31 Aug 2023 - F.E. Warren Air Force Base and Last Day at Cheyenne WY

 

Today we wrapped things up on our last day here at Cheyenne WY with a visit to F.E. Warren Air Force Base.  F. E. Warren stands for Francis Emroy Warren who was a Medal of Honor recipient in the American Civil War, a territorial governor and later first state governor of Wyoming, and first and a very long serving US Senator for Wyoming. We had read that F.E. Warren AFB has the distinction of being the oldest military facility in the Air Force, having begun as a frontier fort of the US Army, originally Fort D. A. Russell. In 1930 the Fort was renamed Fort Francis E. Warren, and again renamed as Warren Air Force Base in 1949.  This became very evident during our visit today.

The main gate looked a bit different than a lot of other Air Force Base main gates.  It was kind of 'majestic' with it's brickwork and pillars.  Very beautiful, but this was just the start.

Off to the left as we entered the base is the 'missile park' where three static display missiles are shown. The three missiles displayed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base (AFB) are the Minuteman I, Minuteman III, and Peacekeeper. The Minuteman I was first introduced in 1961. The Minuteman III is part of the current ICBM force, which consists of 400 missiles. The biggest one, the Peacekeeper missiles were brought on full alert in 1988 and have been phased-out.  These ground-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) serve as one leg of our nuclear triad, the military force structure that consists of three independent delivery methods for nuclear weapons. The other two triad legs are: 

Air - 60 nuclear-capable heavy bomber aircraft

Sea -  14 ballistic missile submarines armed with 240 submarine-launched ballistic missiles

Needless to say, F.E. Warren AFB plays a huge role in our Nation's defense.  With that, we headed for the ICBM museum on base and were amazed at the very old, very beautiful structures, including the building that the museum is in.  

It was interesting to learn that this building was the first brick hospital building on post and the oldest hospital building still standing.  The original wooden hospital was torn down in 1887, yes 1887 not 1987, to make way for this building.  The huge porch areas around the building provided a place for patients to walk and get some fresh air!!

We were disappointed to discover the building locked.  The museum was supposed to be open from 0900-1600 each day, and we were here before lunch, so no idea why it was closed.  Very disappointing!

Across from the museum building is Security Forces squadron, in another gorgeous, very old brick building.  

Everywhere we drove we saw row after row of beautiful old structures, exquisitely maintained.  FE Warren is really a crown jewel!

Next on our list was to do a drive-through of the FamCamp.  As I mentioned before, I had read some not-so-good reviews for this FamCamp and that combined with a hassle trying to get ahold of them to make a reservation I decided to just stay off-base.  Well, the FamCamp was OK.  Nothing to write home about. It was not that easy to find to start with and there were a couple railroad bridges that were 11-12 ft clearance, so that would have been a no-go for us.   Most of the sites were small, gravel.  They had a few pull-throughs for larger rigs, but just a few. We made the right decision I believe.  We took no pictures here.

On the way to the FamCamp we passed what is likely a facility maintenance building of some sort, again, another historic building.  It could have easily been a stable back in the day.  So, cool building, but very cool to see antelope grazing in the yard!!  They undoubtedly frequent the FamCamp which was not far away.

From there we headed to the Commissary to restock the pantry and fridge before we depart tomorrow.  It was not huge, but very well stocked and we got pretty much everything we were after.

On the way back to the campground we stopped to refuel the truck and then stopped at a car wash about a block away.  The big ol' brown truck was badly in need of a bath, and we delivered!  Glad to get the bugs and grime off of her.  Back at the campground we flushed/dumped tanks and stowed all the hoses.  Good news - I did not toast our water pump.  It has a thermal overload built in and so when it got warm, it shut itself off.  We switched over to onboard tanks like we do the day before we depart, and it is working fine.  I ordered a replacement just to be on the safe side, and it is sitting in Colorado Springs waiting for us.

So tomorrow we will pull chocks at a reasonable hour and head west on I-80 to I-25 then south through Denver to Colorado Springs and the Air Force Academy FamCamp, our next stop.  We stayed there in 2017 and enjoyed it.  We visited quite a few of the attractions in and around Colorado Springs then also, so we are building a list of places we want to go this time.  

We have already made connections with some friends and relatives to see there including a DeWitt Iowa classmate and neighbor of mine that I have not seen for 53 years, Vickie Prier Garwood.  Vickie lived just down the street and around the corner from me there and I attended school with her from Kindergarten through Freshman in high school when we moved away.  It will be so great to reconnect with her and meet her Navy Veteran husband Bruce.

Another friend and military comrade Ron Tomlinson lives there.  I actually hired Ron and he and I worked together with our team in communications for the Iowa Air National Guard for many years.  We facilitated the installation of the first digital Government owned and maintained telephone PBX, CCTV system and fiber optic-based local area computer network.  We are trying to plan a get-together with him.  

Finally we are excited that we are having lunch with two of Doreen's cousins while we are there.  Jeanie and Deni Powers from Ann Arbor MI will be here visiting Jeanie's sister Barbie Puzio and her husband Jake who live in Lafayette CO!

Next report from the Air Force Academy!!

30 Aug 2023 - Quebec 01 Missile Alert Facility, Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, Messenger's Old West Museum

 

This morning we drove into Cheyenne and then north on I-25 to the Quebec 01 Missile Alert Facility which is now a state historic site.  This facility was originally built in 1962 as a Minuteman I Launch Control Site for F.E. Warren Air Force Base, and then in 1986 it was converted to Peacekeeper missiles and remained active until 2005 when it was closed.  

Quebec 01 is the only accessible Peacekeeper Missile Alert Facility left in the world.  Their mission is to "preserve and interpret the Cold War history of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, fostering an understanding of the mission and duties of the personnel and crews assigned to work there."  

There are no missiles here nor were there ever.  50 foot underground is a launch control center, a place from where up to 10 missiles would be launched, and the launch control equipment room that housed a generator, air handling equipment and other life support systems.  The structure you can see from the driveway is where personnel would live and work in support of the launch control facility below them.  This would include security forces, a cook and a site facility manager.  They would be there for three to five days before rotating out with another crew.  The personnel that staffed the launch control facility underground include two missileers.  

While we waited for our tour time we explored the upstairs which included the break room, the kitchen and the bedrooms, below:

Break area

Nicely equipped kitchen

One of the bedrooms

Promptly at 1030 our tour guide locked the front doors and away we went.  We were the only ones there!!  We first entered the security area where anyone needing access to the underground facility would have to pass through.  Armed guards would check ID, security clearance, access list, etc and then board the elevator that descends 50 ft to the launch control facility.

Security area has visibility to the gate.  Note the weapon clearing barrel on the right.

Security desk with the state of the art (at that time LOL) floppy disk computer, communications equipment

We then boarded the elevator and away we went.  

The alternative to the elevator is this ladder, which we did not have to use

When the facility closed they allowed the crews so sign the wall of the elevator shaft

At the bottom of the elevator ride you exit the elevator and then either turn left to the equipment room, or right to the launch control center, but first you would have to pass through very thick, heavy concrete and steel door that weighs tons!

Next we entered the equipment room.  The HVAC equipment provides fresh air to the underground facilities and was set up with filters for nuclear, biological and chemical contaminants.  A generator provided power.  There were stores of food and water for an extended stay.

  

The underground facility floats on 'shock absorbers' in case of nuclear attack

The equipment room

Then we headed into the launch control center, but to get in there, again, there was a many ton steel and concrete door. 

"Only 30 minutes out".... from Russia!

The last missileers that left when it closed signed the door

"No Lone Zone" on the door - there had to be two persons 

in the launch control center at all times

 Inside the launch control center there are two working positions -  the Missile Combat Crew Commander (MCCC) and the Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander (DMCCC).  There are also latrine facilities and a bed area.  They were usually on duty eight or twelve hours underground followed by rest on the topside in the Launch Control Facility (LCF) and there were at the facility for 36 or 40-hour shifts. 

 

Huge shock absorbers suspend this complex

The Missile Combat Crew Commander is on the far end.  The Deputy sits in this chair that is on rails

The consoles where the keys are inserted are separated such that one person could not launch the missiles.  There are checks and balances (fail-safe) built into the launch process to make sure an inadvertent launch could not happen.  The sites are connected to the silos and other sites by hardened underground cables which allow communications.  They also have satcom and UHF/VHF communications.

Two person integrity - both missileers have combos that must be opened to access authentication keys

The deputy's position

The commander's position

We exited the underground facility and that concluded the tour.  Outside we noticed the air intakes, communications antennas , etc

We have been to two different missile sites before, one south of Tucson AZ and one at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City SD.  As we lived the cold war period and then served in the Air Force then also, this is very interesting.  Most people have no comprehension of the number of missile sites and control centers around the country, let alone just here in Wyoming!  Unfortunately the Russians and Chinese do!  

We headed back south the Cheyenne and stopped at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum.  It is located on the grounds where the annual Frontier Days is held. 

 

After paying a small fee we entered the museum.  The entire building is a tribute to the Frontier Days, which is an outdoor rodeo and old west celebration that has been held annually (except 2020 during COVID) since 1897.  The event draws over 200,000 attendees annually.  

The museum contains the carriage hall with a large collection of carriages and pictures of every 'Miss Frontier'.  

The 'Cheyenne or Bust' car was originally created as a joke, but became a huge hit.  It is a tribute to the history of the Frontier Days and those who drove many miles to be here

A 1909 Maxwell-Briscoe , produced from 1904-1925

A rodeo clown barrel

This is from the 1990's and is a bucking machine used with the Chris LeDoux and his band

This wagon is really unique.  It is called a 'sheep wagon' and may be one of the first horse-drawn campers!!  Sheep herders would pull this with horses as he moves his band of sheep to new grazing areas.  It is complete with a stove for cooking and heat!

We wrapped things up here and headed to one more stop before we needed to get back to let Liberty out.  Next stop was the Messenger Old West Museum.  We did not know what to expect here for sure, but we were not disappointed.  It is located in a metal, non-descript building.  From the outside the only thing that gives it away is a small sign.  

Inside we were greeted by a gentleman that pointed us through the doorway and said, "Enjoy!"  We asked about the name, and he advised that the museum is a private collection of Charlie and Katie Messenger. It contains Charlie’s extensive personal collection of wagons, stagecoaches, guns, quilts and frontier kitchens, and it seems like it goes on forever!  Some pictures:

A late 1800's Coronation Coach used in the movie 'Marie Antoinette' in 1938

Frontier kitchen

4-Horse Yellowstone Observation Wagon built by Abbot-Downing Company

Beautifully restored Overland Stage Line

An old Standard Oil wagon

Saddles, bridles and bits

An old corded switchboard

Blacksmith's shop tools and equipment

That is it for today.  This evening we watched the sunset followed by the Blue Moon 

Tomorrow we will visit F.E. Warren Air Force Base and several stops there.