About this Unit
The 308th Strategic Missile Wing (SMW) was activated on April 1, 1962, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, as part of the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command. The wing was responsible for operating and maintaining 18 LGM-25C Titan II intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) sites, forming a critical element of America’s nuclear deterrent during the Cold War. The 308th SMW remained on constant alert throughout its service, playing a key role in national defense until the deactivation of the Titan II system. The wing was inactivated on August 18, 1987, following the retirement of the Titan II missiles in compliance with arms reduction agreements.
Historical Facts
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Cold War Origins: The 308th Strategic Missile Wing (SMW) was activated on 1 April 1962 at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, as part of the U.S. Air Force's expansion of its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force during the height of the Cold War.
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Titan II Missiles: The 308th SMW was equipped exclusively with LGM-25C Titan II missiles, which were the largest land-based nuclear missiles ever deployed by the United States.
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Strategic Deterrence: Its 18 missile silos were on constant alert and targeted at strategic locations in the Soviet Union to provide a nuclear deterrent.
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Unique Missile Features: The Titan II was the first U.S. ICBM to be stored in a silo in a ready-to-launch state, fueled with hypergolic propellants for rapid response.
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Disaster Strikes – Damascus Incident: On September 18-19, 1980, a fuel leak at Launch Complex 374-7 near Damascus, Arkansas, led to an explosion that destroyed a Titan II silo and resulted in one fatality and several injuries. This incident is one of the most famous nuclear near-misses in U.S. history.
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Vietnam War Support: While not deployed abroad, the 308th SMW provided strategic nuclear deterrence throughout the Vietnam War era, indirectly supporting U.S. foreign policy objectives.
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Deactivation: Following arms reduction treaties and the aging of the Titan II system, the 308th SMW was inactivated on 18 August 1987. Its missiles were the last Titan IIs to be decommissioned.
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Film & Pop Culture: The 308th's missile sites have been featured in documentaries and inspired scenes in nuclear war films, especially those dealing with missile silo settings and Cold War tensions.
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Legacy of the 308th: One of the preserved Titan II missile sites, now the Titan Missile Museum in Arizona, is of the same type the 308th operated, providing a glimpse into Cold War missile operations.
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Unit Awards: The 308th SMW received multiple Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards for its performance and reliability in maintaining nuclear deterrence during its years of operation.
