579th Strategic Missile Squadron The 579th Strategic Missile Squadron ( 579 SMS ) is an inactive United States Air Force unit . It was last assigned to the 6th Strategic Aerospace Wing , stationed at Walker AFB , New Mexico On 1 September 1961 , the 579th Strategic Missile Squadron ( ICBM - Atlas ) went on alert as a Strategic Air Command ( SAC ) Intercontinental ballistic missile ( ICBM ) squadron , being equipped with the SM - 65F 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 . Established as a B - 24 Liberator heavy bomber squadron ; trained under Second Air Force . Deployed to European Theater of Operations ( ETO ) , assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England , Flew combat missions over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe until the German capitulation in May 1945 . Most personnel demobilized in England immediately after the end of the war in Europe , Squadron returned to the United States with a small headquarters staff and was planned to be re - equipped and remanned as a B - 29 Superfortress squadron . Japanese capitulation canceled plans and was inactivated as a paper unit in the United States during September 1945 . Effective 15 September 1947 , the squadron was activated at Selman Field , Louisiana . Having been allotted to the organized reserves , with assignment to Twelfth Air Force , Tactical Air Command . It was equipped with A - 26 Invader light bombers . It was reassigned to Continental Air Command on 1 December 1948 . It remained on reserve service until being inactivated on 10 November 1949 due to budget restrictions . Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Squadron . Reactivated in 1961 as a Strategic Air Command SM - 65F Atlas ICBM launch squadron , stationed at Walker AFB , New Mexico and assigned to the 6th Bombardment ( later Strategic Aerospace ) Wing on 1 July 1961 . The squadron was assigned twelve missiles , based in a 1 x 12 configuration : twelve independent widely dispersed launch sites comprised the missile squadron . In August 1962 , the first Atlas F was placed on alert status . In October , all 12 missiles were put on alert status as a result of the Cuban missile crisis . The Atlas F was the final and most advanced version of the Atlas ICBM and was stored in a vertical position inside underground concrete and steel silos . When stored , the Atlas F sat atop an elevator . If a missile was placed on alert , it was fueled with RP - 1 ( kerosene ) liquid fuel , which could be stored inside the missile for extended periods . If a decision was made to launch the missile , the missile was raised to the surface and the liquid oxygen tank was filled . The launch would occur shortly after completion of this process . The exposure on the surface that this procedure entailed was the great weakness of the Atlas F . It was exposed and vulnerable during this time . The Titan II and Minuteman missiles could be launched from within their silos , thereby eliminating this vulnerability . Also , since the Titan did not use a cryogenic fuel or oxydizer , and the Minuteman was a solid fuel rocket , they could be stored fully fueled and ready to launch within a very few minutes . The squadron ' s sites developed a notorious reputation due to three missile explosions . On June 1 , 1963 , launch complex 579 - 1 was destroyed during a propellant loading exercise . On February 13 , 1964 , an explosion occurred during another propellant loading exercise , destroying launch complex 579 - 5 . Again , a month later , on March 9 , 1964 , silo 579 - 2 fell victim to another explosion that occurred during a propellant loading exercise . Fortunately , these missiles were not mated with their warheads at the time of the incidents . The only injury reported was that of a crewman running into barbed wire as he fled a site . ( see below for site details ) . Missiles were retired and removed in early 1965 in favor of the more advanced LGM - 25C Titan II ; squadron was inactivated on 25 March . Missile sites were later sold off to private ownership after demilitarization . Today the remains of the sites are still visible in aerial imagery , in various states of use or abandonment . Aircraft and missiles . . * Missile explosion destroyed site ( see history text for details )