7/14/2008:
If you listened to Dakota Datebook on July 11, you heard of an open house for a Minuteman missile launch facility just outside of Michigan, North Dakota, in 1965. On this day, people were still excited over the concept of the Minuteman missiles. But they had a long wait ahead.
Over a year later, in 1966, the Minuteman II Missile, readied at the Boeing Assembly Plant in Utah, finally arrived at the Grand Forks Air Force Base.
The missile was to be test-fired in mid-October in the second Minuteman launch from an operational base. The first was conducted in South Dakota. The unarmed missile contained only enough propellant for about seven seconds of thrust and would carry it about one mile, stopping before it hit any populated place.
However, testing was delayed by a malfunction. Air Force spokesmen emphasized that "the firing would not have been postponed had it been a war-time launch with normal fuel and payload." The test was rescheduled.
But that test was also rescheduled, due to a communications problem in the launch system that "was not serious enough to delay launch of alert force missiles under war-time conditions," but delayed the test enough to jeopardize some safety precautions.
This was witnessed by a large group of dignitaries standing 8000 feet from the missile pad, as well as bus loads of children from schools in the area and others who made the trip to see the launch.
A third attempt in October failed again, and the missile was sent back to Utah for a "thorough check."
The Air Force had planned from the first not to complete the test launch with "anything less than perfect performance from all associated systems." They said that each test had brought pertinent information to them on the systems, and that they were still confident in the reliability of the missile.
An estimated 300 people came to see what would happen for the August 14, 1968 test; seven helicopters brought in Air Force brass and congressional delegates; about 15 protesters lined up on the highway; and the Michigan Fire Department was present, too.
The count-down was perfect … but the missile failed again. Senator Milton Young and Representatives Mark Andrews and Thomas Kleppe, also present, "were not too kind with their remarks after the missile flopped." And after the last malfunction, the Air Force reported that there would be no more tests from that site.
But at least the protesters were happy.
By Sarah Walker
Sources:
Nelson County Arena, Friday, September 23, 1966
Nelson County Arena, Friday, October 14, 1966
Nelson County Arena, Friday, October 21, 1966
Nelson County Arena, Friday, October 28, 1966
Nelson County Arena, Friday, November 25, 1966
Nelson County Arena, Friday, February 17, 1967
Nelson County Arena, Friday, August 9, 1968
Nelson County Arena, Friday, August 2, 1968
Nelson County Arena, Friday, August 16, 1968
Nelson County Arena, Friday, September 13, 1968