Was anyone in white sands when the missile came off the launcher and hit the ground, spinning out of control. I was a few hundred yards away with Lt. Curry watching the launch when it fell to earth, we got a kick out of the vips that got to stay close and view the launch beating the hell out of each other trying to get away when it headed for the grand stand, it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen once I knew the missle was not going to explode. It was caused by the top of the track falling onto the drivers head ( I can't remember his name) injuring his neck and causing the track to wreck dumping the missile off the launcher. The crew failed to notify anyone of the little nugget of info that the missile about to be fired could be damaged, Thanks 2nd fire bravo 1-12th for one of those memories that I will cherish: a live nuked missile heading across the sand, taking a turn back for us then dying out.

1984, I think? Funny as hell.

priceless

When did this happen? what year?

I can relate to what happened. 2nd fire C BTRY 2/42 in Crete July '86, our Plt. just scored 100% that year. what was suppose to happen was when the missile was laid, everyone except for the Plt. Leader and Launcher Specialist was suppose to catch the bus up the hill to watch the launch, except the bus hauled ass leaving all of us looking for cover during the countdown. Instead of aborting the launch, the Safety officers made us run and I do mean run to the "Bunkered" launch pit where the firing device was. Remember, in Crete, they doubled the length of the firing device cable, so it was a 200m sprint to the bunker; the look on the German Safety officer was priceless as we came running up. He allowed us all up to the entrance to watch the launch, mind you the bunker was offset in front of the SPL. When the missile launched we knew something wasn't right, it was smoking like it was suppose too, but it all of a sudden stopped and it had enough momentum to arc over our position and the cliffs and landed in the Med. It was rotating so slow that we we able to read "U.S. Army" on the MMA as it was spinning. It was a tad bit scary but gave us all something to talk about.

Anyone remember the one from 2/377 in Crete ASP 78(?)that went up, did a few flips, then hit the water? It washed up on the beach a couple days later and some Greek fishermen found it. I remember being in a rubber suit while we checked for leaks. Hot as HELL!

This Happened to b 1-12th in 1984

I REMEMBER,I WAS THERE!! MAN THEY FREAKED OUT AND TOOK EVERYONES CAMERAS AND STUFF.THEY STUCK US IN 5 TONS AND GOT US THE HELL OUTTA THERE,WE DIDN`T KNOW ANYTHING EXCEPT THERE WAS A LOT OF RUMBLING AND IRFNA FLOATIN AROUND.C BATTERY 1/12TH, WE WERE WATCHING YOU GUYS SCREWING UP!!

pppRRRiiiCCCllllEEEEsssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was A Btry. but was working for Service Btry at the time it was quite the deal, it had people running that I didn't know could run. Masks went on pretty quick too.

I still remember the names of IRFNA and UDMH. Is this correct? Inhibited Red Fuming Nitric Acid and Unsymetrical DiMethyl Hydrozine. We had a situation in Crailsheim, Germany, 2/42FA and/or 4/12 FA, where the training round started leaking the baby oil or castor oil, whatever was put in the rounds to simulate the actual weight, and everyone hauled ass out of the motor bay! The missile warrant had to come down and verify that it wasn't dangerous... HAHAHAHA!

I remember at least 3 f**-ups that the 1/12 FA had at WSMR. My favorite was the firing on RAD-SCAT (Northrup Strip). The missile kind of fired (just the SPGG fired and motor squibbs). This poor missile ker-plunked of the front end of the SPL while the SPGG kept the smoke blowing out of the ports. Looked pretty ugly! Let me tell you, the most interesting part of every mishap was old CW3 Gerry McNabb. His face was always full of sheer girly panic..lol. He would always freak out big time! I will have to say, that whenever I was at a Lance firing, I had my vehicle running and pointed out of the LC. I would watch standing by the truck with the Door wide open and ready to roll right the F**& out of there!

BTW. Lt Curry was a really kewl cat.

heres one for you...concerning crete and the missile
final point before firing and capt mcelroy and lt napper are just standing at the rear of a live round fully armed and ready to launch. i had to get specialist 4 unger to get them out before the famseg evaluator failed us out. unger just about got an article 15 for jumping dead off on the officers. unger had a tendency to be a hot head. if i hadnt called for a cease fire both officers would have been toast literally. needless to say those two had a special kinda meeting with col harnisch. this was the shining moment of ocs training for napper and mcelroy, unger didnot get busted and 1st launch ended up doing the live fire. this was in 1985 while i was at b btry 1st and 80th.
regards
griff

Griff, that was a geat story, I was in A Battery then but didn't ever here about that incident. wow.

I was also in A Btry but I believe that was 86 - 87 (memory seems to have faded a bit). Griff, Weren't you in charge of 1st fire?

Dan Bullion DFW, TX