FIRST- "Ace in the hole" Montana
Posted by: 
ZenPanda
N 47° 17.095 W 110° 48.132
12T E 514957 N 5236845
Alpha 1 "First Ace in the Hole" dubbed by President John F. Kennedy
Waymark Code: WM20YD
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 08/17/2007
Views: 51
The 341 SMW and Malmstrom AFB became the nation's first "Ace in the Hole," during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The wing has Minuteman missiles spread across 23,000 square miles of Montana.
On 2 August 1961, the Department of the Air Force re-designated the squadron the 10th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM Minuteman) and assigned it to Malmstrom AFB, Montana on 8 December 1961. Construction of the $53.5 million Malmstrom Minuteman project began March 1961 and by late October1962 the launch facilities comprising Alpha flight were brought to alert status in conjunction with the advent of the "Cuban Missile Crisis". On 29 October 1961, President Kennedy acknowledged these efforts and their role in current U.S. foreign policy. A statement from President Kennedy in October 1962 referred to Alpha flight as America's "First Ace in the Hole;" thereby giving the squadron its motto and tradition.
FIRST - Classification Variable: Item or Event
Date of FIRST: 10/01/1962
More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]
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