Missile Support Area, (MSA) Oberweis, Germany
(Called Betard by the locals) December 1963
Hangars from the left: TEMS/MEMS (1), MAST (2 & 3),
E&A (4), GSC&F/C(5)
Maintenance Control (Puzzle Palace) to the right of the
MC-1 Crane.
Photo taken in front of the E&A engine run area by George Mindling (myakka@embarqmail.com)
MSA in the spring of 1969.
The entire Bitburg Air Base was painted Olive Drab in the late 1960's to hide it from visual observation.
MSA under construction in 1961
The Photo contributed by Garld and Janice Edwards (geje@comcast.net), used with permission
The TM-61C Matador Missile Monument located in front
of the munitions area, MSA, 1973.
Dedicated in September, 1962, the missile monument
had been removed by the end of the 1980's.
The Missile Monument was re-dedicated in Wüscheim in 1989 at the reactivated
headquarters for the 38th Tactical Missile Wing Headquarters
Photo coutesy of George Mindling (myakka@embarqmail.com)
The Entire E&A Section poses in 1969 in front of the Matador
Missile Monument that was later moved to Wüscheim
The A&E hangar at MSA
A&E photos contributed by Garld and Janice Edwards (geje@comcast.net)
The Martin Company maintained support facilities at every base
the Matador or Mace was stationed. Their Tech Reps were an integral part of every organization.
Click here to take a look at the Martin Company Depot Maintenance Facility at MSA.
One the best open mess halls in the US Air Force.
Ever had hasenpfeffer? It was served at the MSA Open Mess more than once.
Photo courtesy of Kathy Geary (k.geary@worldnet.att.net)
The 585th TMG kennels before the AP unit was merged with the
36th Air Police squadron.
Photo courtesy of Ed Cole (LMCENC@aol.com)
Guidance System Checkout (GSC) and Flight Controls Hangar
A CGM-13B, still in the checkout/launch but with the wings in the folded
position, awaits being lowered to transport position for the trip to a launch site after
checkout in Flight Controls
The heavy slate ceiling tiles began to randomly fall after the hangar had been occupied
for less than a year. All personnel had to wear their "Army" combat helmets in the hangar as
there weren't enough hard hats to go around. Safety tabs had to be welded to each ceiling cross
member.
The Flight Controls area as seen from the Guidance System Checkout Area. The photo is after the famed "Baby Blue" Floor Tiles had been removed from the hangar floor.
The front of a SCOPS (Systems Checkout Power Supply) sits
behind the last nose section, a Test Set M is visible on the work stand. The trailer to the left is a 4000A with both the "Mod-B" and "Mod-C" used to supply power to the nose section during transit.
The scorched area above the main door was never repainted
"...I was working at the site one nite when we caught the hanger door on fire with a
loaded missile. Myers saved out hide by remembering where the fire extinguisher was, and I
never called him God Hates Myers after that. I was sitting in the office area right next to the door, reading a comic book. Ray was refueling the
heater. The next thing I see is Ray running by me with his ass on fire and he's beating
on his own ass to put the fire out. That's
when the door went up. I guess nobody ever checked to see if that insulation they used
was fireproof or not. It wasn't."
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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
