About this Unit
The 390th Strategic Missile Wing (SMW) was activated in 1962 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, as part of the United States Air Force’s efforts during the Cold War. Assigned to the Strategic Air Command, the 390th SMW operated LGM-25C Titan II intercontinental ballistic missiles, serving as a critical component of America’s nuclear deterrent force. The wing maintained 18 missile silos and played a vital role in national defense throughout its operational years. The 390th SMW was inactivated in 1984 following the decommissioning of the Titan II missile system.
Historical Facts
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Establishment: The 390th Strategic Missile Wing (SMW) was activated on January 1, 1962, at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, as part of the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command.
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Titan II Missiles: The 390th SMW was one of only three wings to operate the powerful LGM-25C Titan II intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which was the largest and most powerful ICBM ever deployed by the U.S. Air Force.
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First Titan II Launch: The wing achieved a significant milestone when it placed the first Titan II missile on alert status on March 31, 1963, just over a year after its activation.
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Underground Complexes: The 390th SMW operated 18 underground missile complexes, each consisting of a hardened launch control center and a missile silo, designed to withstand a nuclear attack.
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Cuban Missile Crisis: During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, the 390th SMW was still being constructed, but the urgency of the crisis accelerated the deployment of Titan II missiles.
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Accident at Site 571-7: On November 14, 1978, an oxidizer leak at Launch Complex 571-7 resulted in a deadly accident that killed two airmen and led to a reevaluation of safety procedures throughout the Titan II program.
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Deactivation: With the signing of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) and arms modernization, the 390th SMW began deactivation in 1982 and was officially inactivated on July 31, 1984.
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Titan Missile Museum: One of the 390th’s silos, Launch Complex 571-7, was preserved and is now the Titan Missile Museum, the only publicly accessible Titan II missile site in the world.
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Strategic Importance: The Titan II missiles maintained by the 390th SMW were kept on constant alert for over two decades, providing a critical component of America’s nuclear deterrent during the Cold War.
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Legacy: The 390th SMW received multiple Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards and continues to be remembered for its role in maintaining peace through deterrence during some of the most tense periods of the 20th century.
