Missile Silo (Texas Country Reporter)
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- Опубликовано: 10 дек 2024
- Just outside the City of Lawn, a relic of the cold war was nearly lost to time until it was resurrected by the efforts of Larry Sanders.
Larry Sanders
Abilene, TX
Phone: 325-280-9282
E-mail: atlassilo@yahoo.com
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Texas Country Reporter
#1835
10-29-2022
My father worked for the contractor General Dynamics, who built the Atlas missiles. We were in Oklahoma in 1961-1962 time near Altus AFB where there were another cluster of ICBM installations. Dad did the systems checkout before turning over the sites to the USAF. Great memories there as a kid. Thanks!
From what I understand the flight of missile silos at Altus was the only ones that actually spanned two states. One of its silos is just South of the Red River. It is immediately West of US-283 Approx 5 miles South of the Red River and 14 miles North of Vernon Texas
Love Texas Country Reporter. This story makes me think about my two cousins, Larry and David Jobe. Both served in the Air Force during this time and my hat is off to all veterans for what they did.
I explore this silo in the 80s we got in thru the vent shaft that was bars that had been cut already, then we climb down some stairs push a huge Exhaust fan on hinges! Into the silo we where we would light candles on all floors in the corners and climb to the top and look down.Looks like all the metal in the middle of the silo is gone now it did have stairs all the way down 6 or 7 stories in the 80s. The Shock absorbers springs were so big I remember. At the end-of-it life, there were only 2 stories left! And it was super dangerous, the metal floor was rotten. The memory of all those candles lighting up the whole silo looking down was cool!
I lived out in Abilene in the 2000s. I knew a guy that actually lived in once of these. He converted the command center into a full blown house. His silo was actually dry (he had working pumps).
It looks like at least three are converted into houses, pretty neat idea really
I used to work with a guy from abilene that knew of a man that had one.
I've heard there are some near Gail tx but I don't know that as a fact
Would that be the silo near Oplin?
Sedali, MO has themas well
I want 1😊 .nice to know. That protection was there, why can't they understand that Socialism is not Good. Do they need to have internment centers for modern day Socialist? Its,a very Bad ,Idea
Often forgotten in the USA: if we do not remember history, warts and all, we are cursed to repeat it. 😮
Yes, we must stand on the shoulders of the past to see the future.
Well done Mr. Sanders and I salute your mission! You're right. EVERY American needs to hear AND see it (on video of course). Surprised it wasn't turned into a multilevel home.
its not the 50s no more honky. slavery aint legal and your 43 buick aint slicker 'n' snot no more. the american dream is dead. america was built on the backs of slaves and migrants. you should be damn ashamed to call yourself american.
I would like to add personal, family history concerning the Abilene ICBM silos.
My father served in WW2 as a B-25 combat pilot over Italy. A warrior and member of the Greatest Generation.
After the Seven Year Drought in Texas, during the 1950's, our family moved to San Diego, CA. My father got a job at General Dynamics, helping to build the Atlas ICBM rocket engine. My memory is telling me that he was trained to do electrical inspections.
One day, while way across the city of San Diego, I heard the deep roar of the Atlas rocket engine being tested miles away in the hills. Tremendous sound of power.
When the company contract job ended, we moved back to our home state of Texas. My father worked down in the Abilene, Texas ICBM silos; doing electrical inspections during the installation of the missiles.
In later years, he mentioned that one day, the launch alarm went off, and he passed everyone on the stairs to get up and out of the silo. He said the missile was not yet armed. I assume they thought there was going to be "fire in the hole."
On a rare family outing, we drove past the AFB. There was what appeared to be a U-2 spy plane sitting on the tarmac in broad daylight.
As his job in the silos was winding-up, my father moved us back to home in Southwest Texas. He returned to Abilene to complete his work, then rejoined with us.
In his later years, my father commented that he was very proud of his part in building the Atlas rocket engine that helped to put us in Space. He did not mention his nuclear war deterrent work in the Abilene silos; although his service in Life was always bravely protecting family and country.
I was about eleven years old or so during our Abilene ICBM years, and very traumatized, knowing we were a bullseye for Russia.
God Forbid we ever have a nuclear war!
Sincerely,
Betty Ann McFatter
My father helped build several of the Atlas sites in New Mexico by Walker AFB in the late 1950's and I served in the late 1960' on a Minute Man site. I have nothing but praise for those people and the people who built them. My father also was already in the US Army before Dec 7, 1941. I praise all those brave folks both men and women.
I remember whaching this show when I was younger and could not wait for it to come on tv love this show then and still do
Thanks for the video and your support of the veterans who manned this. I was in SAC assigned to Offutt AFB -SAC HQ, 1970-1973 in the underground maintaining the secure communication links to the silos and the rest of SAC. We felt that we were defending the country against all enemies foreign and domestic. Not many today can feel that way, their loss.
It seems that the dreaded " BETTER RED THAN DEAD" bowel movement has taken somewhat over these days. Damm Beatniks, Pinko Hippies and now WOKE n BROKE Transgenres. But all is not lost. America will not fall by the wayside, No Sir!!! it will find a way to adapt, improvise and overcome this wave of Communist Crap and turn this Country into a light of Righteousness and Truth, again. For all to see and believe.
Fly Fight Win , 52X USAF
I was in the third grade in Abilene and still liev here. Great history thank y'all
My father was on duty during both the Cuban Missile crisis and when Kennedy was shot, in the 'hole'. He was stationed in Minot, ND. A Missileer for Minutemans. He did not speak much about the experiences. Nothing really rattled him or upset him. He was a 23 years old. This video hit close to home for me. The men need to be remembered for helping to win the Cold War.
Awesome! And Kudos to Mr. Sanders for preserving it.
I was lucky to spend the night in a Titan II missile command center. The owner turned into a very luxurious Airbnb. Even though it no longer resembles what it once was, descending into the earth, passing through the massive blast doors, and walking the cable way was a truly amazing experience. Echoes of the past where still there.
I was the first person to ever dive the missile silo, I pole vaulted at ACU and suggested Danny Fox and Mark Hyde, future MD’s and I go diving one night. Drove out toted gear about a mile and dove the silos.
My father was a Missile Launch Officer with Atlas & Minuteman systems from 1962-69/70.
I know of people who have snuck into one of those abandoned silos and climbed the old rusty stairs down to the water level.
Very true tell the story of our history thanks to our heros under ground for so long. Thank you for telling
I remember watching this show on Sunday mornings back in the 80's.
My first assignment in the Army MPs, was outside the small town of Dallau Germany.
A Niki Hercules Nuclear Missile site with 24/7 Military Police Security.
Deadly force was of course authorized for the unlawful entry of personnel approaching or entering any part of the perimeter.
Also, emidiate actions of deadly force was authorized for any rank Service Members failure to follow all official protocols, orders or failure to follow the two man rule.
I spent 22 months there and later transferred to another assignment.
In the late 80s, I was assigned to another secret Army command and control facility in Utah that had even more security demands including deadly force.
It still is the standard 5 rules of deadly force across the world in the US Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines
Abilene Tx native here. It’s really cool to hear about the history around my hometown. My dad and my father in law also served in the AF stationed at Dyess where I was born in the hospital there
Kudos to all the missileers of the USAF, past and present.
Yes. Under appreciated. On the front line 24/7, 365.
@@markwilliams8488 Knew one a-long time ago. He was an instructor when I was a cadet.
Thank you, it was an honor to serve. Ellsworth AFB 1984-1994 Minuteman
@@rossreed9974 My ROTC Instructor in the late 70's was a Missileer on the Atlas System and retired out in 72. He loved what he did as a Chief Master Sergeant supervising the silo's enlisted crews. Missileers are men of great honor and worth to our Country, for the sacrifices. that they all have made to keep us all safe.
THANK-YOU VERY MUCH. 😁
Magnificent view? Abilene?
Yeah that dead grass really does make the property pop.
Did time at Ellsworth AFB 1980/86. Old minuteman weapon systems. Spent many of day and night on LFs and LCFs.
The world was a much different place back then.
Back in college at ACU in Abilene, (1989-1994) we used to climb into this same silo. Amazing how big the springs were that the missile sat on. I know Larry well and Would love to see it again. Larry if you ever read this - BT my friend! Frats for life.
Very interesting. Thank you for sharing this story.
Awesome. I've always been fascinated with underground buildings/silos. Thank you Larry
I remember when the Atlas F missile sites were built. We had just returned to the U.S. in 1959 or 60. The town we lived in was one of twelve in a fifty mile radius from Lincoln A.F.B. where the Atlas F sites were being built. The concrete plants worked 24/7 till the site was finished. One day a very long strange looking U.S. Air Force trailer with a covered Atlas F missile made the corner at 6th Street and Highway 136 West heading out to SAC Site 8 southwest of Beatrice, NE. I delivered the local newspaper to a crew commander and his second who lived in a trailer park about seven miles from the missile site where they pulled alert. Occasionally, a helicopter from Lincoln A.F.B. brought in fresh crew members who stayed overnight in Beatrice between alerts. That helicopter landed at the grade school playground where the fresh crew were picked up in an U.S.A.F. pickup truck.
Wowww....I had no idea such a place existed in Texas,I live in Pecos Tx.
This was open for tours in the 90s my dad took me thru it.
Absolutely spot-on. I recall watching the news about the Cuban Missle Crisis ( I was pretty young - 4 maybe 5 years old ), and didn't know whether to be scared or safe. Thank you, Mr Sanders, for shining the light on those brave men and women, the unsung heroes, that upheld their oath to protect our country. It is the evil described in this story I thought we would be perpetually protecting America from, and not the disgusting rot from within we are experiencing now ( with this administration, and 43|44 ).
Mr. Sanders, you are welcome. Let us pray that our sacrifice and untolled hours of standing vigil will not have been in vain.
My brother got out of the Army in 1961 and helped build Titan II silos in Arizona;; ten years later I was doing maintenance in them.
I've been in one exactly like this near Mitchell Kansas. I was an amazing experience
Awesome video, thanks.
Having been stationed inside the NORAD Cheyenne Mountain Complex decades ago, I saw Defcon 2 light up on our status board once and heard the warning buzzer. A very creepy and unsettling feeling indeed.
I never felt more secure than the day in 1976 I visited Cheyanne Mountain.
I remember when it was called 4 Country Reporter 🤠
There were 18 of them in Arkansas. I have a friend that was an AF Officer and supervised building a few of them. The scariest part was the Russian's aim was not as good as ours so they targeted every launch pad with 3 of their own missiles. That ment 54 missiles were aimed at Arkansas. The building of ones in Arkansas were supervised by Verner Von Braun.
I worked Security at the former MINUTEMAN missiles in South Dakota near the Black Hills. Had to have a secret clearance and yes, we all did help win the cold war. Our Squadron had 150 sites. Now gone except for DELTA-ONE AND DELTA-NINE that the National Park Service opened to the public several years ago near Wall, SD along I-90. Check them out sometime.
5:47 That assertion about the .45 is a bit of a stretch.
Yeah, that seemed way over the top and is highly doubtful.
Its false. (AF personnel had .38 pistols, not automatics if you want to get technical) Watched Wargames too many times, I suppose. If you shoot the only other guy in the LCC that can turn the key, you're truly screwed.
I'd convert that silo, the launch tube exactly, into a cistern to store fresh water. Convert some of the space into food and fuel storage, maybe even greenhouses. Voila! Survival bunker!
I spent over 7 years underground in a Titan ii ICBM silo. My job was to launch the missile with it’s 9 megaton
In 1980 some buddies and I snuck in the silo through a ventilation duct and explored it. It was something I will never forget! Awesome!!!! I would like to see it again
Same here back in my college days…there was lots of graffiti that that showed there had been others. We never did that, but went several times as we were so curious about them. It was a fun history lesson and Fun days!
As teenagers (72'-73'), some of my buddies and I explored a missile silo just north of Abilene. It might have been this one. All the equipment was removed, there were no lights, and it too was flooded so that we couldn't go more than 2 or 3 floors down. It was really, really spooky!
Tedd. My dad grew up in Abilene during that same time period. He used to tell stories of doing the same thing. His name was James Clark
What a great video. Not a surprised since it is Texas Country Reporter. Working in one of these silos was no cushy job. Sure hope some extra pay was involved.
His ending statement of this particular silo, I wonder if he’s familiar with the Titan Missile Museum at Green Valley/Sahuarita AZ, just south of Tucson. Google it.
That is our history. We need to remember how close we were to nuclear war. We are in that time again, sadly.
Last I heard the Atomic clock was at 90 seconds to midnight.
Biden Build Back Better Plan 😡
I know Larry and I know another owner of another silo near Coronado's Corner, west of Abilene. Very interesting places!
There were actually 13 Atlas F sites in Texas. One of them belonged to the 577th SMS (Altus A.F.B.) and was located near Fargo, Texas.
Grew up in Abilene i was about 6 yrs old 1958 Dad drove out to see one of these missile sites Long time ago
I spent much of my active duty career underground at both Titan and Minuteman sites. I will just say that it was an experience.
Thanks for your service and what you did!
When I was a kid living in Clyde in the 60s and 70s, we could see in the distance from our family property some of the buildings around the ICBM bunker. I was always told it was full of water. It is fascinating to see here what I only imagined as a kid. Very thankful someone has preserved a part of history.
Awesome history in that location. Does he allow to people to visit the site and see it?
We used to lease a property for deer hunting off 604 and the property next door had one of these sites as well, just a few miles from this one.
whats so sad is we are right back where they were then. Our country pushing for it this time.
there are two missile silo around Austin Texas, one east of Austin and one west of Austin, both in private hands
I was a Missile Combat Crew Cmdr Minuteman 1 & 3 in early to mid 70s. One night we were ordered to arm our missiles, which we did. Thank goodness all was a mistake, so we stood down. Very close.
has the water inside been tested?
Great place to escape the summer heat!
Forest Gump. Western Diamondback rattlesnakes would agree with you!
how awesome is that, would love to visit it
This is a great story and God bless that man for wanting to continue the history. The Cold War with Russia is over. Unfortunately, the Cold War with China is just about the kick-off I fear. I think it would be amazing to come up with the money to restore and outfit that silo and make it a museum. If that guy wanted to do that it would be very cool! I mean complete with a fake missile in there that would just be outstanding to go visit.
I’ve seen some of these silos that you can scuba dive in. Pretty cool
Mid 70's went on a couple of field trips to one of the Nike missile control areas in the area to hunt for fossils and roam the natural limestone "cliffs" and pools w/out adult supervision (!). What is now Buffalo Mountain Ranch. They never took us to the actual launch area a few miles away. I really wanted to see! Was hoping this was it. This silo was probably way more exciting!
The Nike and Hercules systems were nuclear air burst air defense missiles to destroy inbound nuclear weapons or bombers. They were rail mounted.
Wow. I'm glad Larry is preserving this. Hopefully a windmill or similar can be set up to get that water out of there eventually.
The good old days of America!
I was told that the house two houses down from me had a bomb shelter. He said in the 60's people were putting them in their front and back yards.
When and if we experience a nuclear war I don't want to go into one of these. You stay there for weeks, come out and die of radiation poisonings.
What about the Silo Museum by Tucson Az?? It actually has a Training Missile in it!
there is a missile silo across the road from my grandpas place 45 miles south of Abilene
its full of water to the top
As a former Minuteman ICBM technician I truly appreciate your efforts to preserve a part of our legacy. I was assigned to the 44th Strategic Missile Wing and helped maintain our readiness over 13,500 square miles of western South Dakota for over 20 years. Fortunately the National Park Service saw fit to preserve our legacy also. www.nps.gov/mimi/index.htm
It’s the Soviet sub commander that refused orders to launch that saved our planet 👍🏻 thank you sir.🤟🏻
I was just an infant then, but remember the stories my Dad used to tell about when he was in the Marine Corp being on a ship loaded with rockets off the coast of Cuba and watching Russian military looking back at them through binoculars, a very intense time for sure.
That is a pretty high water table. I thought underground water was drying up from all the farm related pumping.
So strange, i live near Abilene KANSAS and was just talking to a lady in a restaurant yesterday whos husband is fascinated by these and she said theres one north of Abilene, ks! I live right across the tracks from it and didn't realize it was there! Wonder if its this big! Got me all sorts of curious now!
I seen where this located and wonder how one can get access or get a tour of the facility.
I served at Dyess in 1986 to 87 as a missile system tech for the 96th MMS. Our shop was in the weapons storage area. We serviced nuclear missiles for the B1. When I arrived, there were on 3 planes delivered to Dyess. I had heard about the local ICBM launch sites around Abilene.
I served 85-87 at other side Lutsk -23 Ukrainian territory same kind
Wish they would put pumps in the silo and pump the water out! Definitely would like to see what history is at the bottom of the silo
Been there. It was pretty cool!
My inner farmer tells me to pump that water out for irrigation - and replace the old sump pump. 🤷♂️
An underground bunker is NOT necessarily safe. It is "confined space entry" and it could have an atmosphere that lacks oxygen.
+ radon, electricity??
@@natali1404 Well.....anything is possible in a confined space. Since it is decommissioned and not properly ventilated anything is possible. I would definitely take a detector in their with me. They have detectors for entering aircraft fuel tanks. I forget exactly how they work but they detect an unsafe atmosphere.
@@rael5469 simple canary may help a little
@@natali1404 No canaries wee harmed in the making of this video. ;)
Those silos would make excellent bunkers.
When i lived in Anson, Tx for a year, i heard stories of these missile sights around Abilene, but didn't believe it.
There are two near Anson, one nearly in town
Defcon 2 was not a Lunch Condition .
If you were hungry enough. Anytime is lunch condition! 😋
I did not know the Atlas missile was ever based in silos. Interesting to know.
Yes, the Atlas-F ICBMs were stored in silos, but had to be raised to the surface on an elevator to be fueled and launched. Atlas-E was stored horizontal in a 'coffin' launcher that was semi buried (launch control was underground) but was raised to vertical in order to be fueled and launched. Atlas-D was also stored horizontal but in an above ground structure. Titan I also was stored in silos, but like Atlas-F it too had to be raised to the surface for fueling and launch. Titan II was our first ICBM that could be launched within the silo.
Awesome
Very cool!
During the Cuban missile crisis we would have drills in the schoolyard I.E. The announcement would start “FLASH, DUCK, AND COVER!!! Then silence no one spoke no one moved until the Announcement CLEAR ALL CLEAR!!!
Is the silo being pumped out to expose the launch cradle which should be in the lower third and too massive to remove at decomissioning?
He needs to pump the water out and restore the place
I can remember being in school and the siren goes off and we hid under our desks or in the hallway covered with our jackets...
Today they dont want to install metal detectors in schools because our children will be affected.....poor little snowflakes..
I would love to explore this. I would gladly pay for a tour. Do you have a lead for Mr Larry?
Larry's phone # and email is in the description of the video. Ive met him, super nice guy. He loves to show the silo and give tours. Just remember to offer a donation Well worth the visit.
Very interesting story.
Nice video but would have appreciated being able to read the entire story on the marker at 7:21.
I would be worried that the Russians had forgotten or had neglected to remove the targeting coordinates for that sight from their missile systems!
I would hope they didn't forget it since if we got in a war with Russia I'd rather be vaporized instantly than have to succumb to radiation over a week or two or even worse survive long enough to have to deal with the famine the nuclear winter would cause.
Wonder if he ever pumped out the water to see what is at the bottom?
Atlas missle museum south of Tucson. Attached to the Pima air museum
Titan II, actually.
There are silos for sale in Washington
I wasn’t aware there were any missile silos in Texas. I would think he would have the sump pumps replaced and drain the silo.
What a dream.
HOW FAR DOWN IS THE WATER? JUST CURIOUS
Fortunately, we have never gone to DEFCON 2 or below!
Let's hope and pray that a thermonuclear ear will never, ever, happen! I am a man of peace, and am also a born-again christian who believes in peace, not war.
My history teacher was in the reserves and got called up during the cuban missile crisis