Launch Facility R-05 (Romeo-05), Meriden Wyoming

R-05 looked like a small fenced utility compound on the Wyoming plains, but its buried purpose belonged to one of the most powerful missile forces the United States ever deployed. The site began as part of F.E. Warren Air Force Base's Minuteman missile field, later became part of the 400th Missile Squadron's Peacekeeper force, and then passed into the post-Cold War story of removal, treaty accountability, and physical elimination.

Launch Facility R-05 was an unmanned missile silo / Launch Facility assigned to Romeo Flight, controlled through R-01 Missile Alert Facility / Launch Control Center. It was part of the F.E. Warren AFB missile field, operated by the 90th Strategic Missile Wing during the Strategic Air Command era and later by the 90th Missile Wing. The site is associated with the 400th Missile Squadron during the Peacekeeper period. Public Peacekeeper field documentation identifies R-05 as Francis E. Warren AF Missile Site R-05, PIN 8698, ILC GHYZ, at 41-39-56, 104-32-36.

R-05 occupied the open agricultural landscape northeast of Cheyenne and west of the Nebraska state line, in the dispersed missile field surrounding F.E. Warren AFB. Like other Minuteman launch facilities, it was designed to be isolated, hardened, remotely monitored, and physically separated from the other launch facilities in the flight so that a single attack would not destroy the entire group. At the surface, an ordinary LF generally included a fenced compound, access road, launcher closure area, security features, antennas or communications-related equipment, and support equipment associated with the underground launcher.

Public field photography documents R-05 as a former Peacekeeper launch facility and includes general views and views of the silo area. Those photographs are useful because most former Peacekeeper launch sites were not preserved as public interpretive properties.

R-05 was one of ten launch facilities assigned to Romeo Flight. The launch facility itself was normally unmanned. Missile combat crews served underground at the associated launch control center, while maintenance, security, communications, and support teams visited the launch facility as required. R-05's role was to hold a missile in hardened underground readiness while connected into the broader command-and-control network of the F.E. Warren missile field.

The site was originally part of the Minuteman force at F.E. Warren. The Warren missile field began with Minuteman I and later moved into Minuteman III service. F.E. Warren public history states that Minuteman II was never deployed at Warren, an important distinction from some other Minuteman fields. During the 1980s, 50 former Minuteman launch facilities in Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, and Tango Flights were converted for the LGM-118A Peacekeeper missile. The 400th Missile Squadron operated that Peacekeeper force. R-05 was one of those converted Romeo Flight launch facilities.

R-05 is no longer an active missile site. The Peacekeeper mission at F.E. Warren ended on 2005-09-19, when the last Peacekeeper missiles were removed from strategic alert and the 400th Missile Squadron's Peacekeeper role ended. F.E. Warren later announced that 50 former Peacekeeper launch facilities were selected for permanent elimination in accordance with New START requirements. The public Air Force announcement described the former launch facilities as previously deactivated and selected for elimination, with work involving the permanent filling of launch facility structures.

For the full Romeo Flight narrative, see R-01 Missile Alert Facility / Launch Control Center

Chronology

• 1964 The broader F.E. Warren Minuteman missile field was entering operational service during the mid-1960s; R-05 was part of the Minuteman-origin field.
• 1970s F.E. Warren's Minuteman force transitioned into Minuteman III service; F.E. Warren public history states that Minuteman II was never deployed at Warren.
• 1980s R-05 was among the former Minuteman launch facilities in the 400th Missile Squadron field converted for Peacekeeper service.
• 1986 F.E. Warren reached initial Peacekeeper operational capability.
• 1988 The 400th Missile Squadron's Peacekeeper force reached its full 50-missile alert posture in modified Minuteman III silos.
• 2005-09-19 The Peacekeeper missile mission ended at F.E. Warren AFB.
• 2013-08-23 F.E. Warren announced that 50 previously deactivated Peacekeeper launch facilities were selected for permanent elimination under New START requirements.

Read about the Peacekeeper Missile at F.E. Warren AFB

All Peacekeeper Missile Silo Locations

All Minuteman/Peacekeeper Missile Silo Locations