490th Missile Squadron, Strategic missile squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, US.
The 490th Missile Squadron is a military unit stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana that operates and maintains Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles. These weapons systems are distributed across multiple launch facilities spread throughout central Montana.
The unit was established in 1942 at Karachi, India, and conducted bombing missions throughout the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. It became known as the 'Burma Bridge Busters' for developing specialized bombing techniques to destroy Japanese communication networks.
The squadron earned the name 'Burma Bridge Busters' through specialized bombing techniques developed for destroying Japanese communication infrastructure.
The unit operates under strict security protocols and only authorized personnel can access the base. The facility is not open to visitors since it remains an active military installation housing critical nuclear weapons systems.
The squadron manages roughly one third of the United States' land-based nuclear deterrent force through a network of underground missile silos. These geographically scattered launch sites span hundreds of kilometers across central Montana.
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