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59th Ordnance Brigade
2 PAGE 2 - Details on NATO Nuclear Artillery Units (excl. German Army)
Looking for more information from military/civilian personnel assigned to or associated with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1945 to 1989. If you have any stories or thoughts on the subject, please contact me.






















SASCOM Patch

59th Ord Bde Patch

 
2 ATAF - Warhead Custodial Detachments & Supported Formations
2ATAF

Related Links:
 
Flugkörpergeschwader 2
(Source: www.bundesarchiv.de and Jürgen Dreifke)
Flugkörpergeschwader 2 (2nd Surface-to-Surface Missile Wing)
The Flugkörpergeschwader 2 (2nd SSMW) was activated at Lechfeld on 1 January 1965 with a HQ staff, a training/technical group, and two missile firing groups: Flugkörpergruppe (FKGrp) 21 and 22. The 2nd SSMW was initially subordinate to the 1st Luftwaffendivision, but then reassigned to the 3rd Luftwaffendivision in 1968.

Missile Group 21, after returning from training at Fort Sill OK, moved to Nörvenich in northern Germany in September 1965. Missile Group 22 moved to Wuppertal in August 1966.

HQs 2nd SSMW was relocated to Diedenhofen Kaserne in Wuppertal in August 1966. Another move occurred in late 1968, when the Wing found a more permanent home at the former RAFG air base in Geilenkirchen-Teveren. (I believe the entire Wing was consolidated at Teveren.)

Both missile groups were equipped with the Pershing 1 (MGM-32A) system during the summer of 1967.

On 18 December 1970, the 2nd SSMW was placed under operational control of NATO (2 ATAF).

The FKG 2 transitioned to the Pershing 1A (MGM-31B) system starting on 1 July 1971. The Wing was reorganized similar to the FKG 1 - with the two missile groups merged into a single missile group and the formation of a support group. Warhead custodial support was provided by the 85th USAFAD. With the expansion of the Missile Wing from 1000 personnel to over 1700, the installation at Teveren proved to be too small, necessitating the move of the security squadron and of the headquarters squadron, support group, back to Nörvenich.

Sometime in 1976, the new QRA Site at Arsbeck became operational. (Dreifke's theory is that the original QRA site (1970-76) was located somewhere on Nörvenich Air Base. This would parallel what was happening with FKG 1 to the south, where the original QRA site was located at Schwabstadl, a section of the Lechfeld Air Base. The fact that the security squadron - responsible for physical security of the depot - was located at Nörvenich during that period seems to add support to this theory.)

Also in 1976, the security squadron and headquarters squadron, support group, were moved back to Teveren.

In October 1979, the 2nd SSMW was moved to the Selfkant Kaserne at Geilenkirchen-Niederheid to help free up necessary facilities at Teveren for the pending arrival of the first AWACS unit. Personnel strength of the Wing exceeded 2000 at this time.

In November 1986 the QRA site at Arsbeck was closed.

The 2nd Wing was inactivated with its subordinate units on 1 January 1992.
 
Related Links:
Traditionsgemeinschaft FKG 2 - an interesting reunion web site for veterans of the German Luftwaffe's 2nd SSMW in Geilenkirchen, Germany. (German language)
 
85th US Army Missile Detachment  
The 85th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was constituted in the U.S. Army in November 1966 at Fort Sill, Okla. as the 85th U.S. Army Missile Detachment. The detachment was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 79th Artillery.

In November 1968, the unit was reassigned to the 2nd Battalion, 44th Artillery.

In August 1969, the 85th moved to Europe and was assigned to the 5th U.S. Army Artillery Group in November of that year.

In October 1979, the detachment was reassigned to the 557th U.S. Army Artillery Group.

The 85th was one of only two Pershing 1A warhead detachments in the world.

The 85th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was inactivated in April 1991 in Geilenkirchen, Germany.
 
Related Links:
 
II (FR) Corps - Warhead Custodial Detachments & Supported Formations
 
(Source: Email from Alain Giletta, France)
Alain does research on the history of the American military presence in Trier, Germany. He was kind enough to submit some of the information he has collected for the website.

Based on information he has found, he believes that the US Army missile detachment (6th MSL Det) was stationed at the French installation designated as Caserne d'Artillerie du Pétrisberg and that they worked at the SAS at Mattheiserwald. The French artillery unit, 68th Artillery Regiment (RALD), was stationed at the French installation designated as Quartier du Belvédère in Trier. This unit included a battery of HONEST JOHN rockets.

68th RALD
Trier, Germany


 

1. French HJ, 68th RA (KB)
2. French HJ, 68th RA (KB)

3. French HJ, 68th RA (KB)


4. French HJ, 68th RA (KB)
5. Quartier du Belvédère, 2004 (KB)		    
  Information booklet distributed by the 68th RALD.

Trucks of the 4th Section, BSS, at SAS Weisswald (Tannheimer Forst)
 

15th MSL Detachment at Villingen. Also shown in the photo is COL Maragi, CO of the 301st GA.
 
(Source: Email from Jean Pierre Guigonis, 301 GA, French Army)
I served in the 301 group of artillery, Villingen, Germany from 1965 to 1970. When I arrived at the unit, I was a sergeant and I worked in the 4ieme (4th) section of the security and support battery (BSS). We were responsible for guarding the SAS and for providing security to the convoy of nucleaire ammunition.

I worked with the 15th Missile Detachment from 1965 to 1966. (Attached is also a group photo of the 15th MSL detachment with Colonel MARAGI, commander of the 301 GA).

I would like to contact former members of the 15th MSL Det and am looking for additional information on the following topics:

  1) Information on the headquarters staff of the detachment.
2) Information on how many US soldiers worked for the perception (?) and convoy escort.
3) Information on the US staff at the depot of Tannheim (Weisswald).
4) Does anyone have details on the special weapons that were stored at the depot in 1965/1966?		  

You can find more information on the 301st GA Reunion website (see Related Links).
 
(Source: Information provided by Klaus Stark and Rick Anders)
From 1951 to 1960, the French Forces in Germany (FFA) were comprised of two Army Corps stationed in the former French Zone of Occupation of Germany:
UNITS HOME STATION  
I (FR) Corps Freiburg  
4th Infantry Division Freiburg divisional units stationed at garisons between Rastatt and Lindau; deployed to Algeria late 1950s
5th Armored Division Landau divisional units stationed at garisons between Neustadt a.d. Weinstrasse and Münsingen; deployed to Algeria late 1950s
II (FR) Corps Koblenz  
1st Armored Division Trier divisional units stationed at garisons between Koblenz and Fritzlar
3rd Infantry Division Koblenz divisional units stationed at garisons between Wittlich and Saarlouis
 
FFA Headquarters was located at Baden-Baden and was an Army-level command under Central Army Group.

Actual troop strength, especially in the latter years, was much below authorized strengths due to military manpower needs in Indochina (1946-54) and subsequently in Algeria (1954-62). With the formation of the German Bundeswehr in the late 1950s, the French government decided to resize and restructure its forces in Germany and to concentate them in an area around Freiburg and Trier:
UNITS HOME STATION  
FFA Baden-Baden HQ FFA took on a Corps-level command and control function within CENTAG
1st Armored Division Trier  
3rd Infantry Division Freiburg The 3rd Division was relieved by elements of the newly former III (GE) Corps in Koblenz and relocated to Freiburg where it replaced the 4th (FR) Inf Div in 1957.
The newly formed III (GE) Corps replaced the II (FR) Corps in Koblenz and assumed the responsibilities previously performed by that French corps in the northern sector of CENTAG.

According to the Nuclear Weapons Databook, Vol V, The US and France signed an agreement ("The Agreement for Cooperation in the Operations of Atomic Weapon Systems for Mutual Defense Purposes") at Paris on 27 July 1961 that entered into force on 9 October 1961 and facilitated the use of US warheads on French launchers. By 1965, these constitued - two fighter-bomber wings of 4th ATAF; Honest John battalions of FFA; and Nike-Hercules units of 1er CATAC. (The agreement was similar to the agreements signed between the US and eight other allied countries.)

The FFA apparently formed four HONEST JOHN units which were nuclear capable and supported by four separate US Army missile detachments (see 576th Arty Group). At least two, if not all four, were rocket artillery batteries within a heavy field artillery regiment assigned to each division. The type heavy artillery regiment (Régiment d'Artillerie Lourde Divisionaire - RALD) of a 'Division 59' (French TOE) infantry and armor divisions of the period was organized as follows:
Regimental Headquarters
HQ Battery
Observation and Calibration Platoon
Fire Direction Platoon
Radar Platoon
Technical Platoon (muzzle velocity and weather)
Service Battery
2 Heavy Artillery Battalions
HQ & Service Battery (BCS)
2 Batteries (4 howitzers each)(155mm)
Rocket Battalion (some battalions have only 1x battery)
HQ & Service Battery (BCS)
1 Battery (2x Honest John)
1 Battery (2x Lacrosse) [1]
[1] According to Phillip A. Karber, Nuclear Weapons and the US Army in Europe, 1953-1989, France evaluated the LACROSSE guided nuclear missile system but decided against it - so it was never fielded.
 
The four US Army artillery detachments supporting FFA were: the 6th, 9th, 15th and 16th Arty Dets.

The 9th and 16th were originally based in Villingen with the 15th Arty Det, but relocated to Radolfzell and Saarlouis respectively, after being attached to the 576th Arty Gp.

Originally, these units were organized under the 512th Arty Group in Urlau, Germany. In March 1963, the 576th Arty Group was formed and all nulear warhead custodial units supporting French Army and Air Force units (the 357th supported the French Nike-Hercules battalions) in Germany were placed under the command of the new group.
 
(Source: Email from Rick Anders and Klaus Sturm, Germany)
Report on the French HONEST JOHN Units

A total of five French artillery regiments were equipped with the HONEST JOHN rocket system. Two of the regiments (32º and 68º) were assigned to French divisions in Freiburg, Germany and Trier, Germany. The other three (301º, 302º and 303º) were part of the Reserves Générales (Army troops) or assigned to FFA (French Forces in Germany).

Each of the divisional artillery regiments were comprised of two battalions (I and II Groupes) with conventional tube artillery and one battalion (III Groupe) with HONEST JOHN rockets. Some sources refer to the HJ unit as the "5th Battery." It is not certain if this is a designation used prior to or after the "III Groupe" designation.

The firing battery of the divisional HJ battalion was comprised of two sections with one HJ rocket launcher each. The exact composition of the army artillery HJ battalion is not known. (Anybody out there who can provide details?) Rick's best guess is that each battalion had four HJ launchers. (Based on these estimates, there would have been a total of 16 launchers - 12 assigned to army artillery; four to divisional artillery.) 1)

As far as nuclear warheads, it is known that the Americans had assigned 100 to the French HONEST JOHN and NIKE units (see information under 576th USAAG). Since apparently only a few of the French NIKE batteries were nuclear certified, it is probable that a large portion of the warheads were reserved for the HJ units. After the nuclear support (and the warheads) had been withdrawn by the US Army (as a consequence of , the French HJ remained in Germany (now with conventional warheads) until the mid-1970s.

1) Source: Les unités Honest John (see Musée de l'artillerie AMAD website)

HJ Group Organization:
The five HJ groups had a similar organization. They were composed of two firing batteries (batteries de tir) and a headquarters and service battery (batterie de commandement et de soutien).

Each firing battery included:
Two sections - each with a launcher;
An assembly and transportation section (section de montage et de livraison);
A survey section (section topographique);
A communications section (section de transmissions).


Divisional Artillery Regiments
With the introduction of the HJ system in 1960, the divisional artillery regiments were redesignated as Régiments d'Artillerie Lourde et d'Engins (R.A.L.E.). The designation changed in mid-1962 to Régiments d'Artillerie Lourde Divisionnaires (R.A.L.D.).
 
  III / 32º R.A.L.D. 1960 unit formed at Villingen, Germany (Quartier Welvert); the remainder of the 32º is located at Müllheim
    1961/62 unit relocated to Donaueschingen (Quartier Lyautey) (Did the SAS site at Weisswald serve as the storage site for this unit while stationed in Donaueschingen? - )
    1967 relocation of the entire regiment to Stetten a.k.M; now in a conventional-only role
       
  III / 68º R.A.L.D. 1960 unit formed at Trier, Germany (Quartier Belvédère - ); the entire regiment is located at this station
    1974 the entire regiment is relocated to Landau
 
Army Artillery Regiments
Of the three HJ artillery regiments assigned to Army troops, two were French Marines. The units were known as Groupes d'Artillerie (G.A.) or Groupes d"Artillerie de Marine (G.A.Ma.). In July 1970, they were redesignated as Regiments d'Artillerie.
 
  301º G.A. 1959 unit formed at Rastatt, Germany (Quartier Joffre)
    1960 unit relocated to Villingen (Quartier Lyautey)
    Jul 1970 redesignated as 50º R.A.
    Aug-Oct 1976 relocated to Laon-Couvron, France
       
  302º G.A. 1959 unit formed at Rastatt, Germany (Quartier Joffre )
    Jul 1960 unit relocated to Radolfzell (Quartier Vauban)
    1967/68 unit relocated to Friedrichshafen (Airport)
    1969 unit moved to Quartier Durand-Divilliers, Friedrichshafen
    Jul 1970 redesignated as 60º R.A.
    1975 unit inactivated
       
  303º G.A.Ma. Mar 1960 unit formed at Saarburg
    1960 later in the year, the unit was relocated to Saarlouis, Germany (Quartier Ney)
    1968 relocated to Caen-Carpiquet, France
 
Several French units supported the HJ units. Among them was the 351º Groupe d'Artillerie, which was actually a transportation battalion for special weapons (similar to the German Nachschubbataillon Sonderwaffen), and several ammunition companies near the respective home stations that were responsible for the storage of conventional warheads and spare parts for the HJ rockets.
 
  351º G.A. Apr 1962 unit formed at Landau, Germany (Quartier Foch)
Organization:
Headquarters
Hq/Svc Btry
Security Battery
Transportation Battery
Detachments of the 351º were clocated with each of the HJ units
    Apr 1964 unit relocated to Kaiserslautern (Quartier Hoche-Marceau)
The Transportation Battery was located at Speyer
    1963 a new ammo depot is constructed at Heinzelberg for the 351º
    1966 unit relocated to Horb (Quartier Moncey)
    Jul 1970 unit is redesignated as the 351º R.A.
    Jul 1975 unit is inactivated
US Army Warhead Custodial Support
The final element of support for the French HJ units was comprised of the US Army warhead custodial detachments. These small units were responsible for the storage and security of the nuclear warheads reserved for French use.
 
  6th MSL Det End 1963 - 15 Sep 1966 located at Trier, in support of the 68º R.A.
      Ammo Depot (Type J) at Mattheiserwald ()
      Barracks: Bldg #2, Quartier Belvédère
       
  9th MSL Det Dec 1961 - Mar 1963 prob located at Villingen, in support of the 32º R.A.
      Ammo Depot (Type J) at ???
      Barracks: Bldg #?, Quartier ???
    Apr 1963 - 15 Sep 1966 located at Radolfzell in support of the 302º G.A.
      Ammo Depot (Type J) at Radolfzell-Stahringen ()
      Barracks: Bldg #58, Quartier Vauban
       
  15th MSL Det Dec 1961 - 15 Sep 1966 located at Villingen, in support of the 301º G.A.Ma.
      Ammo Depot (Type J) at Weisswald in the Tannheimer Forst (was completed around Sept 1963) ()
      Barracks: Bldg #2, Quartier Welvert
       
  16th MSL Det Dec 1961 - 15 Sep 1966 located at Saarlouis, in support of the 303º G.A.Ma.
      Ammo Depot (Type J) at Wallerfangen ()
      Barracks: outside of Quartier Ney
All four missile detachments as well as the 357th MSL Det (which supported the nuclear certified NIKE batteries of the 500 Groupement de Brigades d'Engines (NIKE) ) were originally attached to the 512th US Army Artillery Group (Warhead Support). As of March 1963, the five detachments in support of French units were attached to the 576th Group. Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of the 576th was located at the Quartier Général Pagezy in Karlsruhe.

With the French leaving the military structure of NATO in 1966, the 576th USAAG and its subordinate detachments were inactivated.

SAS Sites

 

1. 15th MSL Det SAS site at Weisswald (Villingen) (49 KB) (1)
2. 6th MSL Det SAS site at Mattheiserwald (Trier) (225 KB) (2)



3. Igloo #38, Mattheiserwald SAS (KB)
4. Igloo #39, Mattheiserwald SAS (KB)		    
(1) a special thanks goes out to my friends at www.lostplaces.de (Webmaster note: name changed Nov 2010 to "Geschichtsspuren.de") who were able to track down this former SAS site
(2) courtesy of Alain Giletta (France)
 

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Technical support was provided by three ordnance units (under the command of the 351st GA?):
1st CLRM Company (Compagnie légère de réparation du Matériel - Light Equipment Repair)
401st CRRM Company (Compagnie renforcée de réparation du Matériel - Heavy Equipment Repair), Offenburg
501st CRRM Company, Trier
 
Looking for former members of the 576th Arty Gp and subordinate detachments and for "anciens" of the FFA who were assigned to any of the nuclear-capable artillery units within the FFA from 1960 to 1966. Please contact me.
 
French HONEST JOHN Units and their US Army Support Detachments

301e GA

302e GA

303e GAMa

351e GA (1)
 

32e RALD

68e RALD
      
(1) not certain if this design dates back to the HJ era or is post-HJ (based on the design of the rocket, it is probably from a later date)
 
Related Links:
  Les unités Honest John - a history page that covers some highlights of HJ units that served in the French Army during the Cold War. Part of a much larger website dedicated to French artillery through the ages.  
  Les Anciens du 301º G.A./50º R.A. - a reunion page for former members of the French Army 301st Artillery Group (later redesignated as the 50th Arty Regt). They are looking for former members of the 15th Missile Detachment, the US Army warhead custodial unit that supported the 301st in the 1960s. (Site is in French.)  
 
4 ATAF - Warhead Custodial Detachments & Supported Formations
4ATAF
 
Flugkörpergeschwader 1
 
(Source: Traditionsgemeinschaft FKG 1 e.v; www.bundesarchiv.de; and Jürgen Dreifke)
Flugkörpergeschwader 1 (1st Surface-to-Surface Missile Wing)
In September 1963, the Flugkörpergeschwader 1 (FKG 1) was activated at Landsberg with a Hq staff, two Flugkörpergruppen (12 and 13**) (FKGrp - missile groups) and a training/technical group. The Wing was based at the Saarburg Kaserne in Landsberg am Lech and was assigned to the 1st Luftwaffendivision. The missile groups were initially equipped with the tracked-vehicle mounted Pershing 1 (MGM-31A).

In 1964, the Wing received its Pershing 1 system.

The FKGrp 12 was located at Landsberg; FKGrp 13 was at Kaufbeuren.

In 1966, a QRA site was established at Schwabstadl, south of the Lechfeld Air Base. This site was used until 1976. At the same time, the 74th Missile Det arrived at Schwabstadl to provide warhead custodial support.

In 1969, the 82nd Missile Det arrived to provide warhead custodial support. (Webmaster: I am trying to understand why the FKG 1 would have operated two separate QRA sites which then required two separate warhead custodial detachments. Can anybody provide some details?)

In 1970, a QRA site south of Landsberg (Landsberg-Süd) became operational.

The FKG 1 transitioned to the Pershing 1A (MGM-31B) system on 1 January 1971. As part of the reorganization that occurred with the transition, FKGrp 12 and 13 were consolidated and a support group was created. Except for the security squadron which remained at Schwabstadl, the entire wing was now stationed at Landsberg.

FKG 1 History Book

The Missile Group now consisted of four missile squadrons, each comprised of 250 soldiers and 9 launchers.

On 30 August 1971, the 1st SSMW was placed under operational control of NATO (4 ATAF).

In 1975, a new QRA site at Kettershausen ("Lehmgrube") was completed but then handed over to the 56th FA Brigade for use by the US Army.

In March 1976, a new QRA Site at Ochsenhof on the Bodelsberg local training area (near Kempten) was activated. The QRA site at Schwabstadl was abandoned. The site at Landsberg-Süd was turned into a training site.

In Nov 1986, the QRA mission of the FKG 1 was terminated. FKG 1 continued to train for mobile operations.

In 1990, the nuclear support role of the FKG 1 was discontinued due to the changed strategic and political environment in Europe. The 1st Wing was inactivated with its subordinate units on 1 January 1992.
 
** In reading through some of the unit history presented in the Traditionsgemeinschaft FKG 1 newsletters , it appears that FKGrp 13 wasn't actually formed until 1965. Prior to that there was a FKGrp 11 that had actually been activated in February 1959 as a MATADOR (TM 61C) unit (!!!) and stationed at Kaufbeuren Air Base.

For details on the book (Flugkörpergeschwader 1, 1963-1991) published by the Traditionsgemeinschaft (similar to a reunion group in the States), check out the Shop link in the Services section of their web site.
 

Flugkörkergeschw. 1
Landsberg

 

1. Sat view of former QRA at Ochsenkopf, around 2000 (KB)
2. FKG 1 organization, 1971 (KB)

3. FKGrp 11 Matador at Kaufbeuren AB (KB)

4. Pershing 1 at Kaufbeuren AB (KB)
5. Pershing 1a (KB)
6. Ochsenhof QRA Site (KB)		  

7. Ochsenhof QRA Site (KB)		      
(Source: Email from Peter Wodniok, webmaster Traditionsgemeinschaft FKG 1)
The FKG 1 was in the beginning (1965 – 1971) divided into two Flugkörpergruppen – Flugkörpergruppe 12, stationed together with the wing staff at Saarburgkasere, Landsberg, and the Flugkörpergruppe 13, stationed at Fliegerhorst Kaufbeuren, hosted by the Technische Schule der Luftwaffe 1.

Each Flugkörpergruppe had its own detachment: FKGrp 12 the 74th US Army Artillery Detachment (1966-1971), FKGrp 13 the 82nd US Army Artillery Detachment (1969-1971). In the end it came out, like you imagined, the 74th supported FKGrp 12 at QRA Schwabstadl and the 82nd supported FKGrp 13 at QRA Landsberg Süd (inside a Standortübungsplatz - local training area).

With the conversion from P1 to P1a in 1970/71 the two FKGrps were united to FKG 1 at Landsberg on January 1971 as well as the two Detachments to the 74th USAFAD.

Flugkörpergeschwader 2 at Geilenkirchen was in the beginning also divided into two Groups. Flugkörpergruppe 21 at Geilenkirchen with wing staff and Flugkörpergruppe 22 at Wuppertal. The reason why FKG 2 only had the support of one detachment (85th US Army Artillery Detachment) was that Flugkörpergruppe 22 never reached operational status before being united to FKG 2 at Geilenkirchen.
 
Related Links:
Traditionsgemeinschaft FKG 1 e.V. - a very nice reunion web site for veterans of the German Luftwaffe's 1st SSMW. Great newsletters on-line (PDF format) provide a lot of historical information. (German language)
 
82nd US Army Missile Detachment  
82nd USA Missile Detachment at Lagerlechfeld, Germany, supported the FKG1 (also known as 1st SSMW) from November 1969 until January 1971, and was the first U.S. Army unit to receive a unit to unit streamer from the German Air Force.

Stationed on a Lutwaffe airbase, the Germans possessed the missile and the Americans had the nuclear warheads. During exercises, the launch exercise would include mating the warhead with the missile, and a cooperative launch. Rigorous and frequent inspections by U.S. and NATO commands were conducted to maintain certification.

In January 1971, the two U.S. missile detachments assigned to the 512th, the 74th and 82nd U.S. Army Missile Detachments, were combined. The 82nd was merged with the 74th and redesignated as the 74th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment.
 
(Source: Email from Charles Harden)
Moved Charles' email to the 82nd USAFAD section on the main 59th Ord Bde Page -- link
 
74th US Army Missile Detachment  
The 74th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was organized and activated in April 1965 at Fort Sill, Okla. as the 74th U.S. Army Missile Detachment.

The detachment moved to Germany in June 1966 and was assigned to the 512th U.S. Army Artillery Group in support of the German Air Force's 1st Surface-to-Surface Missile Wing (Webmaster note: see Peter Wodniok's email for a good explanation of the US Army warhead custodial support for FKG 1 prior to transition to the P1a).

In January 1971, the two U.S. missile detachments assigned to the 512th, the 74th and 82nd U.S. Army Missile Detachments, were combined. The 82nd was merged with the 74th and redesignated as the 74th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment. The 82nd had supported the 1st SSMW from November 1969 until January 1971, and was the first U.S. Army unit to receive a unit to unit streamer from the German Air Force.

Since its deployment in 1966 the 74th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment had provided continuous support of its strategic NATO mission along with the 1st SSMW.

In 1990 the 74th and the 1st SSMW close working relationship was recognized with the USAREUR Partnership award.

With its formal inactivation on 15 July, 1991, the 74th completed over 25 years of service in support of the NATO alliance. The 74th was one of only two Pershing IA units in the world.

The 74th US Army Field Artillery Detachment was activated in April 1965 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as the 74th US Army Missile Detachment.
 
(Source: Email from John Maxham)
Moved Charles' email to the 74th USAFAD section on the main 59th Ord Bde Page -- link