A self-contained, automatic inertial guidance system was accurate to within one-and-one-half miles. The 82-foot-tall missile had a speed reaching nearly 16,000 miles per hour. The Atlas E was the first intercontinental ballistic missile developed and then deployed in the United States. The Titan was developed in case the Atlas encountered developmental problems and it also created competition between the programs. Both the Atlas and the Titan I missiles had been rushed into development in 1959. The Titan I, named for its power (in Greek mythology Titan was the father of Zeus), was placed at three bases in the vicinity of Larson Air Force Base at Moses Lake. The Atlas E, named for the Atlas of Greek mythology, was placed at nine sites around Fairchild Air Force Base, located near Spokane. Two types of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles were installed in Washington state. Available for the missile sites were large open areas in the vicinity of existing air force bases. This basing was close to the Soviet Union while also being inland of the more vulnerable coast. The intercontinental ballistic missiles were located in the central and eastern areas of the state. Military basing included radars, fighter-interceptors, long-range bombers, submarines, Nike missiles, and intercontinental ballistic missiles. All but one of the missile complexes were sold to private individuals and today they remain in private ownership.ĭuring the Cold War, Washington state became an important military defensive and deterrence location. By 1965 these missiles were outmoded and the bases closed. The Atlas E and Titan I missiles were installed, and during 1961-1962, the ICBM bases became operational. The intercontinental ballistic missiles served as a warning to the Soviet Union that any attack on the United States would bring about its destruction. Eighteen intercontinental ballistic missiles installed near Moses Lake and Spokane were a significant deterrence element. If another missile silo listing comes along, we’ll keep an eye out for a booming response.During the Cold War Washington state served an important role in defending the United States and in deterring attacks. While this York missile complex is under contract, Figueroa has already received a call from the owner of another Nebraska silo in the Lincoln area. A spruced-up space could work as an Airbnb rental, ultimate man cave, or a prepper paradise that’s ultrasecure. While it’s unclear what the next owner will do with the space, options abound. Now they live out of state and want to pass the project on to someone else who wants to burrow into a serious project. The original owners purchased the property in 1998, inspired by fears of the impending Y2K crisis and the predicted malfunction of some computer systems prior to or at the beginning of the year 2000. The now-empty silo is 174 feet deep and 52 feet across, with reinforced concrete walls and two massive launch doors that weigh over 50 tons. There’s heat as well as a kitchen and dining area. The first level is “completely livable” with electricity, hot and cold running water, and a bath tub. The undergound dwelling features 1,256 square feet of space on each floor, although the lower level remains unfinished. The facility consists of a two-story underground residence, where crews lived 24/7, as well as the original command and control center, complete with the launch button. Watch: $275K Ohio House Comes With Jail Cells You see how much money they spent at the time, $17 million to $18 million on one site,” he says. “We were just amazed at the history of it, the effort it took to construct these. Underground living quartersįor those who like to be prepared for an above-ground catastrophe, a heavily fortified underground bunker might be just the ticket.įigueroa sees the 2,500-square-foot space as a true bargain. The sites, whose purpose was to serve as a deterrent during the Cold War, were then decommissioned and ultimately sold to private owners. The missile sites were constructed in the early 1960s and operational from 1962 through 1965. This missile site in the middle of Nebraska was just one of 12 around the state built in the 1960s. The missile was stored vertically in a “super-hardened silo” designed to withstand a nuclear attack. The underground complex once housed an Atlas-F missile.
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