Local Business Owner Donates Artifact

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Anthony Flores
  • 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

A local business owner donated a piece of history to the Air Force at Maxwell Air Force Base, March 8, 2016.

Danny Thompson is the owner of High Caliber Gun and Pawn in Prattville, Ala., roughly 15-miles from Maxwell.

When an Air University instructor visited his business, he recognized a ceremonial Titan One missile launch key that had been pawned earlier this year.

“I guess they didn’t have anything it would fit,” Thompson joked.

Once Thompson learned the value of his recently acquired possession, he wanted to give it back to the Air Force.

“This is cool. I’ve never had anything like this,” he said before he handed 75-year-old piece over to the Global Strike Command vice commander, Maj. Gen. Michael Fortney. “I wanted it to go home where it belongs.”

The key is inscribed with, “Larson AFB,” which was only operational for four-years, before closing in 1965. Fortney thanked Thompson for his selfless donation, and invited him to see the key once it reaches its final destination: The Barksdale Global Power Museum, located on Barksdale Air Force Base Louisiana.

For more information about the museum where the donation will be displayed, visit http://barksdaleglobalpowermuseum.com/.