Bitburg Air Base,
Germany

Matador TM-61C

585th Tactical Missile Group

Mace TM-76B (CGM-13B)

71st Tactical Missile Sq
587th Missile Maintenance Sq

A photo scrapbook of the TM-61C Matador and TM-76B  MACE " B" Tactical Missiles at Bitburg Air Base, Germany and of Special Links to the City of Bitburg and to the Host 36th Tactical Fighter Wing.

The Missile Monument

Photo taken in 1968 by George Kovach  (gfkgdk@aol.com)

The Missile Monument located in front of the Base Library and Education Office
The Monument was dedicated to the first Matador crews in Germany

The Monument was an exact representation of the original Missile Badge. the famed "Pocket Rocket." The Badge was designed by Col. Fred W. Vetter, Jr., commander of the 585th Tactical Missile Group.

"I particularly would like to see the photos of the "Missle Monument", which I am told has now been removed and destroyed. I have a two foot high model of it here. We brought the aluminum all the way from Tripoli after one of our annual missle shoots into the desert using the TM-61C. That meant driving over almost six hundred miles of desert to the target area, collecting the pieces of birds previously fired, and hauling them back to Bitburg ---

George Ingersol, cmdr of the 71st TMS, and a great guy -- the only West Pointer in Group, was the hero of that exercise. A S/Sgt Henry (Hank) Kreuger, and one hell of an artist, clown and truly nice guy, drew the final layout of the monument, set the dimensions, specs., etc. I'm darned if I can recall who the caster of the missile badge was, but the mason contractor who did the erection was the same German firm that helped build the three skeet/trap ranges we put in on the East end of Bitburg, and ended up with the contract for the B cells you helped wire.

Oh my, what a big affair it was to dedicate the thing! The marble that faced the obelisque was hauled in from Italy in an old C-47.
My recollection is that we did this around 1959".

Gen. Fred W. Vetter, Jr., USAF, ret.    

The Marble Missile Monument was moved from Bitburg sometime in the late 1980's or early 1990's. It's new location has been a mystery that is still being unraveled. However, it appears the skeleton of the monument, stripped of the marble and the badge may have been located at W�scheim, now called Pydna. The story and photo are in the above link.

The TM-61C Matador Show Bird at Bitburg, 1957
Matador photo courtesy of Paul Yadon (eatarn84029@yahoo.com)

585th Tactical Missile Group Matador Family Day at "B" Pad

Mahl-ish! - The perils of traveling to Libya with Tech Reps...

"We were laying on our bunks as there was only room for two chairs in our small, 4th floor room, smoking and watching the snow blow between the barracks in the eerie street light. It had been snowing for several days without let up. Driving off base was dangerous as the snow was so high it covered the tops of the white kilometer markers on the most of the open highways. Another miserable night to be outside when the CQ runner stuck his head in the door and said, "Steinborn is snowed in! We're looking for volunteers to go up and shovel snow so the launch crews can get some rest. Any takers?"

"What the hell," said Bill Krebs, "We're not doing anything anyway!" We all agreed it was the thing to do as we pulled on our thermal underwear and fatigues. We wore combat boots with bloused pants and the newly issued parkas. We knew we might be there a few days, so shaving kits and tooth brushes got stuck into the parka pockets along with extra socks.

We formed up between the barracks in the dimly lit street with the snow swirling between the buildings and waited for the 6-byes with chains that were to take us up to the Matador launch site in the Eifel mountains. There were twenty or so volunteers standing at rest in the silence, smoking and lightly joking about being dumber than doorknobs for volunteering for anything. Soon, a 6-By in chains lumbered up out of the dark and pulled alongside the barracks across the street. The canvas flaps were pulled back and the tailgate slammed down, but we remained in formation. We stood in the softly blowing snow and waited, but we didn't know why.

Soon, a beautiful Facel Vega, a French bodied Chrylser, pulled up in the Staff Car parking slot and out got our Group Commander, in uniform. He had driven up from the American housing area in Trier, some twenty miles away.

Col. Fred W. Vetter, Jr., Commander, 585th Tactical Missile Group, moved down the ranks one by one, personally shaking hands and thanking every volunteer that night. He made an impression on our astonished group that midnight in the snow, and I'm sure he is remembered by all who ever served under his command."

George Mindling  (myakka@earthlink.net)

A2C Ira (Denny) Young, AGE, models the Alert Uniform of the Day of the 585th Missile Maintenance Squadron, including the baby blue faux leather cap (it was kind of like naugahyde) with matching scarf and baby blue nametags with yellow lettering, 1962. Not visible are the bloused pants over the combat boots.

The colors used previously by the 585th MMS included orange hats, scarves, and nametags with black lettering. The colors were switched as the Mace replaced the Matador in the squadron.

On September 24, 1962, the unit was renumbered as Detachment 3, 38th Missile Maintenance Squadron. Two years later, on 1 July 1964, the unit was renumbered to the 587th MMS, reverting back to standard USAF fatique uniform.

The colors used by the 71st Tactical Missile Squadron were red caps, name tags and scarves. The Tactical Missile Squadrons were comprised of the Missile launch crews. The 71st never swerved from the red caps.

Photo courtesy of Ira Young (irayoung@bww.com)

The 585th Tactical Missile Group was deactivated 25 September 1962 as the last TM-61C Matador Missile was deactivated. The 71st Tactical Missile Squadron attached directly to the 38th TMW, while the 585th Missile Maintenance Squadron became Detachment 3, 38th Missile Maintenance Squadron (36th TFW SO A-694 24 Sept 1962).

On 1 July 1964, all personnel in Det 3, 38th MMS were transferred to the 587th Missile Maintenace Squadron (36th TFW SO A-912 17 June 1964)

The 587th Missile Maintenance Squadron was merged into the 71st Tactical Missile Squadron 1 Oct 65 (36th TFW SO AA-84 29 September 1965). The 71st TMS, a combined launch and maintenance squadron, remained on duty for almost three more years with the CGM-13 B Mace as part of the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing. The 71st TMS was deactivated and all personnel transferred to the 36th Combat Support Group 30 April 1969 (36th TFW SO P-109 3 April 1969).

A C-124 Globemaster sits on the apron behind the base chapel.
Photo from the roof of the AP barracks by Ed Cole

(LMCENC@aol.com)

Left: Armed Forces Day Open House, 1964. A display TM76B Mace on a launcher/transporter provides a good vantage point to watch the airshow.

The base chapel at the end of the street, and the main mess hall on the right.
Photo taken from the top floor end bay of the
585thMMS/71TMS barracks before the base was camoflaged