened Launch Control Facility (LCC) and an above-ground Launch Control Support Building (LCSB). MAFs were formerly known as Launch Control Facilities (LCFs) but terminology was changed in 1992 with the inactivation of Strategic Air Command (SAC). In addition, a MAF has a landing pad for helicopters; a large radio tower; a large "top hat" HF antenna; a vehicle garage for security vehicles; recreational facilities, and one or two sewage lagoons. The entire site, except for the helicopter pad and sewage lagoons are secured with a fence and security personnel. About a dozen airmen and officers are assigned to a MAF.
The underground LCC Launch Control Center (LCC) contains the command and control equipment for missile operations. It is staffed by the two launch officers who have primary control and responsibility for the 10 underground and hardened Launch Facilities (LF)s within its flight which contains the operational missile. Each of the five LCCs also has the ability to command and monitor all 50 LFs within the squadron. The LF is unmanned, except when maintenance and security personnel are needed.
A squadron is composed of five flights; flights are denoted by a letter of the alphabet with the facilities controlled by the flight being designated by a number, 01 through 11, with 01 being the MAF.
Units and locations
740th Missile Squadron
Activated by Strategic Air Command on 28 June 1962. Organized on 1 November 1962
Emblem of the 740th Missile Squadron
740th Missile Squadron – Missile Alert Facilities and Launch Facilities