Two historic arrivals in Little Rock AFB history.

First, on this date in 1954, the base’s first installation commander arrived, Col Joseph A. Thomas. You might recognize that name from the Thomas Ballroom in the Walters Community Center, as well as the former Thomas Community Activity Center (TCAC). Col Thomas arrived three months into the base’s construction. While his primary mission was to promote an environment of community understanding and acceptance, of which he was largely successful; he and his meager staff also had to manage various issues such as limited housing options, multiple supply shortages, and labor disputes from local union members who had picketed the base for non-payment of overtime worked. ____________________ Nine years later, on the far right, the first Titan II intercontinental ballistic missile assigned to the 308th Strategic Missile Wing arrived at LRAFB. The missile was installed later that month at the Albion site, northwest of Searcy, Arkansas, and was activated in May. The other 17 missile silos in central Arkansas received ICBMs that same year, and on 1 January 1964 all were active and on alert status. One day before the 308th Strategic Missile Wing inactivated in 1987, a Mark (Six) VI reentry vehicle from Strategic Air Command’s last Titan II ICBM was dedicated in the Heritage Park. The nosecone, similar to the one pictured in the center, sits atop a time capsule that will be opened in 2037, fifty years after the 308th Wing’s inactivation.