Inside Manzano

Charles E. Cabler served with the USAF 1962–1968, stationed at the 3800 Air Base Wing, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Alabama; the 1094 Air Police Squadron Manzano Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico; and the Air Force Reserve, Denver, Colorado. He served during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War, earning the National Defense Medal with Ribbon. He is a member of the American Legion Post 11 in Florence, Alabama and the USAF Police Alumni Association, and a volunteer adviser for the American Corporate Partners Organization, providing career guidance to military personnel as they transition into civilian life. He lives in Florence, Alabama.

Table of Contents


Acknowledgments

Preface

Part

The Historical Development of Manzano

 1. La Villa de Alburquerque, New Mexico

 2. Manzano Weapons Storage Site

 3. Sandia Base (Abbreviated History)

 4. Kirtland Air Force Base (Abbreviated History)

Part

Manzano Begins, Code Name “Water Supply”

 5. Site Able Construction

 6. 8460th Special Weapons Group

Part III.

The Administrative Area

 7. Access to Manzano Base

 8. The Administrative Area

Part

The Restricted “Q” Area

 9. “Q” Area Access

10. Nuclear Weapons Stored at Manzano

11. Nuclear Weapon Storage Structures

12. The Weapon Maintenance Plants

13. The Birdcage for Pit Storage

Part V. 

Base Security

14. DoD Nuclear Weapon Storage Area Security Program

15. Security Squadrons Responsible for Manzano

16. The Perimeter Fences

17. Storage Structure Security System

18. Central Security Control and ADT Monitoring

19. Patrolling the “Q” Area

20. Nuclear Weapon Convoy Duty

Part VI.

Miscellaneous Manzano Information

21. Aircraft Crashes at Manzano

22. Wildlife and Varmints on the Mountain

23. Manzano’s Aerial Phenomena

24. Abandoned in Place

25. Kirtland Underground Munitions Maintenance and Storage Complex

26. The 377th Security Forces Squadron

27. Manzano Today

Epilogue

Appendix A. Aerial View of Manzano Base (Kirtland AFB)

Appendix B. Wall Map Displayed in the ADT Monitoring Room

Appendix C. Abbreviated Chronological History of Manzano

Appendix D. Manzano Base Commanders

Appendix E. Department of the Air Force Letter

Appendix F. Frequently Used Abbreviations and Acronyms

Chapter Notes

Bibliography

Index