Manitou's Atlas ICBM Missile Site Traditional Cache
Manitou's Atlas ICBM Missile Site
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Another Tillman County history cache. You're looking for a camo'd Emerald brand almond container.
The site on private property before you with the Quonset hut is a former cold war Atlas ICBM missile site of the 577th Strategic Missile Squadron based out of Altus Air Force Base. From 1962 to 1964, this was one of twelve Atlas silos in the area.
From Wikipedia: The squadron was assigned twelve missiles, based in a 1 x 12 configuration: twelve independent widely dispersed launch sites comprised the missile squadron. In August 1962, the first Atlas F was placed on alert status. In October, all 12 missiles were put on alert status as a result of the Cuban missile crisis.
The Atlas F was the final and most advanced version of the Atlas ICBM and was stored in a vertical position inside underground concrete and steel silos. When stored, the Atlas F sat atop an elevator. If a missile was placed on alert, it was fueled with RP-1 (kerosene) liquid fuel, which could be stored inside the missile for extended periods. If a decision was made to launch the missile, the missile was raised to the surface and the liquid oxygen tank was filled. The launch would occur shortly after completion of this process.
The exposure on the surface that this procedure entailed was the great weakness of the Atlas F. It was exposed and vulnerable during this time. The Titan II and Minuteman missiles could be launched from within their silos, thereby eliminating this vulnerability. Also, since the Titan did not use a cryogenic fuel or oxydizer, and the Minuteman was a solid fuel rocket, they could be stored fully fueled and ready to launch within a very few minutes.
The 577th SMS operated twelve launch silos; one missile at each site. The missiles were retired and removed in early 1965 in favor of the more advanced LGM-25C Titan II; squadron was inactivated on 25 March 1965. Missile sites were later sold off to private ownership after demilitarization.
Life in a missle silo during the cold war was interesting. Here's a first hand account of one soldier's experience: (visit link)
A full sized mockup of the Atlas missile used in this & the other sites stands in a municipal park in the southern part of Altus, OK.
Congratulations once again for FTF to Frederickscouter!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Srapr yvar