State missile site to offer a special tour

The Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site near Cooperstown in east central North Dakota is offering this winter’s final in-depth tour of the Oscar-Zero Missile Alert Facility on Feb. 18.

Join former U.S. Air Force Missile Combat Crew Commander and current site supervisor Mark Sundlov for a special in-depth tour of the Oscar-Zero facility.

Sundlov and two guests will go into the working operations of a Missile Alert Facility and provide guests with an understanding of the command and control system, the power and air systems, and the communication systems.

Sundlov will deliver this tour from a former crew member’s perspective and with the knowledge gained through serving as an Air Force missileer.

Additionally, Sundlov will be joined by two guests who once worked and lived in the missile field, who will bring personal stories as well as additional details to the tour.

On Saturday, Feb. 18, Philip Parnell, a former missileer and former Flight Commander of the Oscar-Zero facility, will join Sundlov as a guest tour guide. Parnell not only served as a missileer but was once responsible for all flight operations for the Oscar flight, including its launch control facility and 10 associated missile silos.

Parnell will share his personal stories from his days in the missile field. Parnell will be accompanied by his wife, JoAnn, who will share her personal stories of what life was like being married to a young Air Force officer who was routinely deployed to the missile field.

Guests are encouraged to view this as an opportunity to not only listen and learn, but more importantly to engage and ask questions.

The tour will start at 10 a.m. and last until 12:30 p.m. Following the tour, guests will drive to the Griggs County Museum in Cooperstown, home of the Northern Plains Cold War Interpretive Center, and have a catered lunch from the Friends of Oscar-Zero.

These special tours are limited. Guests must register and pay by the Friday, Feb. 17, prior to the tour. Call 701-797-3691 or email msundlov@nd.gov to register.

Each tour is limited to 10 guests. The fee for the tour is $35, cash or checks must be directed to the Friends of Oscar-Zero.

The fee includes the tour of Oscar-Zero, the lunch, and access to the Griggs County Museum. Proceeds will benefit the non-profit Friends of Oscar-Zero, the Griggs County Museum, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota.

Tags: diversions, history, missiles