Celebrating the Air Force’s 60th Anniversary by remembering Kirtland’s history

  • Published
  • By David Bragg
  • 377th Air Base Wing Historian
Albuquerque Airport constructed, May 1, 1928
Construction was completed on Albuquerque Airport. The original airport building is now home of the Sandia Area Federal Credit Union on the east side of Kirtland AFB.

First local showing of "Genie," May 1, 1959
A training version of America's first nuclear warhead air-to-air rocket was put on display here May 9, 1959, during Kirtland's Armed Forces Day open house.

Appearance of the "Genie" rocket marked the first time a training version of any nuclear weapon was shown in Albuquerque. The weapon on display was inert, without warhead or propellant. When fully loaded, the rocket had a nuclear punch powerful enough to destroy an entire formation of attacking enemy bombers.