Logbook
Photo credit: Jin S. Lee
Accession Number: C.2017.170.1
Dimensions: 6.5 in X 9.5 in X 1 in
Dimensions (Metric): 16.51 cm X 24.13 cm X 2.54 cm
Dimensions (Metric): 16.51 cm X 24.13 cm X 2.54 cm
Source: Lt. Col. Brande H. Walton
Credit Line: Gift of Lt. Col. Brande H. Walton
Description
MISSILE ALERT LOGBOOK belonging to United States Air Force Captain and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Nuclear Launch Officer, Brande Walton. The front of the logbook is light blue with black printed text: "MISSILE | ALERT | LOGBOOK " and two images of launching missiles. The book has a spiral binding at the top.
MISSILE ALERT LOGBOOK belonging to United States Air Force Captain and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Nuclear Launch Officer, Brande Walton. The front of the logbook is light blue with black printed text: "MISSILE | ALERT | LOGBOOK " and two images of launching missiles. The book has a spiral binding at the top.
Historical Notes
Brande Walton's logbook records precision nuclear control alerts beginning May 30, 2001. Notable is the page for alert No. 12 dated September 11, 2001. Written description: "American Terrorist Attack againt [sic] Twin Towers and Pentagon. Malmstrom AFB under Force Protection Delta. Rest Status not authorized. 24 hr shifts with previous crew for 4 1/2 days. Rest status is authorized in middle of day one. New schedule until Sep 23. 4 days on, 3 off. (24 hr alert in capsule, 24 rest status upstairs at MAF, 24 alert, 24 in MAF). Relief crew upstairs. Exercise cancelled. Weekly checks changed to monthly."
Brande Walton's logbook records precision nuclear control alerts beginning May 30, 2001. Notable is the page for alert No. 12 dated September 11, 2001. Written description: "American Terrorist Attack againt [sic] Twin Towers and Pentagon. Malmstrom AFB under Force Protection Delta. Rest Status not authorized. 24 hr shifts with previous crew for 4 1/2 days. Rest status is authorized in middle of day one. New schedule until Sep 23. 4 days on, 3 off. (24 hr alert in capsule, 24 rest status upstairs at MAF, 24 alert, 24 in MAF). Relief crew upstairs. Exercise cancelled. Weekly checks changed to monthly."
Curator's Comment
On September 11, 2001, Brande Walton was a captain in the United States Air Force (“USAF”) and an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (“ICBM”) Nuclear Launch Officer stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana.
On 9/11, Walton was in a pre-departure briefing when reports of the first strike on the World Trade Center reached her. The colonel leading the briefing seemed perplexed by the news. While relaying it to those in the room, he surmised that the crash must have been an unusual accident, and continued with his meeting agenda. The strike on the South Tower 17 minutes later made it clear the United States was under attack.
Walton recalled that operations from this point forward went into “Threat Condition Delta,” indicating that another attack could be imminent. All missile combat crew members were ordered to report to the missile alert facilities, state-wide. Walton, her crew partner, and the base chief/facility manager were dispatched to the nearest facility. En route, their car radio reported more late-breaking news of the terrorist attacks. Upon reaching the missile alert facility, they were briefed by security forces before Walton and her crew partner entered the secure underground capsule to relieve the pair of Missileers who had been covering the previous 24-hour-long shift. Under normal circumstances, the relieved Missileers would have proceeded to their respective homes, or back to base for rest. However, under these exceptional circumstances, they remained on “topside” duty for 24 hours and would switch off with Walton’s team in this capacity for five full days. The grueling nature of their schedule, under continual revision as new updates arrived about the attacks, is demonstrated in the notes that Walton jotted down in her Missile Alert Logbook.
HIDE
On September 11, 2001, Brande Walton was a captain in the United States Air Force (“USAF”) and an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (“ICBM”) Nuclear Launch Officer stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana.
On 9/11, Walton was in a pre-departure briefing when reports of the first strike on the World Trade Center reached her. The colonel leading the briefing seemed perplexed by the news. While relaying it to those in the room, he surmised that the crash must have been an unusual accident, and continued with his meeting agenda. The strike on the South Tower 17 minutes later made it clear the United States was under attack.
Walton recalled that operations from this point forward went into “Threat Condition Delta,” indicating that another attack could be imminent. All missile combat crew members were ordered to report to the missile alert facilities, state-wide. Walton, her crew partner, and the base chief/facility manager were dispatched to the nearest facility. En route, their car radio reported more late-breaking news of the terrorist attacks. Upon reaching the missile alert facility, they were briefed by security forces before Walton and her crew partner entered the secure underground capsule to relieve the pair of Missileers who had been covering the previous 24-hour-long shift. Under normal circumstances, the relieved Missileers would have proceeded to their respective homes, or back to base for rest. However, under these exceptional circumstances, they remained on “topside” duty for 24 hours and would switch off with Walton’s team in this capacity for five full days. The grueling nature of their schedule, under continual revision as new updates arrived about the attacks, is demonstrated in the notes that Walton jotted down in her Missile Alert Logbook.
HIDE
