TITAN I STORIES

 

THIS AREA OF SILOWORLD IS FOR STORIES BY USAF MISSILEERS & OTHERS WHO WISH TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS WEB SITE

 

TITAN  I  STORY

 

ON TARGET


    The Titan 1 Missile site was at the far reaches of the Columbia Basin project
in central Washington. Located some 45 miles SW of Larson AFB in a depression
between two ridges,  Frenchman's Hill to the north and the Saddle Mountains to the
south. To the west is the Columbia River and to the East rolling farm land.
 
    After a long night working underground I remember going topside to catch
some fresh air. As I stepped out into the cool morning a movement caught my eye.
Something off on the far horizon. For a few moments I am unsure. Then there it
was, a B52 bearing down on the missile site at 1000 to 1500 feet.

     Standing there in the early pre-dawn light I was mesmerized by the
oncoming silhouette. As it closes in it is getting lower and lower, heading directly at the missile site.

    A quarter of a mile out and at just a squeak higher than the power lines,
closing faster now, following the terrain and still centered on my location.

    Now an 1/8 of a mile and still on course for the missile site, there is movement
under the aircraft...The Bomb Bay doors are opening!!!
 
    I am sure that for one split second I could see a smile come over the faces of
the pilot and copilot. The thunder and smell of the jet engines working at full power
to keep the war bird in the air.  As the aircraft passes exactly overhead the entire
bomb bay can be inspected in detail,  Zinc Chromate, Serial numbers, Safety wire and all.

    Now the black exhaust settles to earth as the aircraft makes a tight nose high
climbing left turn to the north. The right wing almost at a 45 degree angle to the
earth and all the engines screaming to answer the pilots' commands... 

    Almost 40 years have passed and still the recollection is there. I can still
almost taste the jet exhaust and feel the shaking of the earth around me. It may not
have been anything more than an exercise to the crew of the BUFF, but to that 19
year old Airman standing there it was a grand show and now an even better memory.


W F (Rob) Roberson
USAF 1962-1968

 

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