A practice launch with the crew running up the engine
in the elevated launch position with warhead sling brackets left on.
G. Joseph Snyder (gjsnyder@lanset.com)
Steinborn was the last active US Air Force
Matador launch site in Europe. Research continues on the Bundeswehr unit (Flugkörpergruppe 11 formed in 1958 and served at Kaufbeuren with possibly as many as 11 Matador units before being refitted with Pershing missiles) and may have remained in service for another year or so. The German group was originally planning to acquire the TM-76B sites at Bitburg from the US Air Force and training was actually underway with Martin-Marietta when the switch was made to the Pershing.
Located in the Eifel Mountains of Germany, Steinborn
was one of three TM-61C launch sites maintained by the 585th Tactical Missile Group at
Bitburg Air Base.
Located the farthest from the Missile Support Area, Steinborn was the most
difficult to support, particularly in inclement weather.
We thank G Joseph Snyder
(gjsnyder@lanset.com) for the great photo contributions to this page.
A-Pad Steinborn, sometime in mid 1960
USAFE photo coutesy of G. Joseph Snyder (
gjsnyder@lanset.com)
The Adminstration building behind the flag pole,
with the officer's quarters
and the water filtering system to the left.
A U.S. Air Force VW Kombi sits parked alongside a USAF tractor used for site maintenance
The Steinborn site was called "A" Pad, with Rittersdorf as
"B" Pad and Idenheim as "C"
pad. The Rittersdorf site later became the Mace "B" Site 7, and Idenheim became
Mace "B" Site 8.
Steinborn did not migrate to the newer Mace system and
was deactivated on September 25, 1962.
It was the last active US Air Force TM-61C Matador site in Europe.
G. Joseph Snyder (gjsnyder@lanset.com)
"The upper photo is a view of the main road through the Steinborn Flight "A" Missile Site.
in the background in the main gate and to the right
of the main gate is the Air Police Guard Booth. The building in the background, to the left,
is the Administration Office and I believe,
the Officers Quarters. The large van to the right, behind the gas pumps, is one of the two
Armament Vans used to check out and
arm the warhead of the TM61-C Matador."
"The lower photograph is facing toward the rear of the Steinborn, Flight "A", Launch Pad
Number
Two. In the background the armament van is backed up to the missile warhead for a checkout during
a practice launch.
To the right of the photograph are the antennas and building belong to C&G, the communications
section, that was already located at
Steinborn, prior to the launch crews arrival."
G. Joseph Snyder (gjsnyder@lanset.com)
"The blast shield was installed to divert the jet blast
to prevent
damage to the farmers crops that surrounded the Flight "A" Missile Site."
"Armament Van backed up to war head for check out of
weapon system.
This was on the back launch pad, or Pad 2."
"This is a photograph of the back pad, or pad #2, at
Steinborn Launch Site. The building in the background is the entertainment building for the
site, which housed a pool table, movie projection room, and of course to the far left of the
building, a
bar.
The building to the right of the fire truck is the power generator storage unit, which housed
two or three 60 kw diesel generators, which provided power for launch checkouts."
One day a fire broke out in the town of Steinborn. It was a storage place for hay and
cow manure that had caught fire. One of the firemen and a group at the Steinborn Missile
Site took the site fire truck and went to help put the fire out. Manure is truly hard
to put out with just water, and this firemen used foam that worked well in extinguishing the fire.
A month or so later, the town of Steinborn threw a great party and get together for the airman
from the missile site. It was a great
time."
G. Joseph Snyder (gjsnyder@lanset.com)
"The barracks for enlisted personnel at Steinborn.
...there were 6 to 8 rooms, each of
which held 7 men. This building was to the right as one drove in through the main,
and only, gate to the site."
"This is another view of the Administration Building.
The Air Police Guard Post is just to the right of the flag pole. The building to the far left
is part the enlisted personnel barracks."
"The building in the background is the mess hall
and furnace room. In back of the mess hall is the front launch pad, or Pad
1. To the right one can see one of the back up missiles, in storage.
Looks like a first snow."
"This was the new look in missile launch crew members."
[The 585th TMG Group patch became a requirement and was worn
by all 71st Tactical Missile Squadron launch crews until replaced by the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing
patch in 1965. The colors were worn until shutdown in 1969. The correct placement for
the patch was later moved to the right breast pocket]
The airman on the left is A/2c Antonie A. Kokolis,
and on the right,
A/1c George Joseph Snyder
Alert Standby duty could be monotonous at times...
...But time off was never wasted...
"This photograph was taken in 1960.
The color pattern on the Buick's license plate was used in 1960, in 1961 the color
pattern was just the opposite. Note the PSP (Perforated Steel Planking) to keep
their vehicles from getting stuck in the winter mud."
"The airman on the right is A/2c William F. Oelgeschlager.
Airman Oelgeschlager's father was a candy maker in New York. On
special occasions, Oelgeschlager would receive large amounts of
candy from his father. Between eating candy and drinking his
favorite liquid, "Beck's Beer", he never gained a pound. Amazing."
The airman on the left, A/2c Gene E. Bicknell, also known as "Farmer", transferred
to Germany from his prior base in France.
G. Joseph Snyder (gjsnyder@lanset.com)
GJ Snyder at Steinborn with his Sunbeam Alpine in 1960
This photograph was taken of all personnel who were
stationed at
Steinborn in 1960, including launch crew members, launch officers, G&C personnel,
air police,
cooks, everybody on site.
Captain John S. Almon was the officer that was assigned the setting up of the missile
site on what
was a C&G site. Captain Almon was also the commander of Flight "A" at Steinborn.
He is the
officer in dress blues, in the middle of the front row, with the
standard officer's cap. The other officer in dress blues, in the middle of the front
row, next to Captain Almon, was my crew's launch
officer, Captain William A. McLawhon.
G. Joseph Snyder (gjsnyder@lanset.com)
The photograph was during our TDY for 19 days to
Orlando AFB, for a live practice launch which started on November 12, 1959.
We were stationed at Steinborn
Missile Site, Flight "A" at the time. I believe that we were Crew 4.
Names of those depicted in the photograph are as follows:
Back Row, from left to right: A/2C William F. Oelgeschlager, Armament;
A/2c Antonie A. Kokolis; A/2C Thaddeus M. Thomas II,
Armament: A/1C George J. Snyder, Armament: A/2C John C. Donaldson;
A/3C James D. McCormick: A/2C Richard J. Doyle.
Front Row, from left to right: SSGT Joe Kanaris; TSGT Paul D. Blissett;
1STLT Sam J Scamardo, Launch Officer:
TSGT Joseph Collier; SSGT Cecil L. Church.
G. Joseph Snyder (gjsnyder@lanset.com)
May 1st, 2007 - The old Steinborn launch site peacefully coexists with a contemporary wind farm
Photo by George Mindling (myakka@embarqmail.com)
Steinborn, Kreis Bitburg, Germany - "A" Pad - 2005
( 50 º 04´ 09.54" N, 6 º 37´ 21.04" E. )
...The road that one
takes to get there from Bitburg, is road B257 out of Bitburg, also called
Bitburg Strasse. Go North-East until you get to Steinborn, and then
take the second turn off to the left, named "Hauptstrasse". Go straight and
"Hauptstrasse" will turn to the right, but you should go straight onto
the road named "Bergstrasse" Stay on "Bergstrasse", go up the hill
and then turn left at the next intersection. "Bergstrasse" continues to
the right, and when you turn left you should be on "Auf der Held" as
you go up this street, the old Steinborn Missile Site will be on the right
and has trees and bushes growing in the old site...
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.
All Contributions remain the property of the original owners
All Contributions used with Permission
Web Page Design and Development by
George Mindling - Port Charlotte, Florida
