44th Missile Wing LGM - 30 Minuteman Missile Launch Sites This is a list of the LGM - 30 Minuteman missile Missile Alert Facilities and Launch Facilities of the 44th Missile Wing , 20th Air Force , assigned to Ellsworth AFB , South Dakota . The 44th SMW executed the unique ' Long Life ' test of a Minuteman ICBM . The 68th Strategic Missile Squadron performed the only launch of a United States ICBM from an operational inland US missile site from LF November - 02 ( N - 02 ) on 1 March 1965 . The first stage was loaded with only enough propellant for seven seconds of burn time and the upper stages were inert . It successfully demonstrated the ability of a Strategic Air Command missile crew to launch an ICBM . Overview . The 44th Missile Wing was the second United States Air Force LGM - 30 Minuteman ICBM wing . Deployment of the Minuteman ICBM began in 1961 with the initiation of construction of 150 silos and associated launch control facilities . Activation of the 44th Strategic Missile Wing on 1 January 1962 , marked the initiation of SAC ' s first LGM - 30B Minuteman I wing ( the 341st SMW was equipped with the Minuteman 1A ) . The assignment of the 66th Strategic Missile Squadron on 1 September marked the beginning of SAC ' s first Minuteman IB squadron . During 1962 the 67th and 68th SMS stood up . In April 1963 , the first missile was emplaced into a prepared silo . Two months later , SAC accepted the first flight of 10 Minuteman IB ICBMs and in July , some of these missiles were placed on alert status . The last of 150 missiles was placed on alert by the end of 1963 . Between October 1971 and March 1973 the Minuteman IBs were replaced by LGM - 30F Minuteman II missiles . The end of the Cold War and President Bush ' s order of 28 September 1991 to remove Minuteman II missiles from alert status profoundly affected the 44th MW . To comply with the pending START I treaty , the Air Force immediately began removing missiles from their silos . The 67th MS inactivated in August 1992 , with the 66th in 1993 and 68th lastly on 5 July 1994 . Destruction of silos and alert facilities finished in 1996 when Kilo - 06 , was imploded on 13 September 1996 . Delta - 01 and Delta - 09 were left intact and are now the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site under the control of the National Park Service . Facilities . The Missile Alert Facility ( MAF ) consists of a buried and hardened Launch Control Facility ( LCC ) and an above - ground Launch Control Support Building ( LCSB ) . MAFs were formerly known as Launch Control Facilities ( LCFs ) but terminology was changed in 1992 with the inactivation of Strategic Air Command ( SAC ) . In addition , a MAF has a landing pad for helicopters ; a large radio tower ; a large " top hat " HF antenna ; a vehicle garage for security vehicles ; recreational facilities , and one or two sewage lagoons . The entire site , except for the helicopter pad and sewage lagoons are secured with a fence and security personnel . About a dozen airmen and officers are assigned to a MAF . The underground LCC Launch Control Center ( LCC ) contains the command and control equipment for missile operations . It is staffed by the two launch officers who have primary control and responsibility for the 10 underground and hardened Launch Facilities ( LF ) s within its flight which contains the operational missile . Each of the five LCCs also has the ability to command and monitor all 50 LFs within the squadron . The LF is unmanned , except when maintenance and security personnel are needed . A squadron is composed of five flights ; flights are denoted by a letter of the alphabet with the facilities controlled by the flight being designated by a number , 01 through 11 , with 01 being the MAF . Units and locations . 66th Missile Squadron . Activated by Strategic Air Command on 19 March 1962 . Organized on 1 September 1962 . Inactivated on 1 September 1993 . . * * Now part of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site . 67th Missile Squadron . Activated by Strategic Air Command on 19 March 1962 . Organized on 1 September 1962 . Inactivated on 15 August 1992 . 68th Missile Squadron . Activated by Strategic Air Command on 19 March 1962 . Organized on 1 September 1962 . Inactivated on 5 July 1994 . . * * Only operational silo ever to launch an ICBM , 1 March 1965 . Was refurbished after the launch and returned to service . Imploded in 1996 and now being used for storage of hay bales .