451st Strategic Missile Wing Lowry AFB, Colorado
On March 13, 1958, the Air Force Ballistic Committee approved the selection of Lowry AFB to be the first Titan I ICBM base. Construction of launchers and support facilities began on May 1, 1959 located on the bombing range east of Denver. This was conveniently close to the Titan I’s manufacturer, the Martin Company (now Lockheed Martin) located in Littleton, Colorado.
Deployment of the missiles entailed a 3 x 3 configuration, meaning each of the three complexes had three silos grouped in close proximity to a manned launch control facility. The Omaha District of the Army Corps of Engineers contracted a joint venture led by Morrison-Knudsen of Boise, Idaho, to construct the silos. 144-day steel strike in 1959 caused delays and forced Morrison-Knudsen to resort to winter concreting. Despite this problem and others caused by constant design modifications, Morrison-Knudsen completed the project on time with the lowest construction costs of any ICBM base in the country at the time. Fairly smooth management-labor relations contributed to the success. The project also maintained the best safety record in the missile construction program up until that time. Use of a safety net was credited with saving many lives. Three workers did die during the project, although one of these deaths was the result of a motor vehicle accident that occurred off site.
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