October 8, 1976 Hydraulic fluid clean-up involving Freon
113. Sgt Larry South died of asphyxiation
January 28, 1968
Msgt Ronald E. Bugge died after he fell 80 feet
off a level 2 work platform down to the level 7 thrust mount
HISTORY OF LITTLE ROCK AFB
Little Rock Air Force Base is located next to the city of Jacksonville, 20 miles northeast of Little Rock.
On September 1952, the Air Force announced its decision to build a $31 million dollar, medium jet bomber base near Jacksonville Arkansas. Construction began in December 1953. By August 1954, the 384th Bombardment Wing and the70th Reconnaissance Wing had been selected by SAC as host units at the base. September 1955, the base opened to air traffic. The 384th Bombardment Wing flew B-47's and the 70th Reconnaissance Wing flew RB-47's. The 384th Air Refueling Wing initially flew KC-97's which were replaced by KC-135's in 1964. The B-47's were replaced by B-58's that same year. The B-58's were phased out in 1970. The 70th Reconnaissance was inactivated and the 384th Air Refueling Wing moved to McConnell AFB, Kansas. In April 1962, the 308th Bomb Wing was redesignated the 308th Strategic Missile Wing with its new mission of manning the 18 Titan II silos under construction around Little Rock AFB.
Phase I at each missile launch site lasted approximately 8 months and included excavation and much of the reinforced concrete construction. Phase II of the construction lasted approximately 39 weeks at each site and involved installing the mechanical, electrical, water and other support systems needed to bring the silo to life.Phase III involved the actual readying of the silos for activation. The first Titan II ICBM was installed at launch site 373-4 on February 28, 1963. By years end, all 18 launch silos of the 308th SMW were on alert status.
Little Rock AFB was transferred form SAC to TAC in April 1970. By then, Little Rock AFB had recieved its first C-130 and began tactical airlift operations and training under the guidance of the 314th Tactical Airlift Wing. During December 1974, Little Rock AFB was Transferred from TAC to Military Airlift Command (MAC).
Launch complex 374-7 became the first Titan II silo to be deacticated. In October 1981, President Reagan announced that all Titan II sites would be deactivated by October 1987. Deactivation of the 308th Titan II's began on April 1985 and completed deactivation on August, 1987.. The 314th TAW remained the host unit, supporting global airlift and providing primary C-130 training for the Department of Defense. In 1992, the 314th was transferred to Air Combat Command (ACC) and again on 1997, transferred to Air Education and Training Command (AETC)
