Photos: Decommissioned Titan II Missile complexes around Tucson
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Rick Wiley
Photo editor
The infamous Titan II nuclear-tipped missiles ringing Tucson and pointed at the USSR for nearly 20 years beginning in the early 1960s. The hardened, underground complexes were capable of withstanding a near-direct strike from a Soviet nuclear missile. The 390th Strategic Missile Wing, headquartered at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, was active from 1962-84 and had command of the 18 sites in Southern Arizona. The Reagan Administration decided to retire the missiles by 1987. Demolition crews decommissioned the silos by imploding them and sealing access points with concrete. The last Titan II came off alert status in May, 1984.
Most recently, a missile silo went up for sale north of Tucson. Click here for more information.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
The first Titan base near Tucson is fortified with concrete in May, 1961, as workmen continuously pour around the clock. Huge buckets of concrete are swung by a crane to the top of the structure where the material is poured into the hole through pipes in a slipform operation.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
A Titan Missile complex under construction near Rillito, Ariz. north of Tucson in 1961 (note cement plant in background).
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
Thousands of feet of heavy duty reinforcing bar are tied together to form the backbone for tons of concrete to be poured for missile silo at this Titan Missile site under construction near Tucson in 1961.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
A worker inspects the ventilation tubes extended from the hardened silo during construction near Tucson in 1961.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
Workers in the nearly-completed Titan Missile Site 11 silo near Tucson in 1961.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
The first Titan base near Tucson is fortified with concrete in May, 1961, as workmen continuously pour around the clock. Huge buckets of concrete are swung by a crane to the top of the structure where the material is poured into the hole through pipes in a slipform operation.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
Construction site west of Tucson in May, 1961, as works prepare to house the Titan II intercontinental ballistic missile. The dome will house the control center.
Fallout shelters
Dr. and Mrs. A. Russell Aanes check their civil defense rations as they start a two-week stay in an above-ground fallout shelter at KGUN-TV studios in October, 1961. The couple said they were "looking forward to catching up on long-delayed reading, napping and being away from the telephone." The TV station had a remote camera and would periodically monitor the couple inside.
Fallout shelters
A fallout shelter under construction behind a home in Tucson, ca. 1961.
Fallout shelters
John Stufflebean and family in their fallout shelter in Tucson in April, 1961.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
A Titan Missile section arrives at Davis-Monthan AFB in Nov. 1962.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
Titan Missile lowered into silo, possibly near Three Points, Ariz., in Dec, 1962.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
Titan Missile lowered into silo, possibly near Three Points, Ariz., in Dec, 1962.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
Titan Missile lowered into silo, possibly near Three Points, Ariz., in Dec, 1962.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
Titan II Complex 09- North Oracle Road, Pima County. August 15, 1971.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
Titan LL Complex 09- Priority 1 safe locked down. August 15, 1971.
Titan II Complex 570-9
The crew leader with his hand on the launch key at Titan II ICBM complex 570-9 south of Three Points, southwest of Tucson on Dec. 28, 1977.
Titan II Complex 570-9
A airmen sleeping in quarters underground at Titan II ICBM complex 570-9 south of Three Points, southwest of Tucson on Dec. 28, 1977.
Titan II Complex 570-9
The nuclear-tipped missile at Titan II ICBM complex 570-9 south of Three Points, southwest of Tucson on Dec. 28, 1977.
Titan II Complex 570-9
Capt. Charles Harris, sitting front, and crew members discuss the situation during a drill at Titan II ICBM complex 570-9 south of Three Points, southwest of Tucson on Dec. 28, 1977.
Titan II Complex 570-9
On-duty crew members at the ready during a drill at Titan II ICBM complex 570-9 south of Three Points, southwest of Tucson on Dec. 28, 1977. P
Titan II Complex 570-9
The giant, hardened concrete sliding dome that covers the missile silo at Titan II ICBM complex 570-9 south of Three Points, southwest of Tucson on Dec. 28, 1977.
Titan II Complex 570-9
Off-duty crew members read, play cards at Titan II ICBM complex 570-9 south of Three Points, southwest of Tucson on Dec. 28, 1977.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
Once underground, the dirt around the access portal at Titan II Strategic Missile Site 571-4 has been excavated by Pima County, the property owner, for construction fill. The site is located near I-10 and AZ83.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
What was once part of the blast lock and the 250-foot long access tunnel to the missile silo has been partly excavated at the Titan II Strategic Missile Site 571-3 near Empirita Road and I-10.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
Inside the blast lock room looking toward the launch control center at the Titan II Strategic Missile Site 571-3 near Empirita Road and I-10. The 6,000-pound blast doors are open, but the site is filling with dirt because of the partial excavation.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
Wires remain in Titan II Strategic Missile Site 571-3 in what would have been the tunnel to the missile silo from the blast lock - the central room one entered when entering the site from the access portal. The site is located near I-10 and Empirita Road.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
03 titan focus JDS-p6 -- Crista Simpson (CRISTA SIMPSON), owner of Crista's Totally Fit holds up a diagram of a Titan II Strategic Missile Site, similar to the one, 571-6, she lives atop near Amado. Jeffry Scott/Arizona Daily Star. 129953. NO MAGS, NO SALES, MANDATORY CREDIT. 7/3/06 PHOTO BY JEFFRY SCOTT, ARIZONA DAILY STAR - Crista Simpson, with a diagram of Titan II site 571-6, runs a personal-fitness business atop a former launch site.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
Graffiti inside equipment at Titan II Strategic Missile Site 570-2, near Hermans Road and AZ86 near Robles Junction.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
For sale sign at Titan II Strategic Missile Site 571-3 in 2006. The site is located near I-10 and Empirita Road.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
The top of the launch control center, once buried eight-feet underground, and other once buried parts at Titan II Strategic Missile Site 571-4 are exposed after excavation by Pima County, the property owner, for construction fill dirt. The site is located near I-10 and AZ83.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
Eric Neilson, owner of Titan II Strategic Missile Site 570-4 looks up into his home, built around the access portal in 2006. In 2002 he excavated and gained entrance to the launch control center.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
Inside Titan II Strategic Missile Site 570-4's launch control center the man in the moon gazes into the four-member crews sleeping quarters.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
The logo for the 570th Strategic Missile Wing survived being buried for at least 15 years on a 6,000-pound blast door at Titan II Strategic Missile Site 570-4. Despite tons of debris filling the 35-foot deep access portal, when owner Eric Neilson excavated the site in 2002 the door opened up with just a bit of encouragement.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
Titan II Strategic Missile Site 571-6 in Amado is home to Crista's Totally Fit fitness center in 2006. Crista Simpson, owner of the center who leases the property, uses one of the IRCS antenna pads for a picnic spot. She also uses one of the refueling pads to supply water to area wildlife.
Titan Missile complex for sale
An escape hatch inside the launch control center within a Titan MIssile complex for sale along SR 79 about 10 miles north of Oracle Junction, Ariz., on Nov. 8, 2019
Titan Missile complex for sale
The blast door protecting the launch control center still work inside a Titan MIssile complex for sale along SR 79 about 10 miles north of Oracle Junction, Ariz., on Nov. 8, 2019
Titan Missile complex for sale
Peeling lead paint on the wall of a Titan Missile complex for sale along SR 79 about 10 miles north of Oracle Junction, Ariz., on Nov. 8, 2019
Titan Missile complex for sale
Property owner Rick Ellis passes through the junction between the launch control center and crew access portal at a deacivated Titan Missile complex for sale along SR 79 about 10 miles north of Oracle Junction, Ariz., on Nov. 8, 2019
Titan Missile complex for sale
Ladders lashed together are the only way to the crew entrance nearly 100-feet underground at a 12-acre Titan Missile complex for sale along SR 79 about 10 miles north of Oracle Junction, Ariz., on Nov. 8, 2019
Titan Missile complex for sale
Demotion crews imploded the passageway from the the launch control center to missile silo after the Titan Missile complex was deactivated in the 1980s. The 12-acre plot is for sale along SR 79 about 10 miles north of Oracle Junction, Ariz., on Nov. 8, 2019
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
Rick Wiley is the photo editor of the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson. From 1995-2004, he was director of photography at the East Valley Tribune in Mesa. From 1988-94 he was a photographer at the Tucson Citizen. He is a graduate of ASU (yes, that ASU).
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