Official Air Force Pave Pepper missile launch photo, Vandenberg AFB, May 16, 1975

This is the official photograph that we three crews were given by the Air Force after we launched the missile at night from Vandenberg AFB. 

A Minuteman III missile carried three multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicles (MIRV's) as its warheads.  They were far more accurate than any Soviet counterpart.  The Soviet's, on the hand, had bigger missiles that the U.S.  They made up for the relative lack of accuracy by putting bigger and more powerful RV's on their missiles.

The U.S. Air Force decided to develop even more RV's for its Minuteman III missiles.  At the time the number of smaller MIRV's packed onto the Pave Pepper missile we launched was classified, though the Russians had spy trawlers stationed near Kwajelein atoll so they could monitor U.S. missile tests.  They likely clearly saw how many MIRV's splashed down in the Pacific.

I was the deputy on the crew commanded by Captain Tim Sholtis.  Tim was a personable guy and well liked in Minot.  So, when Minot was selected to provide three missile crews to launch the missile, Tim and I were chosen from the 742nd Squadron.  Another crew was chosen from the 740th and a third from the 741st.

Pave Pepper Missile Launch, Vandenberg AFB 1975

This phenomena of manning flight
have lost significance
(and remember the expense).
But launching missiles preserves the Fourth of July.

The flashing of thrust and the roar
is a wonder never everyday.
With all the tense anticipating of a match
set to the first fuse,
we waited for the tilting thing to lift its big foot
before putting down--
adding some grains of pepper
to all this SALT talk.

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