Nuclear Missile Base Pics

[aReformedPatriot]

This summer I drove through Montana on my way to the Canadian North. Along the way we kept seeing identical fenced in areas every few miles and decided to have us a look. Turns out they were Nuclear Missile Silo's that house the Minuteman III. On the return trip our curiosity got the best of us when we found some strange buildings every 20 miles or so near Great Falls. As we drive up the access road we discover this is the Missile Alert Facility where they also subsequently launch and oversee 10 missiles. When some guards came out armed to the teeth we decided it was time to just back up and drive away.

 

[daveleau]

We have those same signs on our flight line for similar reasons. Pretty interesting. Thanks for posting the pics.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

It was pretty neat. One of those signs was just sitting on the fence unattached. One of my friends wanted to take it but I reccomended against it. About 30 seconds down the road we pass an unmarked Crown Vic with Govt plates whose driver with a shaved head slowed down and eyeballed me but did not turn around.

Do you know if its illegal to drive up the access road? I know it would be to jump the fence but I am not sure about just walking around the silo?

 

[daveleau]

It's not illegal, but these areas are under very tight surveillance and they are pretty good about kindly asking people to leave. If your friend had picked up the sign, I think they'd have turned around.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

It's not illegal, but these areas are under very tight surveillance and they are pretty good about kindly asking people to leave. If your friend had picked up the sign, I think they'd have turned around.

hehe, me too.

I see you work on B-52's have you ever seen one up close and personal?

 

[daveleau]

Have I seen a B-52 or a silo? A B-52...quite often. I have about 750 hours of time in the B-52. A silo, I've never seen one. It's kind of one of those need-to-know issues.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

Have I seen a B-52 or a silo? A B-52...quite often. I have about 750 hours of time in the B-52. A silo, I've never seen one. It's kind of one of those need-to-know issues.

Perhaps I should have been more specific, I mean a nuclear weapon. I've read that B-52's have the ability to fire one or drop one, however it works. When I was in AFJROTC in high school, the commander was a B-52 pilot for years to which he had stories.

Besides the Nuclear Weapons, how do you like your career and did you find it hard to get into that specialty?

 

[Rik]

This summer I drove through Montana on my way to the Canadian North. Along the way we kept seeing identical fenced in areas every few miles and decided to have us a look. Turns out they were Nuclear Missile Silo's that house the Minuteman III. On the return trip our curiosity got the best of us when we found some strange buildings every 20 miles or so near Great Falls. As we drive up the access road we discover this is the Missile Alert Facility where they also subsequently launch and oversee 10 missiles. When some guards came out armed to the teeth we decided it was time to just back up and drive away.

Uh...do you really think it's wise to be posting this info on a public online forum?

 

[aReformedPatriot]

Uh...do you really think it's wise to be posting this info on a public online forum?

Sure, none of it violates a law. All missile field locations can be found online and we did not cross any fenceline. No worries here. Now, if I had a picture of me doing a dance on the silo lid, I might be hesitant to post that. It would be like one of those fools you see on Worlds Dumbest Criminals. "Hey look what I did" then the FBI comes to my house.

 

[BobMiller]

Sure, none of it violates a law. All missile field locations can be found online and we did not cross any fenceline. No worries here. Now, if I had a picture of me doing a dance on the silo lid, I might be hesitant to post that. It would be like one of those fools you see on Worlds Dumbest Criminals. "Hey look what I did" then the FBI comes to my house.

Lol!

 

[theHORSEman]

Have I seen a B-52 or a silo? A B-52...quite often. I have about 750 hours of time in the B-52. A silo, I've never seen one. It's kind of one of those need-to-know issues.

Have you flown any missions were you have bombed enemy targets? What was it like? Were you in Operation iraqi freedom or operation enduring freedom?

 

[Rik]

Sure, none of it violates a law. All missile field locations can be found online and we did not cross any fenceline. No worries here. Now, if I had a picture of me doing a dance on the silo lid, I might be hesitant to post that. It would be like one of those fools you see on Worlds Dumbest Criminals. "Hey look what I did" then the FBI comes to my house.

Make a joke of it if you want. I know those places are public knowledge, I just don't think it's a good idea to be broadcasting it all over the place, what with the state of affairs in the world. I'm not gonna argue, just levying a common sense opinion.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

Make a joke of it if you want. I know those places are public knowledge, I just don't think it's a good idea to be broadcasting it all over the place, what with the state of affairs in the world. I'm not gonna argue, just levying a common sense opinion.

You can't really damage something that is designed to withstand a nuclear strike. Flying a plane into one would more than likely be futile. Besides, within 10 minutes you'll see a patrol showing up, which was the case at each silo we stopped at. We just happened to be driving away when they approach.

Now, the news knows what they are doing, when they go to a remote part of russia filming a decrepit storage facility for spent nuclear fuel. The fence is falling down and a measly 67 year od guard stands at the gate. They did not disclose that location.

But i see what your saying.

 

[daveleau]

Besides the Nuclear Weapons, how do you like your career and did you find it hard to get into that specialty?

I love it. I went to the recruiters to work in computers. I never thought they'd let me fly with my eyes as bad as they are. After my scores came back, they told me I could be a navigator. I jumped at the chance. At first, I wanted to be a C-130 nav because of the travel. Once I heard about te B-52 mission and the family life it affords, I chose it. About 50% of nav school grads get their chosen aircraft.

 

[daveleau]

Have you flown any missions were you have bombed enemy targets? What was it like? Were you in Operation iraqi freedom or operation enduring freedom?

I have dropped a lot of live weapons, but never on the enemy. I've dropped M117 on a tiny island in the Pacific at 3000 feet, which was cool because we could actually feel the shockwave of the detonation rock the aircraft after release.

I have not participated in OEF or OIF, but that will change early next year. My deployments so far in my 2 years of operational flying have been training, airshow support, weapons tests and filling in gaps in the Pacific when troops deployed from their peace-keeping stations.

 

[daveleau]

Uh...do you really think it's wise to be posting this info on a public online forum?

You make a good point, but he really didn't show anything that is helpful nor did he give the location. I understand your concern, though.

 

[E_Powers]

Perhaps I should have been more specific, I mean a nuclear weapon. I've read that B-52's have the ability to fire one or drop one, however it works. When I was in AFJROTC in high school, the commander was a B-52 pilot for years to which he had stories.

Besides the Nuclear Weapons, how do you like your career and did you find it hard to get into that specialty?

Our B-52s probably can still carry nuclear weapons but mostly are used to dump lots of bombs and cruise missles on target.

if they did drop a nuke it probably would be in the form of a cruise missle not unlike the current conventional one that are shot from the Buffs. (B-52s)