CONSTRUCTION HISTORY

 

TITAN I

MISSILE BASE CONSTRUCTION

451st STRATEGIC MISSILE WING

724th & 725th STRATEGIC MISSILE SQUADRONS

LOWRY  AFB

DENVER, COLORADO  

 

PHOTOS OF ALL 6 LOWRY AFB SITES TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE U. S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS CONSTRUCTION HISTORY

 

AREA ENGINEER

 

AERIAL VIEW OF TYPICAL COMPLEX UNDER CONSTRUCTION SHOWING OPEN CUT EXCAVATION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF SILOS, POWERHOUSE AND OTHER FACILITIES.  UPON COMPLETION, ALL FEATURES WILL BECOME UNDERGROUND FACILITIES WITH ONLY ACCESS HATCHES BEING VISIBLE.

 

TYPICAL AERIAL VIEW SHOWING PROGRESS.  PREFAB TUNNEL NOT IN PLACE.

1 MARCH 1960

 

TYPICAL AERIAL VIEW SHOWING PROGRESS TO AUGUST 1960 SHOWING MUCH OF TUNNEL IN PLACE AND BACKFILLED.  REMAINING PREFAB TUNNEL SECTIONS AND JUNCTIONS IN FOREGROUND ARE AWAITING PLACEMENT.

 

MINING OPERATIONS FOR EXCAVATION FOR VARIOUS SILOS CONSTRUCTED AT EACH COMPLEX. 

NOTE:  THE USE OF RING BEAMS TO PREVENT EXCAVATION FAILURE

 

RING BEAM PLACEMENT AS MINING OPERATIONS CONTINUE DOWNWARD. 

NOTE:  PLACEMENT OF MESH AND GUNITE TO PREVENT SLOUGHING OF EXCAVATED WALLS

 

PLACING OF REINFORCING STEEL AND CONCRETE FORMS IN MISSILE SILO.  PERSONNEL ACCESS STAIRWAY, SCAFFOLDING AND STEEL PLACEMENT.  WORKING DEPTH 155 FEET BELOW FINISH GRADE.

 

FORMING FOR POUR #9 AND PLACING OF REINFORCING STEEL FOR TYPICAL MISSILE SILOS SHOWING THE SILOS AT POINT OF FLARING OUT APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET DOWN FROM FINISH ELEVATION.

 

SCAFFOLDING FOR POWERHOUSE DOME CONSTRUCTION.  FORMS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM LOWER LIFT AND PLACEMENT OF FORMS FOR REMAINDER OF DOME IS INCOMPLETE IN THIS VIEW.

 

REINFORCING STEEL AND FORMING IN PLACE FOR UPPER DOME AREA FOR POWERHOUSE OR CONTROL CENTER

 

WATERPROOFING BEING PLACED ON CONTROL CENTER DOME.  MOST MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT FOR INTERIORS TO BE BROUGHT IN THROUGH TUNNEL WHICH CONNECTS TO OPENING ON FLOOR SIDE.

 

PREFABRICATED TUNNEL JUNCTION BEING TRANSPORTED TO A COMPLEX CONSTRUCTION SITE FOR PLACEMENT AND BACKFILLING.

 

PLACING AND ALIGNING OF PREFABRICATED PERSONNEL TUNNEL JUNCTION SECTIONS PRIOR TO BACKFILL OPERATIONS.  OPEN CUT EXCAVATION OPTION ELECTED BY CONTRACTOR FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS.

 

VIEW OF PRESTRESSING MACHINE WRAPPING #18 WIRE AROUND BASE  OF POWERHOUSE PRIOR TO BACKFILL

 

VIEW OF REINFORCING STEEL PLACED PRIOR TO #12 MISSILE SILO POUR.

TOPPING OUT OF MISSILE SILO

 

ELECTRICAL CONDUIT INSTALLATION IN A MISSILE SILO.  THIS INSTALLATION IS FOLLOWED BY THE PROPELLANT LOADING SYSTEM, FUEL PIPING, AIR CONDITIONING AND ELEVATOR.

 

PIPING AND CABLE TRAYS IN TUNNEL RUN BETWEEN ANTENNA TERMINAL AND POWERHOUSE / CONTROL CENTER AREA

 

SPRINGS IN PLACE FOR SHOCK MOUNTING OF FLOOR BEAMS IN PROPELLANT TERMINAL

 

BLAST LOCK NUMBER 1 BEING PLACED.

NOTE:  FORMING FOR BLAST LOCK NUMBER 2 IN BACKGROUND

 

AIR FILTRATION STRUCTURE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.  TUNNEL JUNCTION PLACED AT POWERHOUSE AND CONTROL CENTER ACCESS PORTAL SILO UNDER CONSTRUCTION

 

ANTENNA SILO DOORS INSTALLED AND TIED OPEN.  FINISH GRADE WILL BE TOP OF CONCRETE FOR SILO

 

ACCESS PORTAL SILO UNDER CONSTRUCTION PRIOR TO BACKFILL.

NOTE:  TUNNELS AND FUEL TANKS IN PLACE

 

INSTALLING HIGH PRESSURE NITROGEN TANKS IN THE PROPELLANT TERMINAL

 

VIEW OF T-201  LOX TANK UNLOADING FACILITIES AT BUCKLEY FIELD

 

VIEW OF T-201  LOX TANK BEING TRANSPORTED FROM BUCKLEY FIELD TO A LAUNCHING SITE

 

VIEW OF T-201  LOX TANK BEING SET INTO POSITION AT A LAUNCHING SITE

 

T-201 LOX TANK BEING SET INTO POSITION WITH THE AID OF A TD-24 CRAWLER

 

LOOKING EAST SHOWING NEARLY COMPLETED ACCESS PORTAL SILO IN CENTER OF PICTURE WITH THE POWERHOUSE EXHAUST TUNNEL AND DIESEL STORAGE TANKS SHOWN AT RIGHT

 

TUNNEL SECTIONS BEING PLACED AROUND T-201 LOX TANK

 

ANTENNA SILOS WITH SILO DOORS OPEN

 

PAD BEING CONSTRUCTED FOR ATHENA COMPUTER LOCATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE CONTROL CENTER

 

LOX CRIB IN MISSILE SILO.  TUNNEL OPENING IN BACKGROUND LEADS TO PROPELLANT TERMINAL

 

IRON RUST FILTER TANKS INSTALLED ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF POWERHOUSE

 

LOOKING TOWARD CONTROL CENTER SHOWING CABLE TRAYS AND CONDUITS

 

DIESEL ENGINE AND EXHAUST PIPES WITH ASBESTOS COVERING BEING INSTALLED

 

VIEW FROM MEZZANINE LEVEL OF POWERHOUSE SHOWING ICE BANKS AND MISCELLANEOUS PIPING

 

POWERHOUSE SHOWING DIESEL ENGINES, GENERATORS AND EXHAUST SYSTEMS

 

DRYING ROOM

PIPE BEING PLACED ON TABLE TO BE DRIED WITH CLEAN HOT FILTERED NITROGEN GAS

 

CLEAN ROOM

A CLEAN PIPE BEING INSPECTED FOR PARTICLES OVER 150 MICRONS, HYDROCARBONS, DEFECTS OR OTHER SPECIFICATIONS

 

WRAPPING ROOM

CLEAN PIPE IS PROTECTED WITH POLYETHYLENE GASKETS AND STEEL FLANGES FOR SHIPMENT TO THE FIELD

 

DRYING ROOM FOR BLACK PIPE

WORKMAN DRYING FLEXIBLE HOSE WITH SUPPLY OF CLEAN HOT FILTERED NITROGEN GAS

 

PROPELLANT LOADING SYSTEM INSTALLATION IN THE PROPELLANT TERMINAL SHOWING SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR VENT LINES ON UPPER FLOOR

 

WELDING PIPE SUPPORTS IN PROPELLANT TERMINAL ON LOWER FLOOR

 

PROPELLANT LOADING SYSTEM INSTALLATION ON LOWER FLOOR SHOWING HORIZONTAL SHOCK SPRINGS BETWEEN PROPELLANT TERMINAL WALL AND SHOCK MOUNTED COLUMN.  SPRING ISOLATED AIR EXHAUST BLOWER IN RIGHT FOREGROUND

 

PROPELLANT LOADING SYSTEM PIPING ON LOWER LEVEL FLOOR OF PROPELLANT TERMINAL LEADING INTO LOX TUNNEL.  8 INCH LOX LOADING LINE AT BOTTOM.  INSULATED TOPPING LINES ABOVE.

 

8 INCH LOX LOADING FLOW CONTROL VALVE DURING LIQUID NITROGEN COLD FLOW TESTING.  UPPER FLOOR OF PROPELLANT TERMINAL.

 

8 INCH LOX LINE UNDER COLD FLOW TEST AT ENTRANCE TO LOX TUNNEL. 

NOTE:  GIMBLE JOINTS AND CIRCULAR ALUMINUM AIR EXHAUST DUCT

 

LIQUID NITROGEN "BOIL OFF" DURING COLD FLOW TESTS AT MISSILE SILO

 

FORMING AND RE-STEEL ON MISSILE SILO DOOR

NOTE:  HINGE SHAFT

 

PLACING CONCRETE FOR MISSILE SILO DOOR LEAF

 

MISSILE SILO DOORS IMMEDIATELY AFTER RAISING.  EACH LEAF WEIGHS IN EXCESS OF 110 TONS

 

VIEW FROM MEZZANINE LEVEL OF POWERHOUSE SHOWING WORTHINGTON DIESEL POWER UNITS AND EXHAUST SYSTEM.  THREE UNIT ICE BANK REFRIGERATION PLANT IN FOREGROUND.

 

VIEW FROM MEZZANINE LEVEL OF POWERHOUSE SHOWING ICE BANKS, POWER PLANT AND SWITCHGEAR ON FIRST FLOOR.  AIR, WATER AND LUBE OIL TANKS ON MEZZANINE FLOOR.

 

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS

 

TURN OVER PARTY

 

COL HAYES  OF THE BALLISTIC MISSILE CONSTRUCTION OFFICE PRESENTING AWARD TO COL CLEMA, AREA ENGINEER

 

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS

 

MISSILE SILO DOORS OPEN, THE TITAN I MISSILE IS LIFTED TO FIRING POSITION ALONG WITH ITS UMBILICAL LINES AND TOWER

 

WRAPPING ROOM

CLEAN PIPE IS PROTECTED WITH POLYETHYLENE GASKETS AND STEEL FLANGES FOR SHIPMENT TO THE FIELD

 

DRYING ROOM FOR BLACK PIPE

WORKMAN DRYING FLEXIBLE HOSE WITH SUPPLY OF CLEAN HOT FILTERED NITROGEN GAS

 

PROPELLANT LOADING SYSTEM INSTALLATION IN THE PROPELLANT TERMINAL SHOWING SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR VENT LINES ON UPPER FLOOR

 

WELDING PIPE SUPPORTS IN PROPELLANT TERMINAL ON LOWER FLOOR

 

PROPELLANT LOADING SYSTEM INSTALLATION ON LOWER FLOOR SHOWING HORIZONTAL SHOCK SPRINGS BETWEEN PROPELLANT TERMINAL WALL AND SHOCK MOUNTED COLUMN.  SPRING ISOLATED AIR EXHAUST BLOWER IN RIGHT FOREGROUND

 

PROPELLANT LOADING SYSTEM PIPING ON LOWER LEVEL FLOOR OF PROPELLANT TERMINAL LEADING INTO LOX TUNNEL.  8 INCH LOX LOADING LINE AT BOTTOM.  INSULATED TOPPING LINES ABOVE.

 

8 INCH LOX LOADING FLOW CONTROL VALVE DURING LIQUID NITROGEN COLD FLOW TESTING.  UPPER FLOOR OF PROPELLANT TERMINAL.

 

8 INCH LOX LINE UNDER COLD FLOW TEST AT ENTRANCE TO LOX TUNNEL. 

NOTE:  GIMBLE JOINTS AND CIRCULAR ALUMINUM AIR EXHAUST DUCT

 

LIQUID NITROGEN "BOIL OFF" DURING COLD FLOW TESTS AT MISSILE SILO

 

FORMING AND RE-STEEL ON MISSILE SILO DOOR

NOTE:  HINGE SHAFT

 

PLACING CONCRETE FOR MISSILE SILO DOOR LEAF

 

MISSILE SILO DOORS IMMEDIATELY AFTER RAISING.  EACH LEAF WEIGHS IN EXCESS OF 110 TONS

 

VIEW FROM MEZZANINE LEVEL OF POWERHOUSE SHOWING WORTHINGTON DIESEL POWER UNITS AND EXHAUST SYSTEM.  THREE UNIT ICE BANK REFRIGERATION PLANT IN FOREGROUND.

 

VIEW FROM MEZZANINE LEVEL OF POWERHOUSE SHOWING ICE BANKS, POWER PLANT AND SWITCHGEAR ON FIRST FLOOR.  AIR, WATER AND LUBE OIL TANKS ON MEZZANINE FLOOR.

 

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS

 

TURN OVER PARTY

 

COL HAYES  OF THE BALLISTIC MISSILE CONSTRUCTION OFFICE PRESENTING AWARD TO COL CLEMA, AREA ENGINEER

 

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS

 

MISSILE SILO DOORS OPEN, THE TITAN I MISSILE IS LIFTED TO FIRING POSITION ALONG WITH ITS UMBILICAL LINES AND TOWER

 

HOME ] UP ] AERIAL ] INTERIOR ] EXTERIOR ] LOWRY  AFB ] [ CONSTRUCTION  HISTORY ] DECONTAMINATION ]

 

 

Copyrighted ©  1996-2007   The Housing Group, Inc.   All Rights Reserved.