Accident Site- Titan II Launch Facility Site 533-7, U. S. Air Force, Kansas, Cowley County
The site was a Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Titan II launch facility. A 103-foot long Titan II missile was inside an underground silo aimed at a target in the Soviet Union. Launch Facility 533-7 became operational in 1962 under operational control of the 532nd Strategic Missile Squadron based at McConnell Air Force Base.
Accident: On August 24, 1978, an accident at the facility involving an oxidizer leak caused the death of Airman First Class Erby Hepstall and Staff Sergeant Robert J, Thomas. The leak also caused the temporary evacuation of nearby civilians, including the small town of Rock, Kansas. The men at the site on August 24, 1978 were Cold War warriors, and two of them died defending the United States. Their deaths went largely unknown. I do remember, and I will never forget that they made the ultimate sacrifice. They stood and died for America!
To read a detailed account of what happened at the launch site on August 28, 1978 go to:
www.themilitarystandard.com/missile/titan2/accident_533-7...
Launch Facility 533-7, was deactivated in 1985 as part of President Reagan's policy of decommissioning the Titan II missiles during a weapon systems modernization program.
Accident Site- Titan II Launch Facility Site 533-7, U. S. Air Force, Kansas, Cowley County
The site was a Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Titan II launch facility. A 103-foot long Titan II missile was inside an underground silo aimed at a target in the Soviet Union. Launch Facility 533-7 became operational in 1962 under operational control of the 532nd Strategic Missile Squadron based at McConnell Air Force Base.
Accident: On August 24, 1978, an accident at the facility involving an oxidizer leak caused the death of Airman First Class Erby Hepstall and Staff Sergeant Robert J, Thomas. The leak also caused the temporary evacuation of nearby civilians, including the small town of Rock, Kansas. The men at the site on August 24, 1978 were Cold War warriors, and two of them died defending the United States. Their deaths went largely unknown. I do remember, and I will never forget that they made the ultimate sacrifice. They stood and died for America!
To read a detailed account of what happened at the launch site on August 28, 1978 go to:
www.themilitarystandard.com/missile/titan2/accident_533-7...
Launch Facility 533-7, was deactivated in 1985 as part of President Reagan's policy of decommissioning the Titan II missiles during a weapon systems modernization program.