The 394th provided assistance to the 395th during the early years of the Titan II program
395th Strategic Missile Squadron
395th Strategic Missile Squadron
Vandenberg AFB,
Lompoc, California
The 395th SMS operated three training facilities for the Titan II , launch complexes 395-B, 395-C and 395-D. They were constructed in 1960-1962 and turned over to Strategic Air Command in 1964. Flight test, evaluations, technical order verification research and development were performed at Vandenberg AFB.
4315th Combat Crew Training Squadron
One of the more spectacular images of the Titan II at lift-off from Vandenberg AFB.
At the onset of World War II, Camp Cooke
encompassed the Naval Missile Facility at Lompoc and Cooke Air Force Base
1958 - Cooke Air Force Base was redesignated Vandenberg AFB. In honor of the Air Force's second Chief of Staff, General Hoyt Vandenberg.
Titan II Research and Development
Flight Operations
1962
Launch Location Number of Launches
Pad 15 Cape Canaveral, FL 5
Pad 16 Cape Canaveral, FL 4
1963
Pad 15 Cape Canaveral, FL 7
Pad 16 Cape Canaveral, FL 3
395-C Vandenberg AFB, CA 4
395-D Vandenberg AFB, CA 3
1964
Pad 15 Cape Canaveral, FL 4
395-B Vandenberg AFB, CA 1
395-C Vandenberg AFB, CA 2
Total (33)
Titan II Operational Flight Test and
Evaluation Program
Demonstration and Shakedown Operations
(395-B, 395-C, 395-D)
Launch Unit Code Designation
1964
395th SMS Cobra Skin
Double Talley
Gentle Annie
381st SMW High Rider
308th SMW Black Widow
Total (5)
Operational Test Launch Program
(395-B, 395-C, 395-D)
Launch Unit Code Designation
1965-1966
390th SMW Artic Sun
Bear Hug
Card Deck
Long Ball
Winter Ice
Close Touch
381st SMW Front Sight
Gold Fish
Busy Bee
Bold Guy
Cross Fire
Black Hawk
Long Light
308th SMW Magic Lamp
New Role
Power Box
Red Wagon
Sea Rover
Gold Ring
Total (19)
Follow-On Operational Test Program
(395-B, 395-C, 395-D)
Launch Unit Code Designation
1966-1969
395th SMS Glory Trip 39
Glory 10
390th SMW Black River
Bubble Girl
Glory Trip 08
Glory Trip 26
381st SMWSilver Bullet
Gift Horse
Buggy Wheel
Glowing Bright 44
Glory Trip 04
Glory Trip 18
308th SMW Giant Train
Glamor Girl
Glowing Bright 49
Total (15)
Safeguard System Target Test Program
(395-C)
Launch Unit Code Designation
1971-1974
390th SMW MI-17 aborted
MI-17
M2-14
M2-36
381st SMW M2-10
M2-31
308th SMW M2-1
M2-27
Total (8)
Ballistic Missile Defense Test Target Program
(395-C)
Launch Unit Code Designation
1975
390th SMW DG-4
381st SMW DG-2
308th SMW ST
Total (3)
Special Operations Test- Integrated Test Flight
(395-C)
Launch Unit Code Designation
1976
308th SMW Rivet Hawk
Total (1)
Overview & The Air Force Takes Change
are from, www.vanderberg.af.mil
Overview
The year 1941 brought with it the begginnings of unprecedented change to California's picturesque Central Coast. Once a haven for wild game and cattle grazing, some 86,000 acres of open lands in the Lompoc-Guadalupe-Santa Maria triangle passed to the United States Army, and practically overnight became the site of a huge military encampment called Camp Cooke. As a training center for armor and infantry troops. After the war and a short period of inactivation, the installation was called up again for the Korean War in 1950.
Between the wars and as late as January 1957, the military reservation had reverted to its previous use for cattle and sheep grazing.Transformation of Camp Cooke into the nation's first space and ballistic missile operational and training base began in 1957 when it transferred to the United States Air Force. In the proceeding year it was renamed Vandenberg Air Force Base.
The installation is about 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles, and is presently operated by Air Force Space Command's 30th Space Wing. Vandenberg AFB is the only military base in the United States from which unmanned government and commercial satellites are launched into polar orbit. It is also the only site from which intercontinential ballistic missiles (ICBM) are fired into the Pacific Ocean, and splash down at the Kwajalein Atoll within the Marshall Islands.
The Air Force Takes Charge
With the advent of the missile age in the 1950's, the Air Force persuaded Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson to direct the Army on November16, 1956 to transfer 64,000 acres of North Camp Cooke to the Air Force for use as a missile launch and training base. Its remote location and proximity to the coast offered a perfect setting for safely launching intermediate range ballistic missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles (IRBM/ICBM) to targets in the Pacific Ocean. These same geographic features were also ideal for lauching satellites into polar orbit without overflight of populated land masses during missile liftoff.
In January 1957, the first Air Force unit, the 6591st Support Squadron, was established at Cooke. The construction program, meanwhile, got under way at Cooke in late April 1957. Gradually, missile launch complexes appeared as tons of concrete and steel transformed the landscape. A parallel program of renovating old structures and constructing new support facilities, including Capehart military family housing, was also in bloom in 1957.
By he time the Air Force hosted the official ground breaking ceremonies for the future missile base on May 8, 1957, it had already activated the 392nd Air Base Group at Cooke and simultaneously inactivated the 6591st Support Squadron on April 15, 1957. With the activation of the 704th Strategic Missile Wing (Atlas) at Cooke on July1, the 392nd was assigned to the wing. On July 16, the 1st Missile Division relocated from Los Angeles to Cooke AFB to supervise wing operations.
Meanwhile, In October 1957 Russia Launched its Sputnik satellite into orbit. Luaded as a remarkeble scientific achievement, the small 23-inch spherical spacecraft that circled the globe was also recognized for its military implications and sent shock waves throughout the non-Communist world. The United States Air Force responded to the Russian sucess by accelerating the development if its missile program. It also transferred management responsibilities for Cooke AFB from Air Research and Development Command (ARDC) to Strategic Air Command (SAC) on January 1, 1958.
Along with the transfer, SAC acquired the three ARDC base organizations and responsibility for attaining initial operational capability for the burgeoning U.S. missile force. The command (SAC) was also directed to conduct training for missile launch crews. Site activation, and research and development testing of ballistic missiles remained with ARDC. Space launches were to be conducted jointly by both commands. Although the mission at Cooke was now divided between ARDC and SAC, the two commands cultivated a close relationship that was to flourish for the next 35 years. ARDC was renamed Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) on April 1, 1961. On July 1, 1992, it was merged with Air Force Logistics Command and became Air Force Material Command.. On October 4, 1958, Cooke AFB was renamed Vandenberg AFB in honor of the late General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, the Air Force's second Chief of Staff.
