564th Missile Squadron The 564th Missile Squadron ( 564 MS ) is an inactive United States Air Force unit . It was last assigned to the 341st Operations Group , stationed at Malmstrom AFB , Montana . On 1 December 1958 , the 564th Strategic Missile Squadron ( ICBM - Atlas ) was the first Strategic Air Command ( SAC ) Intercontinental ballistic missile ( ICBM ) squadron to go on operational alert status , being equipped with the first - generation SM - 65D Atlas , with a mission of nuclear deterrence . On 1 April 1966 , the 564th was re - equipped with the LGM - 30F Minuteman II ICBM , and in 1975 was upgraded to the LGM - 30G Minuteman III . The squadron was inactivated due to budget reductions on 19 August 2008 . History . World War II . Activated as a B - 24 Liberator heavy bombardment squadron in December 1942 ; assigned to II Bomber Command for training . Primarily trained in Texas and Colorado . Received deployment orders for the European Theater of Operations ( ETO ) in April 1943 . Deployed to England in May 1943 , being assigned to the VIII Bomber Command and stationed at RAF Hethel . Upon its arrival at Hethel , was sent almost immediately to Libya , where it began operations on July 9 , 1943 . The detachment flew missions to Crete , Sicily , Italy , Austria , and Romania . Received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the detachment ' s participation in the famed low - level attack against oil refineries at Ploesti on August 1 , 1943 . Returned to England in August and the squadron flew several missions against airfields in France and the Netherlands . The squadron deployed again temporarily to Tunisia during September and October 1943 with the group supporting Allied operations at Salerno and hit targets in Corsica , Italy , and Austria . Resumed operations from RAF Hethel in October 1943 the squadron engaged in very long range strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany . Targets included industrial facilities ; oil production facilities and refineries , rail and other transportation centers , enemy military airfields and garrisons . The squadron participated in the intensive air campaign against the German aircraft industry during Big Week , February 20 – 25 , 1944 . Continued attacks on enemy targets until the German Capitulation in May 1945 ; returning to the United States later that month and reforming at Charleston Army Airfield , South Carolina . Unit personnel were demobilized throughout the summer of 1945 . Inactivated on 13 September 1945 . Effective 15 September 1947 , the squadron was activated at Fairfax Field , Kansas . Having been allotted to the organized reserves , with assignment to Second Air Force , Air Defense Command , it was redesigned as a very heavy bombardment unit on 25 August . In July 1948 , the squadron was assigned to the Tenth Air Force , which in December , became a part of the Continental Air Command . The squadron was inactivated on 27 June 1949 due to budget restrictions . Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Squadron . Atlas - D ICBM era . Reactivated on 1 July 1958 as a Strategic Air Command SM - 65D Atlas ICBM launch squadron , stationed at FE Warren AFB , Wyoming and assigned to the 706th Strategic Missile Wing . The 706th SMW was the first United States Air Force ICBM wing to be activated , and the 564th Strategic Missile Squadron became the first missile unit constructed solely for operational purposes . The 564th was programmed for the above - ground Atlas D ICBM launch and control facilities . Construction delays of the Atlas launch sites led to delays in its operational activation . With General Power ( the Commander in Chief of SAC ) present , the first Atlas D complex was turned over to the 564th SMS and declared operational on August 9 , 1960 . The squadron was assigned six Atlas D missiles . Six launch pads were grouped together , controlled by two launch operations buildings , and clustered around a central guidance control facility . This was called the 3 x 2 configuration : two launch complexes of three missiles each constituted a squadron . The missiles were housed in a " coffin launcher " style complexes . The missile was kept in semi - hard facilities in which the missile was stored above ground horizontally above ground . In order to launch , a 400 - ton overhead door was rolled back after which the " bird " was raised to a vertical position . Once upright , the rocket was fueled with RP - 1 and Liquid Oxygen after which it would then be made ready for launch . ( see below for site details ) . Was reassigned to the 389th Strategic Missile Wing on 1 July 1961 , replacing the 706th in a name - only re - designation . The Atlas missiles were retired and removed in the summer of 1964 in favor of the more advanced LGM - 25C Titan II ; squadron was inactivated on 1 September . Missile sites were later sold off to private ownership after demilitarization , although in current aerial imagery both the " A " and " B " sites are very much still intact . Minuteman ICBM era . On December 14 , 1965 , the 564th MS was reactivated in its current role as an ICBM squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base , Mont . Equipped with the then - new Minuteman II missile , it earned its nickname as the " Deuce " squadron and was declared fully operational May 3 , 1967 . As a result of the 2005 Quadrennial Defense Review , the 341st Missile Wing deactivated the Minuteman III WS - 133B missile system and subsequent inactivation of the 564th Missile Squadron . " The Minuteman III has served the United States exceptionally during its deployment and will continue to do so , " said Col . Sandra Finan , former commander , 341st MW . Malmstrom AFB currently operates , maintains and secures two types of Minuteman III Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting ( REACT ) weapons systems ; the REACT - A and REACT - B configurations . The wing will deactivate its Minuteman III REACT - B command and control systems , operated by the 564th Missile Squadron . The Minuteman III missiles removed during deactivation will return to the weapon system ' s flight test and operation programs , extending the system ' s viable service life . " The men and women of the 564th Missile Squadron have a distinguished history serving our country and we are proud of the great work they have done to accomplish our strategic deterrence mission , " Colonel Finan said . The 341st Missile Wing will continue to operate , maintain and secure 150 Minuteman III ICBMs and 15 Launch Control Centers providing safe and secure strategic deterrence just like the other two missile wings at FE Warren AFB , Wyo . , and Minot AFB , N . D . The official inactivation ceremony was held on August 19 , 2008 . Emblem description . Azure , between flaunches Or bearing fleures - de - lis of the first a " sky sword " Yellow charged on the grip with a spring of laurel Blue ; all within a diminished bordure Celeste . Approved 15 September 1967 ( K 11275 ) , modified on 28 February 1995 ; replaced emblem approved on 9 July 1959 ( 10416 A . C . ) .