Ref: The Other Missiles of October: Eisenhower, Kennedy, and the Jupiters, 1957-1963
by Philip Nash, University of North Carolina Press, 1997 (see Operation POT PIE)
Ref:
Message From the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Soviet Ambassador to the United States (Dobrynin)
U.S. Department of State Electronic Archives Jupiter Missiles In Italy and Turkey are first mentioned in Item 66
This Web Site is Dedicated to
All U.S. Air Force units, including USAFE, PACAF, TAC, ATC
and the German Bundeswehr Units That Manned and Maintained the Matador and Mace Missiles Worldwide
The original
U.S. Air Force units that pioneered the missile organizations in the U.S. Air Force kept the first operational missiles in the U.S. arsenal combat ready for fifteen,
unsung years.
38th Tactical Missile Wing - USAF
The 38th Tactical Missile Wing, activated at Hahn Air Base, Germany, 18 June 1958,
was composed of three Tactical Missile groups, the 585th Tactical Missile Group at Bitburg AB, the 586th Tactical Missile Group at Hahn AB, and the 587th Tactical Missile Group at Sembach AB, in addition to a headquarters unit.
The 38th TMW assumed it's new headquarters at Sembach Air Base, Germany, on 20 August 1959, including all supporting squadrons, including the 38th TMW Hospital, becoming the first operational missile base in the US Air Force.
The Tactical Missile Groups were inactivated 25 Sep 1962 and the 38th TMW assumed direct control of the remaining squadrons. The 38th TMW was composed of launch and maintenance squadrons at detached and remote installations at Sembach, Hahn, and Bitburg Air Bases in Germany, in addition to being the host wing at Sembach.
The 38th Tactical Missile Wing had the distinction of maintaining two separate weapons systems twice, first by bringing the TM-76 Mace "A" operational in August, 1959, while maintaining the TM-61C Matador combat ready until September of 1962. The Mace"A" later re-numbered to MGM-13A, remained operational until 1966, concurrently with the Hard Site TM-76 Mace "B", brought operational in June, 1964 at Bitburg with the 71st TMS. The 71st TMS remained in service with the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing until April, 1969 with the renumbered CGM-13B (TM-76B).
I am currently the historian at the 18th Wing, Kadena AB, and am researching the history of the 498 TMG from 1961 to 1969. I have the 313th Air Division histories, as well as the 498th histories for the whole time, but I would like to get some input from the people who served in the unit at that time. I am looking for any personal anecdotes; things that stand out as highlights/low points of the tour; specific information about the unit. I am working on a monograph for the Air Force History and Museum Program, shold be ready by next year. Would love to hear from any old members of the 498th.
Thanks
MSgt Joe Orr (Joe.Orr@kadena.af.mil)
18th Wing Historian
Just wanted to say the sight is fantastic! One thing that I've noticed, is
the almost total lack of information concerning Lowry AFB and the
individuals who spent their time there training the future technicians and
mechanics. I was one of the lucky ones to spend 7 years, 11 months at
Lowry, the last 6 years as an instructor for the Mace 'B' GEMS school. I
always wished I could have been in an operational unit, but the AF needs
said I was an instructor. Over the period at LAFB I was assigned to the
3419th, 3424th, and the 3421st. I always wore my pocket rocket with pride,
and the instructor badge with the same pride. Keep up the good work!
Special Thanks to Scott Barnes for the custom designed U.S. Flag background
Special Thanks to Martyn Tagg
HQ AFMC/CEVQ
Cultural Resources Manager
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
for his invaluable Historical
contributions
to the History of the Matador and Mace History pages
(Martyn.Tagg@wpafb.af.mil)
My Deepest Thanks to Bob Bolton (olliesnapper@gmail.com) for his ongoing contributions and editorial comments.
The site would not be complete without his efforts.
All Intellectual and Photographic Contributions remain the property of the original owners
All Contributions used with Permission
Our Sincere Thanks to All Contributors
George Mindling
TAC Missileers Convention in Dayton, Ohio in 2009!
People always pointed at
your chest and asked,"what's that?"
At first, you'd proudly
say "That's my missile badge!"
Then they would say,
"No, those things in the plastic container on your lapel!"
Missileers know!
A series of two minute Air Force Promotional films was distributed freely to every television station in the country in the early 1960's. Among the Lowell Thomas narrated shorts is one that features the MM-1 and the TM-76 Mace. The video (Stock#:AFF226) can be can be found at Footage Bakery. The Mace and the MM-1 clip are the last item on the page.
This page is in no way sponsored or endorsed by the United States Air Force.
Opinions and views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the
Department of the Air Force.
Web Page Design and Development by
George Mindling - Port Charlotte, Florida
The abandoned Mace "A-Bird" Site IV launch complex in the Hünsruck mountains of Germany from 25,000 feet, photo taken in 1974.
