SHENANIGANS in a Titan II Missile Silo?

[@markclark1654]

Ahh, memories! One of the best pranks we pulled at LRAFB was during deactivation. We were at a site that had the warhead and launch documents removed, and we found a field mouse and put it in the safe just before the replacement crew arrived. We told them they still had items in the safe, so the MCCC opened it up and the mouse ran right up her arm and into her shirt! Panic ensued and she threatened to call the wing command post, but her crew got her calmed down. She never forgave us though! Former senior DMCCC at MCAFB and LRAFB here. Titans rule!

[@mre9789]

Well, one of my memorable shenanigans actually happened topside. At our morning briefings before heading out to the missile site they would tell us when the Soviet satellites would be flying over. It was a weekend shift and no one else was on site. The BMAT and I went top side as we would sometimes do to get some air and sunshine. Just as the satellite was scheduled to fly over, the BMAT got on the silo closure door, pulled his paints down and "mooned" the satellite. I always wondered what the Soviet analysts thought when they analyzed those pictures!

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

Haha! Love that y'all mooned the commie's!

[@tl1024]

Now that's a good one! Mooning the Soviets from the top of a silo door, you can bet your *$# I would do that!

[@jojo1308716]

My parents had an opportunity to purchase a missile silo just northwest of Fort Collins at the entrance to the poudre canyon in the early to mid 80s. Ultimately there was a group that got it to store microfiche. I have no idea who owns it now. But watching you do your thing brings me back to those early days wandering around down there looking at all the equipment and storage rooms. Please keep creating and working on your ranch, er, silo project. Thank you so much.

[@mikep9032]

Hey. Old Titan 2 maintenance guy here. We did the fuels and were called PTS. Most of the writing under the hanging ledge was done by maintenance. We'd have to leave level 2 when a classified message came in. So we spent lots and lots of time there. Eating the crew's food and sleeping. All the sites have memories some bad, mostly good. Think I liked the 571 sites best because they were in the mountains. Silverbell site 570-3 was neat near the copper mine. 570-6 had the chicken/egg ranch towards I-10. Tangerine Road was always fun to drive over towards Catalina, especially at 60-70 mph. Hope to get back towards Tucson soon. Will spend some time looking you guys up.

[@tl1024]

Thanks for chiming in as an experienced fellow. I also have several 70-80 mph tangerine trips in my memory, just not as AF personnel. Now that area is getting full of developments & those speeds just arent possible nor safe(ish).

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

Lol! Those old dodges and suburbans could get up and go eh? Or did y'all drive different vehicles out there to the sites?

[@mikep9032]

@@ThompsonAtomicRanch Nope. Dodge slant 6. They rattled and shook, but could take a beating. Another fun dirt road was from Madera Canyon (missile site 571-5) to hyw 83. Think it was called Box Canyon Road

[@timhamlett5042]

My crew got a brand new DMCCC (21 yo 2nd Lt) and on his first alert the MFT and I (BMAT), grabbed the megaphone from the storage locker, got behind the communication panel and perfectly imitated Skybird and Looking Glass with a order to launch the missile. The look on his face was priceless. He just about crapped his pants.

[@gagefears3600]

what squadron?

[@timhamlett5042]

@@gagefears3600 374th SMS

[@rocketman9605]

A common prank played on new DMCCCs was to move the "fire in the launch duct" plastic label on the LCCFC to the "fire in the control center" label position. Then during the middle of the night when the DMCCC and BMAT or MFT was manning level 2 (no lone zone requiring 2 crew members) either the MCCC or BMAT or MFT who were resting on level 1 would sneak down to level 2 and use a cigarette lighter to set off the control center fire sensor. Needless to say when the new DMCCC saw "fire in the launch duct" his pucker factor went up big time given a missile loaded with thousands of gallons of hypergolic propellants and a 9.3MT warhead. Of course the other three crew members had a good laugh at the DMCCCs expense and stopped the prank before starting the DASH-1 checklist steps for "fire in the launch duct". I thoroughly enjoyed my 5 years at the 381SMW serving as an instructor and stan/eval DMCCC, MCCC, and finally as an EWO Instructor. Missileers have high esprit de corps and could always have some fun along with carrying out a deadly serious mission.

[@jackshittle]

I was a Naval Aircrewman & flew in P-3C Orions. A common prank for us would to take an empty sonobuoy case back to the barracks after a mission, put ordnance tape on the bottom of it so it can hold liquid. Then a group of us would all piss in it. Then one of us would take it and lean it against a new guys door to his room & knock. When he opens the door the sonobuoy case falls into his room & all the piss comes out. Was in from 1990-1995.

[@davemarshall4985]

Also absolutely love the the videos guy the fact you have gotten into the silo it’s self is a amazing achievement and I would love to see more keep up the grate content

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

Thx! Glad you're enjoying :)

[@paulherder5356]

@ McConnell there was two phones that could access outside the site. You could configure the level 3 com gear to combine the launch console telephone to the desk phone. You then called another site using those phones to call the phones at another site. When the other site answered both phones, they would be talking to each other! You mentioned the level one "art". I don't ever remember looking there. At McConnell, the "art" was behind the 100,000 gallon water tank on the silo wall which was not easily gotten to. Elevator races! Both crew members (BMAT and MFT) would start at level 8 of the silo. One would use the elevator, the other the escape ladders. Who would get to level 2 first? I can't think ANYONE hadn't ridden the silo door during a exercise that actually ran the door open! Sone one had to be topside during a door opening exercise to insure nothing entered the silo. (yeah, right) and was connected to the control center via the wired com. The cable for the headsets were long enough so the you could connect it and climb on the door. It was something to see a ~750 ton door open in ~ 20 seconds! As an instructor, we would train new BMATs and MFTs on seven different alerts. Of course we had stories we told the new future crew members trainies about the silos. One was about Herbie, the sump monster. He lived in the level 8 sumps (actually in level 9). We had a new trainie that was following the daily checklist and once we got down to the level 8 sumps, he opened the hatch and we saw that the light was out. He made a mention that maint. had to come and change out the light on the checklist (required a ladder that wasn't on site) but had to go down into the sump to check the water level. Once he climbed down the ladder, we heard a noise and the trainie was back up with us breathing hard and saying something about Herbie? We shined our flashlights down into the sump and saw maint had configured a tube of absorbent material and hung it over the landing in the sump. Herbie! I probably have a bunch more stories since I was a combat ready BMAT for over 12 years. Of course the USAF didn't trust us with anything sharp so that is why we only had grease pencils to write with! ;^)

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

Awesome stories! Thanks for sharing them with us :)

[@tl1024]

"Hello, domino's pizza"

[@dodo1opps]

When I was a brand new Deputy at McConnell, our BMAT changed out the "fire in the control center" with the "fire in the launch duct" label on the LCCFC. I didn't notice it until the "fire in the launch duct" light came on and the "hazard alert logic reset button" came on. When that happened, I figured the rest of the crew were having fun. Then, the "fire in the launch duct" light came on again along with the klaxon, I started the checklist procedure which would require contacting the wing command post. The commander heard my announcement on the VSS and came running down the stairs yelling, "Don't Call the Command Post" and then explained what was going on. Our BMAT, Ray, was taking his lighter to the fire detector on level 1, setting of the indicator on level 2.

[@willys4882]

Funny things happen when you lock a handful of grown men in a confined area: farts and belching are once again funny, fireworks create excitement, sometimes when you're bored you do things to annoy or even anger your fellow employees and you have plenty of time to plan somewhat elaborate practical jokes.

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

Reminds me of life at the firehouse! Haha. Thx for watching

[@willys4882]

@@ThompsonAtomicRanch I am a firefighter.

[@tl1024]

Quality stuff right there! Both firefighters!

[@Bbendfender]

Another thing my crew used to do was to play RISK, Hearts and Bridge. The DMCCC liked RISK but we got tired of that so our MCCC taught us Bridge. If there was nothing going on and we had gotten all of our work done, we would play cards. Even our Sector Commander (Lt. Col) would come out and play a hand or two with us. We had some really cool people in our squadron. Also had a few really strict guys who you didn't dare play games with. Remember we were in SAC. If I remember correctly, our Wing Commander never out came our site, but did show up at a few of the sites.

[@gagefears3600]

The site in the first few seconds, 3-8, is 373-8. Arkansas sites had trees sound their fences. That is prevalent around the property today.

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

Honestly, I’m really surprised they were able to even take a camera in there. When I was working support for Raven Rock (site R) in Maryland, everything was searched before you entered. It was no uncertain terms that even describing the layout of the place would get you years in Leavenworth. (Although now there are blueprints on the web that are pretty darned close. It’s still an active site, so apparently some people obviously are not terribly worried.) I was a military photographer, and had to have a specialized clearance to bring camera equipment in.

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

Security seemed pretty relaxed. They could give tours and such even when the site was active. I'll have to share more pictures taken by the crew members, they're pretty cool!

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

@@ThompsonAtomicRanch That’s pretty interesting. No tours at site R that I was ever aware of. ;-) it was pretty funny though, a secure site with tiny signs leading all the way from the support company at Ft Ritchie MD right to the main entrance. Another fifteen minutes and you would end up at Camp David. It was like the center of the universe for a few minutes there.

[@tl1024]

All the sites around here had the exact same looking entrance from the main road, so, if you knew what your looking for, it's easy to spot. Some sites are at the end of "missile base road", I accidentally found one that while driving for work, you bet I went to the end of that road to check it out. All were built with access to main travel channels because the stuff they had to move in & out required semi truck level access. There was once a truck accident that involved some spill of rocket fuel in a dense metro area here, my mom lived about a block away at the time.

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

@@tl1024 I guess I was always expecting more of a super secure "no one knows where it is" aspect, as opposed to signage going right through town. ;-). I found one of the access points to camp David by accident. To the facilities credit, the road did say "no trespassing government property". But I was government property at the time, so I figure it was just an antenna site or something that I could driver up to. (No gate at the street) About a mile up, and I was greeted by two guys in high and tight hair cuts. I got sent on my way. That was back in 1984, so the world was pretty quiet. I think these days, I'd probably get shot.

[@ldr9146]

During 1966 I was in the Air Force stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB 390th SMS. While there I worked with a SGT Brewer we were both electricians, we were close and lost contact with him, would like any information of where he lives.

[@fnln544]

It reminds us people are people...even if US Air Force crews assigned to a Titan 2 site. Thanks for the light-hearted look at yesteryear and the crew graffiti. Missileers!

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

So true! We all have to have an outlet. It's fun to find little things like this. Haha

[@tl1024]

I sure wish I had known to look there when I took the top-to-bottom tour.

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

@@tl1024 it's such a random thing to find but at most, if not all of the Arizona sites, there is similar graffiti in that same location of the LCC. Lol

[@MetamorphicWonders]

Could you tell me how long the shifts were , and how many days they were down there in one go please?

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

A shift was usually about 27 hours after accounting for the morning briefing, travel time to each site, crew change and then the long trip back to the home base.

[@MetamorphicWonders]

@@ThompsonAtomicRanch So it was just over a full day on shift.. i assume four of them per shift so the rule of two can be adhered too. Two slept and two on post in this shift period ..?

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

@@MetamorphicWonders exactly!

[@peteratkinson1939]

What is the plan for your site? Do you someday want to have full access to the silo? These silos are so fascinating.

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

We actually have access to the silo but it is in such bad shape, it fiscally would not be reasonable to get it into liveable condition. It is fun to explore tho! It's kinda like spelunking. Hah

[@Bbendfender]

We pulled plenty shenanigans while on alert. We had Security Police at one of the sites where I pulled alerts. Me and the security cops went topside and found a large water snake around a water storage area. ONe of the cops killed the snake and we brought it back down to the control center. The security cop threw it at our DMCCC and I thought for a minute the deputy was going to pull his pistol and shoot the cop. It was really tense for a second or two. The deputy didn't appreciate it at all. Regarding food, we used to cook some really good food while on alert. I remember our wives bringing a Thanksgiving meal to the crew one year. Although we weren't supposed to sleep on level 2, we did find ways of getting some "rest" while on most alerts. Another memorable alert was one when I was on standby and I had to go out with another crew. The DMCCC just happened to be a guy from my home town.

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

Haha! Love these stories from the crew members! Thx

[@ChrisWeism]

My uncle used to work in these. Need to see if he has any pictures.

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

Nice! If he does, let me know! I'd love to see them :)

[@SilverSergeant]

I see you, Bob Shockley!!!

[@labman9912]

I remember Bob

[@tl1024]

I dont know, was the onion paper spicy enough to play pranks on the other guys? I really appreciate you 570-571 owners adding so much new content lately! From one Titan 2 junkie to another!

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

Glad you're enjoying! Thx for watching

[@MetamorphicWonders]

Your shelter makes my one here in the UK look like a shoebox!!!

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

Haha, that's awesome you've got a shelter. Not many people do :)

[@davemarshall4985]

You mean the largest warhead produced for the USA at 9mt the w53 warhead was the biggest the USA used

[@Mike_Malloy]

Not sure why peeps limit shenanigans to launch crews. There were many people who visited the sites on a daily bases for ongoing maintenance.

[@FlpDaMattress]

Dude, This channel has so much potential, You have gotta build up some vlogging skills.

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

Thanks! Its a work in progress as I'm an amateur KZbinr. Haha

[@Bbendfender]

Remember the Stan/Eval guys. The yellow ascots!!! Luckily I never "busted" a Stan/Eval check but I knew a few who did. Our MCCC and BMAT busted a check once and we all had to go before the Deputy Commander for Operations and they got their ass chewed. I just stood there and answered his questions and said nothing more. I felt sorry for the 2 guys because they really got reamed by the DCO. The DMCCC and I stayed on the same crew but had a new MCCC and BMAT on the next alert.

[@morantaylor]

Dungeons and Dragons game :) or on a similar theme Gamma World (post apocalyptic RPG)

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

I love it!

[@labman9912]

We dumped a lot of time in those holes.

[@yknott9873]

Sorry - "largest warhead ever made"? The Titan II carried 9.3Mt - one of the aerial bombs in U.S. inventory was 25Mt, and Tsar Bomba, the biggest of them all, was 50+Mt.

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

My mistake. Should have said largest made to that point. :)

[@tl1024]

Largest deployed deliverable by missile at that time is closer. Yes, many other larger ones had been tested, but not deployed in significant scale. At these levels of MT yield, it doesnt matter much, would have been plenty enough to disrupt life in a big way in any country where it may have been detonated. And I think USSR actually tested a 100MT nuke, but I cant say for sure.

[@jamesharrison2570]

I put Exlax in the coffee pot

[@TheFrenchDude]

Do you guys really have those milk bricks for the lunch in USA ? 😱

[@tl1024]

This was mid 1960s to early 1980s, so I dont know. I'm gonna guess the food wasnt too spectacular. It looks like they brought their own to fill in.

[@jaybell5057]

Ok ? Im guessing this was 50 years ago ?

[@ThompsonAtomicRanch]

The Titan II was active from the early 1960s to the mid 80s.

[@tl1024]

The site nearest to me was actually the very first one decommissioned, because its rocket was out of the tube for maintenance when the deal was made, so they just didnt put it back in the tube. That site was decomissioned by 1983 if I recall correctly. (From my studies, not memory). It was less than 1/2 mile from the elementary school I attended. And a 9mt nuke was about 1.5 miles from my house for the first year or so of my life (no, I didnt attend elementary school at 2 years old). My moms 2nd husband (I prefer not to use the term "step dad", he is lame) was security at that site during decommissioning.

[@mikep9032]

@@tl1024 570-9, just outside of Catalina. People encroached on the silo knowing it was there. They even went a built a school at the access road, knowing it was there. It was cheap land. Tucson changed a lot from 1960’s to 1983. Most thought the missiles made them targets. In reality Hughes Aircraft, IBM, the aircraft bone yard, copper mines, DM, and the university all made Tucson a target. Funny, the older folks in Green Valley wanted to keep the silo. It’s the museum. The younger folks didn’t care for us, so we seldom stopped in Catalina for eats.

[@TracyA123]

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