Vandenberg Missile Hits Target

A Minute Man intercontinental ballistic missile was successfully launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County on Thursday evening, hitting its mark 4,000 miles away in the South Pacific.

A wispy, circular, vapor trail from the launch could be seen on the horizon to the southwest of Los Angeles by scores of residents, based on telephone inquiries to Griffith Observatory, a Griffith Park spokesman said.

The “spectacular” aerial display was attributed to favorable launch conditions, said Air Force Sgt. Tom Clemens. “The sun was very low and the winds were right.”

The missile struck an Air Force testing site at Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific, Vandenberg officials said, adding that the launch was conducted “in support of an Army strategic defense program.”