Lima Flight

 military, Minuteman, invisible, do not draw title, intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)

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An arrangement of 10 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile silos and a single Launch Control Facility, Lima is one of five missile flights manned by the men and women of the 490th Missile Squadron, 341st Missile Wing. The 341st MW was reassigned from Dyess AFB on July 15, 1961 to Malmstrom AFB outside of Great Falls, Montana. The 490th MS was reactivated on May 1, 1962, and soon became SAC's third operational squadron equipped with the new Minuteman ICBM. Initially armed with Minuteman IAs, these were upgraded to the IB in 1964, and finally IIF in 1967. The LGM-30Fs were replaced in 1996 with Minuteman IIIs from the deactivating 321st MW at Grand Forks AFB, per the IIs retirement from service. Malmstrom is one of three Air Force Bases today that operate the Minuteman ICBM as part of the land-based portion America's nuclear triad. The Minuteman missiles will likely be upgraded at some point in the near future to extend their operational service life.