Las Cruces, NM

 Arrived in Las Cruces late afternoon.  Made a drive out to White Sands National Monument to see the area used after World World II as the proving ground for the atomic bomb.  Trinity Site Ground Zero Marker is where the Trinity Site Atomic Bomb Test was held July 16, 1945.  Other than White Sands Missile Range which is still active for weapon testing, the area has become a national park.

Upon recommendation of the hotel, enjoyed a great dinner at St. Clair Winery Bistro in Las Cruces.

White Sands Missile Range is an Army installation, also used by the Navy and the Air Force, which occupies 3,200 square miles of southern New Mexico.  It is America's largest overland range and could easily encompass Rhode Island and Deleware.  

The range was established July 9, 1945 to test the new-fangled rocket technology emerging from World War II, especially the German V-2.  Currently the missile range tests everything from the latest Department of Defense missiles to automobile hardware to satellite components to medical instruments.

SRAM

The Short Range Attack Missile (SRAM) was a small air-to-surface Air Force missile launcher from B-52 and F-111 bombers.

Huey Helicopter UH-1M

First turbine powered helicopter.  Designed as troop transportation and medical evacuation for service in Vietnam, it's versatility and utility allowed modification as a gunship, electronics surveillance and test aircraft.

PERSHING II 

Advanced missile technology that helped lead to U.S. and USSR treaty in 1988 agreeing to eliminate an entire class on Nuclear missiles that was completed May 1991.

HOUND DOG

Named for the Elvis Presley song "You Ain't Nothing but a Hound Dog," the Hound Dog was Strategic Air Command's first air-launched missile.  The Hound Dog was declared operational in early 1961 for use on the B-52G bomber.

Missile launcher with motto "IF IT FLIES IT DIES"

SIDEWINDER

Sidewinder AIM-9 is one of the oldest, least expensive and most successful missiles in the United States weapon inventory.  It is perhaps the most widely used air-to-air missile in the West, used by 27 nations other than the United States and in every conflict since the 1950's.