The United States has completed the removal of 50 Minuteman 3 ICBMs from their silos in Montana as part of an effort to deploy just 450 of the nuclear-armed, land-based missiles, the Great Falls Tribune reported Friday (see GSN, May 25, 2007).
The 50 missiles at Malmstrom Air Force Base were selected for deactivation because their communication system was different from the nine remaining Minuteman squadrons, according to the Tribune.
"This is somewhat of a sad day in some respects," said Air Force Lt. Col. Wayne Shaw, commander of the 564th Missile Squadron. "On the other hand, I am extremely proud."
The squadron is scheduled to be formally deactivated later this month, with its personnel slated to be transferred to other units (Zachary Franz, Great Falls Tribune, Aug. 1).