April 7, 2009

Tuesday 7~~~~Today we drove to Sahuarita, Arizona to tour the "Titan Missile ll", 12 miles south of Tucson. Construction was started in 1958 as a deterrent for Russia for security purposes after they launched the Sputnik into space. It is now a museum run by non profit Arizona Aerospace Foundation which includes a Titan ll intercontinental ballistic missile still in its silo as well as the original launch facilities. The silo became operational in 1963 and was deactivated in 1982 as part of President Reagan's policy (1981) of decommissioning the Titan ll missiles. All were demolished including 18 sites around McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas, 17 sites around Little Rock, Arkansas and 17 sites around Davis /Monthan AFB and Tuscon except for this one at the museum, a total of 53 missiles. The Titan ll was the largest operational land based missile ever used by the United States. The facility's highest state of alert was November 22, 1963 when President Kennedy was shot. The keys to launch the missile were placed on the launch console tables to prepare for a possible launch. The Pentagon had not known if the Soviet Union had committed an act of war. However the keys were not placed in the switches. When we left there after going down the 8 levels and seeing it all and hearing all about what went on. It really made you think that if they had this much security way back in the late 50's and what kind of security we have now. It sure is scary and we know the enemy has as much or maybe more!