566th Strategic Missile Squadron The 566th Strategic Missile Squadron ( 566 SMS ) is an inactive United States Air Force unit . It was last assigned to the 389th Strategic Missile Wing , stationed at F . E . Warren AFB , Wyoming . On 15 August 1959 , the 565th Strategic Missile Squadron ( ICBM - Atlas ) went on alert as a Strategic Air Command ( SAC ) Intercontinental ballistic missile ( ICBM ) squadron , being equipped with the SM - 65E Atlas , with a mission of nuclear deterrence . The squadron was inactivated as part of the phaseout of the Atlas ICBM on 25 March 1965 . 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 , almost was sent 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 1944 ; 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 Rapid City Army Air Base , South Dakota . 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 . Reactivated in 1959 as a Strategic Air Command SM - 65D Atlas ICBM launch squadron , stationed at Offut AFB , Nebraska and assigned to the 4321st Strategic Wing . Construction delays in 1960 and 1961 led to delays in the construction of the squadron ' s ICBM silos and becoming operationally ready . On July 1 , 1961 , SAC redesignated the 566th SMS as the 549th Strategic Missile Squadron . The 566th SMS was immediately reactivated and assigned to the 389th Strategic Missile Wing at FE Warren AFB , Wyoming with SM - 65E Atlas missiles , re - designating the 549th SMS . The squadron was assigned nine missiles , based in a 1 x 9 configuration : nine independent launch sites comprised a missile squadron . The major enhancement in the Atlas E was the new all - inertial system that obviated the need for ground control facilities . Since the missiles were no longer tied to a central guidance control facility , the launchers could be dispersed widely . The missiles were housed in a " coffin launcher " style complexes . The missile was kept in a horizontal position . 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 . The Atlas E was equipped with a Mark IV re - entry vehicle developed by General Electric and carried a type W - 38 warhead which had a yield of approximately 4 megatons of TNT . It had a range of approximately 6 , 000 miles . ( see below for site details ) . Missiles were retired and removed in late 1964 in favor of the more advanced LGM - 25C Titan II ; the last missile was taken offline on January 4 , 1965 , and the squadron was inactivated on 25 March . Missile sites were later sold off to private ownership after demilitarization .