448th Missile Squadron The 448th Missile Squadron ( 448 MS ) is an inactive United States Air Force unit . It was last assigned to the 321st Missile Group , stationed at Grand Forks AFB , North Dakota The 448 MS was equipped with the LGM - 30G Minuteman III Intercontinental ballistic missile ( ICBM ) , with a mission of nuclear deterrence . With the end of the Cold War , the 448th was inactivated on 30 September 1998 . History . World War II . Activated in mid - 1942 as a B - 25 Mitchell medium bomber squadron , trained by Third Air Force in the southeastern United States . Deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations ( MTO ) , being assigned to Twelfth Air Force in Algeria in early 1943 . In North Africa , the squadron engaged primarily in support and interdictory operations , bombing marshalling yards , rail lines , highways , bridges , viaducts , troop concentrations , gun emplacements , shipping , harbors , and other objectives in North Africa . The squadron also engaged in psychological warfare missions , dropping propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines . Took part in the Allied operations against Axis forces in North Africa during March – May 1943 , the reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusain islands during June , the invasion of Sicily in July , the landing at Salerno in September , the Allied advance toward Rome during January – June 1944 , the invasion of Southern France in August 1944 , and the Allied operations in northern Italy from September 1944 to April 1945 . Inactivated in Italy after the German Capitulation in September 1945 . Reactivated as part of the Air Force Reserve in 1947 and equipped with A - 26 / B - 26 Invader medium bombers , then inactivated in 1949 due to budget cuts . Strategic Air Command . Was reactivated in 1953 as a Strategic Air Command B - 47 Stratojet squadron . Trained in air refueling and strategic bombardment operations with the B - 47 . in 1961 , the squadron began transferring its B - 47s to other SAC wings and became non - operational as part of the phaseout of the B - 47 . Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Squadron . On 1 November 1963 the 446th Strategic Missile Squadron was organized as a SAC LGM - 30F Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile wing . Activated on 1 Sep 1965 , being made operational on 7 December 1966 , with a complement of 50 missiles . Participated in “ Project Long Life II , ” a unique reliability test in which modified Minuteman missiles were fueled to travel a few hundred yards . The first launch from a silo occurred on 19 October 1966 and was declared unsuccessful . Nine days later , a second attempt also failed . A third attempt under “ Project Giant Boost ” occurred in August 1968 and again proved unsuccessful . From December 1971 to March 1973 , converted to LGM - 30G Minuteman III missiles . These missiles represented a significant technological advancement , having multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles ( MIRVs ) . Coordinating the missile changeover required complex planning and execution . With the restructuring of the Air Force and the disestablishment of Strategic Air Command ( SAC ) in the early 1990s was reassigned to Air Combat Command ( ACC ) in 1992 and then under Air Force Space Command ( AFSPC ) in 1993 . In March 1995 , the Base Realignment and Closure ( BRAC ) Commission selected the 321st Strategic Missile Wing for inactivation . Squadron was ordered to securely transfer its alert responsibilities to the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base , Montana . Maintained nuclear alert until inactivated in 1998 , nearly 40 years after it went on alert . 448th Missile Squadron Launch Facilities