The area of the Lowry range was initially part of the 1937 Buckley Field's 102.4 sq mi (265 km2) that became an Army Airfield in 1942.[1] In World War II, bombing with "practice and HE bombs", training in "fixed and flexible gunnery", and rifle training were conducted at the range.[1] The 1st of the Army Air Forces Bombardier Schools was at Lowry from July 1940 through March 14, 1941,[2] used the Buckley range and graduated 3 instructor classes of graduates who opened the bombardier school at Barksdale Field.[3]
Camp Bizerte at the range[4] was a World War II training facility for simulating an overseas Army field camp.[5] Part of the 12-week AAF Photography Course at Lowry Field in 1943 was conducted at Camp Bizerte.[6]
Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range was designated after the "Tech-Division Air Training Command" on September 20, 1946, transferred[7] 93.5 sq mi (242 km2) to the custody of Lowry Field, and the 9800th Technical Service Unit cleared the 1st site at LBGR--1,920 acres (3.00 sq mi)—of munitions, and the site was certified along with the "BT1" site as clear on November 16, 1948.[1] Post-war the west end of LBGR was used as an explosives demolition site.[1]
The "Air-to-Ground Bombing and Gunnery Mission" at LBGR terminated in 1956,[1]: 2–1 and RBS by the redesignated (1955) Detachment 1, 11th RBS Sq, continued until it moved to the former La Junta Army Airfield (La Junta Bomb Plot, 1959-1990).[8] In 1963, a portion of LBGR (Lowry Missile Site No. 1) had been "cleared of surface MEC"—munitions and explosives of concern).[1] From 1960 and 1980, ~63,600 acres (99.4 sq mi) of the LBGR were transferred to various other state and federal agencies and private owners.[9]
Of the 6 missile complexes near Denver, the 725th Strategic Missile Squadron's -B and -C complexes were not within the area of the Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range. The urban regions (yellow) are shown in their 21st century size, not the actual area when the approximate 18 Titan missiles were constructed and operational (1958-1965).
Lowry Missile Site No. 1 ("Lowry Air Force Missile Site" before being renamed in 1960) of 85.1 sq mi (220 km2) included a large portion of the LBGR[1] and began in September 1958 with the start of construction prior to excavation[7] for the eventual 4 complexes (1 off of LBGR,--additional Site No. 2 also had a complex on the former range). Construction on the 1st operational complex, Titan I Missile Complex 1A, began in April 1959, mining excavation of 1/2 million cubic yards of rock[10] was completed by 4 June 1961, and the site was finished in December 1961[7] (the dedication was on April 18, 1962). Complex 1A was on 442.42 acres (179.04 ha) with ~36 acres (15 ha) "bounded by a chain-link fence".[7] Missiles were assembled at the Glenn L. Martin plant southwest of Denver (the co-located test site with 4 stands had been transferred to the Air Force),[10]: 48 and Lowry AFB's 724th Strategic Missile Squadron (April 26, 1961 – June 25, 1965) commanded the Site No. 1 complexes. Site No. 1 was adjacent to the Lowry Landfill on the west and Complex 1A was privatized on January 31, 1969.[7]
In January 1964 the Secretary of Defense informed congress the Titan 1 bases would be closed in 1965,[10] and the last Lowry missile was taken off alert status March 26, 1965 (all Titan 1s were in storage by April 18).[11] (Titan 1s were stored at Mira Loma Air Force Station, California, until being scrapped in Spring 1966.)[11] Titan I Missile Complex 2A on the former LBGR was transferred to the Department of the Army on October 12, 1977.[7]
Denver area complexesedit
A total of six missile complex sites operated in the Denver area from 1960 – 1965.
In 1969, Lowry Training Annex adjacent to the former LBGR area was established after the Department of the Navy transferred ~3,700 acres (5.8 sq mi) to the U.S. Air Force[9] (the Navy had nearby land as early as July 30, 1948, and used the bombing range in 1952 for training).[7]
Bennett Army National Guard facilityedit
The Bennett Army National Guard facility of 242 acres (0.378 sq mi) at the former Complex 2A (southeast corner of LBGR) was a Colorado Army National Guard military installation used for training.[1] In 2006 the Bennett facility was excessed by the government and was the "last federal property transferred"[1]: 2–1 of the former Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range.
In 2012, oil was struck on the Former Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range.[15]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghij(PDF) (Report). Omaha District, US Army Corps of Engineers. April 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 6, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
^. Ancestry.com. Archived from the original (transcribed text from various sources, including St. John) on June 14, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
^St. John, Philip A (April 15, 1998). Bombardiers in WWII. Vol. II. Turner Publishing Company. p. 13. Fifty instructors arrived [at Barksdale] from the first three classes at Lowry Field, in February 1941. (from Volume I 2012-04-19 at the Wayback Machine
^"Camp Bizerte Prepares Soldiers For Duty at the Front". The News and Courier. July 25, 1943. Retrieved March 24, 2013. …you may come, quite suddenly, on Bizerte. Not the North African outpost to be sure--but Camp Bizerte, an army training post designed to give soldiers, battle-bound, a taste of life in Tunisia or some overseas war area.
^ abcdefgSummary of LAFB Activities since 1937, Lowry Area History 29 September 1958 to 16 December 1961, as-built drawings (Word document). asuwlink.uwyo.edu/~jimkirk/Lowry1A.doc. A portion of the FLBGR, then known as the Lowry Missile Site No. 1 and covering 54,446 acres, was cleared of surface MEC in 1963.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
^. Deseret News. February 21, 1995. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
^ ab1995 US Army Corps of Engineers report (Report). St. Louis. cited throughout the Five-Year Review Plan
^ abcLauber, John F; research by Hess, Jeffrey A.; both of Hess, Roise and Company (December 1993). Titan Missile Test Facilities (PDF) (HAER No. CO-75). Martin Marietta. Retrieved July 23, 2012. Newsweek...1955...the IBM [Intercontinental Ballistic Missile]{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)[permanent dead link]
^ ab. www.astronautix.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2010.
^"Anadarko hits oil on old Lowry bombing range in Denver area". May 31, 2012.
January 01, 1970
lowry, bombing, gunnery, range, denver, bomb, plot, strategic, command, radar, station, radar, bomb, scoring, genesee, mountain, park, training, annex, lbgr, world, cold, facility, that, included, titan, missile, launch, complexes, southeast, denver, colorado,. For the Denver Bomb Plot Strategic Air Command radar station for Radar Bomb Scoring see Genesee Mountain Park Training Annex The Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range LBGR was a World War II and Cold War facility that included 4 of the 6 HGM 25A Titan I missile launch complexes southeast of Denver Colorado 1 Contents 1 Army Air Force range 2 Missile complexes 2 1 Denver area complexes 3 Lowry Training Annex 4 Bennett Army National Guard facility 5 ReferencesArmy Air Force range editThe area of the Lowry range was initially part of the 1937 Buckley Field s 102 4 sq mi 265 km2 that became an Army Airfield in 1942 1 In World War II bombing with practice and HE bombs training in fixed and flexible gunnery and rifle training were conducted at the range 1 The 1st of the Army Air Forces Bombardier Schools was at Lowry from July 1940 through March 14 1941 2 used the Buckley range and graduated 3 instructor classes of graduates who opened the bombardier school at Barksdale Field 3 Camp Bizerte at the range 4 was a World War II training facility for simulating an overseas Army field camp 5 Part of the 12 week AAF Photography Course at Lowry Field in 1943 was conducted at Camp Bizerte 6 Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range was designated after the Tech Division Air Training Command on September 20 1946 transferred 7 93 5 sq mi 242 km2 to the custody of Lowry Field and the 9800th Technical Service Unit cleared the 1st site at LBGR 1 920 acres 3 00 sq mi of munitions and the site was certified along with the BT1 site as clear on November 16 1948 1 Post war the west end of LBGR was used as an explosives demolition site 1 The Air to Ground Bombing and Gunnery Mission at LBGR terminated in 1956 1 2 1 and RBS by the redesignated 1955 Detachment 1 11th RBS Sq continued until it moved to the former La Junta Army Airfield La Junta Bomb Plot 1959 1990 8 In 1963 a portion of LBGR Lowry Missile Site No 1 had been cleared of surface MEC munitions and explosives of concern 1 From 1960 and 1980 63 600 acres 99 4 sq mi of the LBGR were transferred to various other state and federal agencies and private owners 9 nbsp Of the 6 missile complexes near Denver the 725th Strategic Missile Squadron s B and C complexes were not within the area of the Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range The urban regions yellow are shown in their 21st century size not the actual area when the approximate 18 Titan missiles were constructed and operational 1958 1965 Missile complexes editFor the two Titan 1 complexes not on the bombing range see 725th Strategic Missile Squadron Lowry Missile Site No 1 Lowry Air Force Missile Site before being renamed in 1960 of 85 1 sq mi 220 km2 included a large portion of the LBGR 1 and began in September 1958 with the start of construction prior to excavation 7 for the eventual 4 complexes 1 off of LBGR additional Site No 2 also had a complex on the former range Construction on the 1st operational complex Titan I Missile Complex 1A began in April 1959 mining excavation of 1 2 million cubic yards of rock 10 was completed by 4 June 1961 and the site was finished in December 1961 7 the dedication was on April 18 1962 Complex 1A was on 442 42 acres 179 04 ha with 36 acres 15 ha bounded by a chain link fence 7 Missiles were assembled at the Glenn L Martin plant southwest of Denver the co located test site with 4 stands had been transferred to the Air Force 10 48 and Lowry AFB s 724th Strategic Missile Squadron April 26 1961 June 25 1965 commanded the Site No 1 complexes Site No 1 was adjacent to the Lowry Landfill on the west and Complex 1A was privatized on January 31 1969 7 In January 1964 the Secretary of Defense informed congress the Titan 1 bases would be closed in 1965 10 and the last Lowry missile was taken off alert status March 26 1965 all Titan 1s were in storage by April 18 11 Titan 1s were stored at Mira Loma Air Force Station California until being scrapped in Spring 1966 11 Titan I Missile Complex 2A on the former LBGR was transferred to the Department of the Army on October 12 1977 7 Denver area complexes edit A total of six missile complex sites operated in the Denver area from 1960 1965 On the Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range724 A SW of Watkins Colorado 39 38 52 57 N 104 41 24 54 W 39 6479361 N 104 6901500 W 39 6479361 104 6901500 724 A 12 724 B SSW of Watkins Colorado 39 36 16 89 N 104 34 46 64 W 39 6046917 N 104 5796222 W 39 6046917 104 5796222 724 B 13 724 C S of Bennett Colorado 39 39 55 30 N 104 29 34 58 W 39 6653611 N 104 4929389 W 39 6653611 104 4929389 724 C 14 725 A 14 miles SE of Watkins Colorado 39 35 15 N 104 27 42 W 39 58750 N 104 46167 W 39 58750 104 46167 725 A dd Outside the LBGR725 B 4 miles NNE of Deer Trail Colorado 39 40 06 N 104 01 41 W 39 66833 N 104 02806 W 39 66833 104 02806 725 B 725 C 5 miles SSE of Elisabeth Colorado 39 18 54 N 104 33 43 W 39 31500 N 104 56194 W 39 31500 104 56194 725 C dd Lowry Training Annex editIn 1969 Lowry Training Annex adjacent to the former LBGR area was established after the Department of the Navy transferred 3 700 acres 5 8 sq mi to the U S Air Force 9 the Navy had nearby land as early as July 30 1948 and used the bombing range in 1952 for training 7 Bennett Army National Guard facility editThe Bennett Army National Guard facility of 242 acres 0 378 sq mi at the former Complex 2A southeast corner of LBGR was a Colorado Army National Guard military installation used for training 1 In 2006 the Bennett facility was excessed by the government and was the last federal property transferred 1 2 1 of the former Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range In 2012 oil was struck on the Former Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range 15 References edit a b c d e f g h i j Former Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range Final Five Year Review Plan PDF Report Omaha District US Army Corps of Engineers April 2011 Archived from the original PDF on February 6 2015 Retrieved July 23 2012 Bombardier Training Overview Ancestry com Archived from the original transcribed text from various sources including St John on June 14 2012 Retrieved July 10 2012 St John Philip A April 15 1998 Bombardiers in WWII Vol II Turner Publishing Company p 13 Fifty instructors arrived at Barksdale from the first three classes at Lowry Field in February 1941 from Volume IArchived 2012 04 19 at the Wayback Machine Camp Bizerte photo caption Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum Camp Bizerte Prepares Soldiers For Duty at the Front The News and Courier July 25 1943 Retrieved March 24 2013 you may come quite suddenly on Bizerte Not the North African outpost to be sure but Camp Bizerte an army training post designed to give soldiers battle bound a taste of life in Tunisia or some overseas war area Camp Bizerte photo class March 16 2010 a b c d e f g Summary of LAFB Activities since 1937 Lowry Area History 29 September 1958 to 16 December 1961 as built drawings Word document asuwlink uwyo edu jimkirk Lowry1A doc A portion of the FLBGR then known as the Lowry Missile Site No 1 and covering 54 446 acres was cleared of surface MEC in 1963 a href Template Cite report html title Template Cite report cite report a CS1 maint location link Townsfolk Hope to Shoot Down Military s Bombing Range Plans Deseret News February 21 1995 Archived from the original on December 2 2013 Retrieved July 6 2012 a b 1995 US Army Corps of Engineers report Report St Louis cited throughout the Five Year Review Plan a b c Lauber John F research by Hess Jeffrey A both of Hess Roise and Company December 1993 Titan Missile Test Facilities PDF HAER No CO 75 Martin Marietta Retrieved July 23 2012 Newsweek 1955 the IBM Intercontinental Ballistic Missile a href Template Cite report html title Template Cite report cite report a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link permanent dead link a b Encyclopedia Astronautica Index 1 www astronautix com Archived from the original on September 14 2010 Titan I 724 A Missile Silo Lowry AFB Colorado Titan I 724 B Missile Silo Lowry AFB Colorado Titan I 724 C Missile Silo Lowry AFB Colorado Anadarko hits oil on old Lowry bombing range in Denver area May 31 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range amp oldid 1180066985 Missile complexes, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
