Deactivated Minuteman II ICBM Launch Control Facility (A-1)

 military, Minuteman, intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)

 Upload a photo

The former LCF for Alfa Flight, comprised of 10 LGM-30F Minuteman II Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. Nicknamed "Pumpkin's Pride" by its crews, A-1 was manned by elements of the 66th Strategic Missile Squadron, 44th Missile Wing, formerly based at Ellsworth AFB outside Rapid City, South Dakota. Though it oversaw a flight of LGM-30A Minuteman I ICBMs in 1963, these were replaced with the Minuteman II between 1971 and 1973. It stood at the ready supporting the flight until the Air Force began retiring the LGM-30F from service starting in December of 1991 and wrapping up in April of 1994, in line with international arms-reduction treaties. A-1's deactivation entailed imploding its underground Launch Control Center, filling in the sewage pool, and removing all systems from the above ground LCF building.