4504th Missile Training Wing

TM-76A Mace missiles with the TAC insignia on the vertical stabilizer, 4504th Missile Training Wing, 9th Air Force, Tactical Air Command, at the TAC Combat Missile School, Orlando AFB, FL. The majority of the Matador and Mace missiles were either PACAF (Korea, Taiwan, or Okinawa) or USAFE (Germany).

"I joined the crew at Orlando AFB in the late winter of 1960-1961. I was transferred from the class for the TM76 A when the training was suspended indefinitely because the first launch sight in Germany was sinking before it was completed. A few of us were moved into the existing TM76 B class half way through the “hands on” phase of training. The few of us that transferred had a crash course 8-10 hours a day for months to catch up to where everyone else was. We were exempt from all other responsibilities (KP, etc) until graduation."

"Crew #1 attended the USAF acceptance test shot for the TM76 B in the spring of 1961 at Cape Canaveral. The interesting part of that experience was the cables flew out the exhaust tube, upon launch, and caused the Air Police guards a “run for their money” experience. Since then a 90 degree elbow was added to the exhaust to avoid further adrenalin rushes from the APs."

John Bordne (jcbordne@hotmail.com)

A "B" Bird heads south down range from Cape Canaveral launch pad 21.

USAF Photo courtesy of Dennis Cralley,sr. (dcralleysr@cox.net)

Take a virtual tour of the Cape and the Mace Pads 21 and 22 at Rob Svirskas great page.

Unimposing, set in the beauty of Florida's Live Oaks and Spanish Moss, is the Main Gate to Orlando Air Force Base...

...and home for six months of Combat Crew Training.

Photos courtesy of Frank Roales (flroales@avenuebroadband.com)

A TM-76A being set up for Armed Forces Day Parade, Orlando Air Base, FL. Location and date not known.

Photo courtesy of Lee Garwig (leegarwig@verizon.net)

"I was stationed at Orlando AFB from 1956 to 1959 assigned as an Air Policeman assigned to the 4504th TAC Missle Wing. As such, I both guarded the missle areas as well as provided escort services to Signal Hill (near the base) for training and to Cape Canaveral for launch/testing. I would appreciate any links to other information regarding this unit and personnel."

Thank you!!

John Clements, MSGT, USAF, Retired (john0939@gonowpc.com)

The 4504th Headquarters building in 1999, long after the TAC Missile school was gone.

Photos courtesy of Frank Roales (flroales@avenuebroadband.com)

Take a look at
Official USAF Art Work of the
TAC Missile School at Orlando Air Force Base

Check Out Les Smith's Photos of the famed Det 2 quarters at the Cape!

A TM-76B is loaded on a transporter/launcher at the TAC Missile School in Orlando Air Force Base.

Photo by Garld and Janice Edwards (geje@comcast.net)

Matador photo at Orlando AFB courtesy of
CW Lewis, TEMS (cwlewis@prodigy.net)

" I was stationed at Orlando AFB in the late 50's. I worked in the Commercial Transportation Office and was assigned the task of processing all of the transportation paper work for the missile squadron movement to Germany. I worked several hours overtime completing the applications for personal household goods and dependent travel. As a result of my work and not being a member of the missile squadron, the missile squadron commander invited me to join the squadron during a launch at Cape Canaveral."

"While we were waiting for the launch of what I think was a Mace Missile, the count was placed on hold because what I think was a Titan was being launched that day from Cape Canaveral. Most of us were sitting on top of a bunker when the Titan launched, and if the Titan had exploded it would probably have taken us all out."

"When the Mace was launched an F-100 chase plane came over our heads about 50' off the deck. Not knowing the chase plane was in the area you can guess what some of us almost did in our pants when he came over us."

" I was a young airman then, and I was really impressed with the opportunity to witness this historical event. I think this occurred in 1958 or 1959, and I was wondering if you have information you can share with me. Photographers were present at the launch and I was wondering where I could obtain some copies."

F.D.P (programs@bellsouth.net)

Graduates headed for Hahn Air Base.
From left, Dave Maas, Ron Lysik, Elias Ruiz,and Steve Glazer.
Orlando Air Force Base, Easter Weekend, 1964.

Graduates headed for Bitburg Air Base.
From left, Dennis Robbins, Jim Cagle, and Ted Ebbinga, November 1961.