Coming home means many things to many people, but to the people of the 51st Munitions Maintenance Squadron (MMS) Association it means revitalizing the days they spent here at Vandenberg AFB from 1958 to 1972. This week marked the 40th Anniversary of the organization and they decided to come home to celebrate. The 51st has a rich heritage and their accomplishments range from standing up the first missile on alert here at Vandenberg in 1958 to processing every variation of missile in the fleet during those days for test launch. This would include Thor, Atlas, Titan, Minuteman I, II, III and a variety of experimental missiles.

The reason I’m writing this article is to share their special story. I’m the Superintendent of today’s 576th Munitions Flight and our relationship with the 51st started about 14 months ago when retired CMSgt John Lindgren, a member of the 51st, came to Vandenberg TDY for a Joint Test Assembly inspection. He explained some of the history surrounding the facilities in the Munitions Storage Area and peaked our curiosity about the past. He explained the 51st was working on their 40th Anniversary and asked if there might be some interest from our flight. Little did he know the response would be so strong. Not only were we interested, but we tried to make this 40th Anniversary as special as we could make it.

The reunion began on Wednesday the 13th and finished with a banquet at the Inn of Lompoc on the Saturday the 16th. The members of the 51st were treated to a tour of the 576th Peacekeeper Payload Assembly Building and Munitions Storage Area on Friday. The Munitions Storage Area was their old stomping grounds and the tour really sealed to coming home theme for each of the members of the 51st. The memories came pouring out and since many of the spouse were along, they were able to visit an area that was taboo for them and virtually everyone during the existence of the 51st MMS.

For me the icing on the cake was interaction of then and now. The stories of how processing was done and what each of our facilities were used for provided a vital link to the past for the “youngsters” of the 576th. The connection between the 51st and the 576th Munitions people runs deep and the passion they have for what they did while here at Vandenberg is obvious in each and every story. These were SAC Warriors and the foundation of today’s Space Applications. The motto on the 51st patch they proudly wear on their hats and jackets is “Primi Toto In Caeli Spatio” which translated means “First In Space”.

The banquet culminated the week long reunion and Lt Col Robert E. Wood the Commander of the 576th Flight Test Squadron was the Keynote Speaker. He eloquently tied then and now together to illustrate how important what the 51st MMS did during their watch to establish the rock solid foundation for what the 576th Munitions Flight does today. The evening closed with the reading of the role of comrades in arms who have passed, gone but certainly not forgotten. This was truly a trip down memory lane and although they’re going to have the affair in St Louis next year, they promise to be back in the year 2000. The evening closed with a send off from the 51st Treasurer and resident of Lompoc CMSgt (Ret) Joe Mathis who said, “May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun warm your face and may the Lord keep you safely in the palm of his hand until we meet again”.