page_title: 564th Missile Squadron
section_title: Atlas-D ICBM era
hierarchical_section_title: 564th Missile Squadron / History / Intercontinental ballistic missiles / Atlas-D ICBM era
caption_attribution_description: English: Aerial image of 564th Missile Squadron SM-65D Atlas Missile launchers in Wyoming, United States Français&#160;: Image aérienne des sites de lancements des missiles Atlas SM-65D du 564th Missile Squadron, Wyoming, États-Unis
context_page_description: The 564th Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 341st Operations Group at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, where it was inactivated on 19 August 2008.
  The squadron was first activated during World War II as the 564th Bombardment Squadron. After training in the United States, it deployed to England, and participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Shortly after its arrival in Europe, the squadron sent a detachment to Libya. From this location, the detachment participated in Operation Tidal Wave, the low level attack on oil refineries near Ploesti, for which the squadron was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated in September 1945. The squadron was active from 1947 to 1949 in the reserve, but does not appear to have been fully equipped or manned.
  The squadron was reactivated in July 1958 as the 564th Strategic Missile Squadron. On 1 December 1958, it was the first Air Force intercontinental ballistic missile squadron to go on nuclear alert status. It was inactivated in 1964 with the phase out of the SM-65D Atlas missile.
context_section_description: In October 1957, Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson established a goal of deployment of four SM-65 Atlas squadrons by 1962.  The following month, Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming was announced as Strategic Air Command (SAC)'s first intercontinental ballistic missile base. Construction of the first Atlas launch facility at Warren began in June 1958.  The squadron was redesignated the 564th Strategic Missile Squadron and activated at Warren on 1 July 1958 and assigned to the 706th Strategic Missile Wing, although it was not operational until late January 1959.
  Squadron missile sites were located at:
  564-A, 10.6 mi NW of Federal WY     41°22′44″N 104°58′25″W
  564-B, 10.6 mi NW of Federal WY     41°22′43″N 104°58′07″W
  The squadron was assigned six Atlas D missiles.  The missiles were located on six launch pads, controlled by two launch operations buildings and clustered around a central guidance control facility.  The squadron would be the only Atlas unit deployed in this configuration  However, the Atlas missile itself was still under development and the first successful launch of an Atlas D missile from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida did not occur until 9 September 1959.  The squadron received its first missile later that month, the first delivered to a field unit.  In April 1960, the coffin type launcher used by the squadron was successfully tested at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California and declared operationally ready.  The first Atlas D complex was turned over to the 564th and declared operational on 9 August 1960.  On 1 July 1961, the 389th Strategic Missile Wing replaced the 706th and took over its resources.
  In response to the Cuban Missile Crisis, on 20 October SAC directed that all Atlas D missiles off alert for modifications be "as covertly as possible" and returned to alert status. Atlas missiles being used for operational readiness training were to be put on alert as soon as liquid oxygen was available.  For safety reasons, liquid nitrogen was used rather than liquid oxygen during training. Despite the need for stealth, eventually a priority was established that resulted in the entire production of liquid oxygen in the US being diverted to SAC to bring the missiles to readiness. From 3 November the number of alert missiles was reduced until on 29 November the number was the same as before the crisis. Normal training had resumed on 15 November.
  In May 1963, the Air Force determined that all Atlas D missiles would be phased out of its inventory between 1965 and 1968.  A year later, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara directed this program be accelerated and the first Atlas D missile left Warren on 26 May 1964.  with the retirement of the Atlas D, the squadron was inactivated on 1 September 1964.
caption: SM-65D Atlas missile sites northwest of Warren AFB, Wyoming
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