![]() ![]() Around 1100, the crew ordered lunch (foil packs and an occasional fresh salad).Īround 1500, SAC Global Weather at Offutt AFB transmitted the daily weather for each sortie and each target slot. Next, the Commander and Deputy ran their respective Inspection Checklists. Most crews wore sweat pants, sneakers, and a sweat shirt. Once the blast door was closed, the new crew changed into more comfortable clothes. Most often, the old crew had to wait for the ECHO crew to stop by and pick them up for the trip back to Ellsworth. The Commander called the Wing Command Post to accept the alert. The new crew then signed the crew log, accepting custody of ten mated reentry vehicles, the tworevolvers, and ammunition. After everything in the LCC was determined to be in proper order, the new crew received the two Smith & Wesson. At the appropriate point on the crew changeover checklist, the on-duty crew's locks came off the red box and the documents and launch keys were carefully inventoried, launch and enable panel switches were checked. Once inside the control center, we traded rumors with the on-duty crew before receiving a status briefing. ![]() We rode the elevator 31 feet down to the tunnel and waited for the "stand clear!" shout from the on-duty deputy. After the capsule crew buzzed the access door to the elevator room, we loaded our crew bags, and parkas into the elevator. Some crewmembers got to the LCF even earlier, because they were addicted to their favorite soap operas (this, in an era of all-male crews)! After an informal status briefing from the Facility Manager, the Commander authenticated to the on-duty capsule crew using the phone in the FSC's office. We usually arrived at the LCF around 9:30 a.m. We avoided Wall Drug during the height of the tourist season, due to the crowds, and were not allowed to stop anywhere when armed and couriering launch panels or sealed authenticator documents to the missile field. Your first stop after departing the base was either the Mini Mart outside the Main Gate or Wall Drug for coffee and breakfast. Crews usually departed Ellsworth on 1-90 around 7:30 a.m.īreakfast/Safety Stop at Wall Drug (0830) The Commander was issued his code pages for the day, along with any classified material that needed to be transported to the field. Crews were briefed on world events, weather, and anything else relevant to the mission. The Pre-Departure Briefing was held in the briefing room, attended by all 15 missile crews, squadron commanders, and briefers from the Weather Squadron. The two man crew met at the squadron office.Īt 0700 sharp. All crew vehicles were equipped with Motorola radios for emergencies or to make periodic security checks when transporting critical components to the missile field. From October 1st until May 1st, each vehicle was required to have a footlocker-sized survival kit on board (full of blankets, candles, etc.) in case of a vehicle breakdown in winter weather. to sign out and inspect the crew vehicle (usually a Chevrolet Suburban or a lightweight Ford station Wagon). The Deputy Commander was responsible for visiting the Vehicle Barn around 6:30 a.m. NPS/Mark Wilderman (MIMI 2363-81) A Typical 24-Hour Alert at Delta One A missileer's day began and ended with lots of driving through the South Dakota prairie. ![]()
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