TOUR AMERICA, 2019: PHOENIX, ARIZONA – THE GRAND CANYON STATE

Places We Have Called Home In 2019

Home Is Where We Park It:   UMOM New Day Centers, Phoenix 

Nov 3, 2109

Temperature 85 Degrees

First Team Meeting and Pot Luck Lunch

Titan Missile Museum – Part One

Sunday, Sunday.  Not having a church to go to we decided to as we have in the past to attend our home church by listening to our Pastor’s Message.  As always it was simple, direct, inspiring and provided much food for thought for the week ahead.

Noon time and we attended our first team meeting and pot luck lunch.  Once again we are the new guys on the block.  Everyone here has already served together at this location multiple times in the past.  Furthermore, this team is as different from our first team as night is different from day.  I’m not saying one team is better then the other.  Not at all. It’s just interesting to observe how each team – our first and now this our second – is a direct reflection of the personality and leadership style of the the team leaders.  Adaptability is the key.

That said lets go visit another fascinating and informative Museum.  Which would be

Proclaimed an Arizona Treasure by former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, The Titan Missile Museum is a unique facility that is comprised of two parts:  The Titan Missile National Historic Landmark which is the original launch complex and

The Titan Missile Museum Education and Research Center which is situated directly adjacent to the launch complex and houses an exhibit gallery, museum store, classroom, and an archival storage area.

The Titan Missile National Historic Landmark is former Titan II launch complex 571-7.

This former operational missile site was originally part of the 571^st Strategic Missile Squadron (SMS), 390^th Strategic Missile Wing (SMW), Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona. 

It is the sole remaining Titan II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) complex of the 54 that were on alert during the Cold War between 1963 and 1987.  There were 18 sites around Wichita, Kansas, 18 sites near Little Rock AFB, Arkansas and 18 other sites in the Tucson area.

The Titan II was the largest operational land based nuclear missile ever used by the United States.  This is a model of it on display in the Museum.

The primary mission of the Titan II missile

More about the Titan II missile

About that huge 9-megaton warhead

This is a deactivated W-53

The W-53 was contained inside what was known as a Reentry Vehicle.

which looked like this

Titan II had a big advantage

More about the fuel for the Titan II missile

These are the engines that powered the Titan II

This is an actual Titan II missile inside the original silo.  It has neither warhead nor fuel, allowing it to be safely displayed to visitors.  The dummy reentry vehicle mounted on the missile has a prominent hole cut in it to prove it is inert.

In accordance with a US/USSR agreement, the silo doors are permanently blocked from opening more than half way.

We have more to share with your but I’m going to call it a night at this point.  In a following blog we’ll go underground and take a tour of the facilities that have been preserved at this site.

Time to wrap up our day on The Road of Retirement.  We start our new project tomorrow so I’m going to get some sleep.  I know from the past three weeks I’m going to need all I can get in the days to come.

Thanks for checking in with us.  We always appreciate your company and comments.  Catch you tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before

See you on down the road!