Cold War Missile Tests--What a Sight!

The current situation in the Ukraine got me to thinking about the Cold War.  In the 1950's and 60's things were getting pretty intense between the U.S. and Russia and Cuba.  Some Americans were building bomb shelters in their back yards, and missiles were being built and tested, and ultimately, armed to be used against any aggressor.  We meant serious business!

In 1962, when I was four-years-old, our family moved from Washington State to Santa Maria, California, where my mom's family lived. Dad eventually got a job at Vandenburg Air Force Base.  I still don't know exactly what his job was there, but I know he was helping to construct "something".  We moved from Santa Maria proper to a mobile home park in Orcutt, which was a community that was nearer to the base.

Now, as a small child, I didn't know anything about the Cold War, or Cuba, or Russia.  I didn't know that tension was mounting.  All I knew was that my dad always knew when they were going to test missiles at the base, and if at all possible we would go to the entrance of our mobile home park and watch the launch.  Everyone else in the community was there too, so it was no secret!  It seemed like everyone had someone telling them that a test was to be performed.  (Today you can just go to the base website and there is a section on the right side of the screen that tells you about upcoming events such as this.)

Sometimes the missiles were tested during the day, with white-colored smoke.  They were a sight to behold--representing the power and defense of our country.  In those days Vandenburg was testing Atlas, Titan I and II, and Minuteman I missiles.  When they launched I had no idea which was which.  From my vantage point, they all looked the same.  The big difference for me was that once in awhile the smoke would be colored a different color than white.  We all oohed and aahed like we were watching 4th of July fireworks--even the adults!  Nighttime tests were beautiful, with the white smoke lit up in the setting sun beyond the horizon.

Beautiful Minuteman III test launch

Titan missile launch

There is something mysterious and mighty about watching a missile launch, even when you know it is "only a test".  If you're close enough you can see the missile itself, with its sharp nose straight up in the sky.  You can see the smoke from a farther distance away.  You don't get tired of seeing it, and it looks different each time.

During the summer of 1964 we moved back to Washington again, and that was the end of our missile launches.  I have many memories of our time in California.  Some of my favorite memories are of the camaraderie of our mobile home community during the missile tests.  It was like a party for young and old alike.

Of course, we can't forget why missiles exist.  We can watch their beauty, but underneath, inside their bellies, is something that hopefully will never have to be used.