Landmark missile display at AFA falls victim to rust
By Tom Roeder, The Gazette
Published August 19, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Photo by Carol Lawrence © The Gazette
The Minuteman III missile at the Air Force Academy will be taken down this week.
An icon of the Cold War will disappear from the Air Force Academy this week when an intercontinental ballistic missile on display for nearly four decades is torn down.
A Minuteman III missile that has stood proudly near Clune Arena on the campus has rusted its way through too many Colorado winters and is in danger of collapsing.
The aluminum and steel structure is just the shell of the weapon and lacks solid-fuel rocket motors - and city-leveling warheads.
"We're going to miss it," academy spokesman Johnny Whitaker said. "The old cold warrior has been a landmark here for 37 years."
The Minuteman III remains the centerpiece of the nation's fleet of nuclear-tipped missiles. Stored in underground silos in Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota, the missiles can carry up to three nuclear warheads, each of which can destroy a city the size of Denver.
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August 19, 2008
1:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
JDJW writes:
It's touching to hear about military men getting misty-eyed over nukes. Remember, mutually assured destruction is just one button away!
August 19, 2008
11:27 a.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
I guess those Wingwipers have no comprehension about rust and corrosion control. They should have had the premier branch of aviation, Naval Aviation, take care of their missile :-)
Scott
If it ain't got a tailhook, it ain't a true combat aircraft!
August 19, 2008
11:29 a.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
BTW JDJW and freethought, you right to say stupid things, e.g. your 1:24 AM and 8:34 AM posts, was brought to you by the men and women who were "...getting misty-eyed over nukes..."
Scott