A Thank You to Al Alvareztorres and a request

Al Alvareztorres Jr.

This website was started by Al and he put together the original web pages, using material that he had collected when he was at VAFB. I think many of you remember him as “Big Al”, and working on putting together presentations for Col. Broshek.
The 51st MMS, was always receiving awards for its MCIS status and safety record. In fact the trophy was finally retired to the 51st MMS and then put on display by the 576FTS, at their old headquarters. Note article in History Section.

In March 2003, Al passed away and the website was “off the air” for sometime. With the help of people at ARRL, where he worked, and efforts by our member Ken Kaplan the site was restored in 2004 and back on the air.

In 2008, I took over maintaining the site and updating it to its current format, using photographs from my several trips to VAFB and in addition material obtained from members of the organization. This website provides a link back to the days of SAC and a time when VAFB and the 51st MMS were deeply involved in major events of the Cold War, relating to our IRBM and ICBM systems. The 51st MMS was the supplier of weapons and ordinance to the all of the missile squadrons : 392nd THOR, 394th MINUTEMAN, 395th TITAN and 576th ATLAS, including the solid rocket boosters used at the SLC sites, this was unique within the USAF.

I have the same request every year for new old photographs to add to this website, as we have found out during our many visits back to VAFB, this history has been lost with the new organizations. This website is all that remains to document that period of time, as we were the winners of the Cold War.

Peter Taylor