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

USA / South Dakota / Faith /
 military, historical layer / disappeared object, intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)
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The former LCF for India Flight, comprised of 10 LGM-30F Minuteman II Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. Nicknamed "Melting Pot" by its crews, India-1 was manned by elements of the 67th 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. I-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.
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Coordinates:   44°36'10"N   102°18'56"W
This article was last modified 12 years ago