....I never implied that they where the oldest....at least I provide actual dates.
Topeka and Shawnee county have a storied history in regards to the Thunderbolts as well as the other sirens that where active thru out the city and county thru out the last 65- 70 years. Topeka was home to Forbes Air Force Base. Forbes became part of the Strategic Air Command July 1st 1948. As the Korean War and later the Cold War with Communist Russia wore on, Forbes Air Force Base played an increasing important roll in regards to the protection of the United States and its allies from the threat of nuclear attacks.....in other words Topeka and the surrounding area was becoming a target for a nuclear strike that would have, by all accounts, reduced the area to smoldering dust and ash.
In October 1958 Topeka received news that Forbes AFB would support 9 Atlas E missile sites to be constructed in the surrounding area to "allegedly" protect Forbes from a nuclear missile attack. It would have been around this time that the Thunderbolts would have been put in service in the city where as there easily could have been the very first Thunderbolts ever produced , already in service, at the air base to warn Air force personnel of attacks .
This is one of the Thunderbolts that would have been placed in service sometime around Oct. 1958. This located in downtown Topeka atop the old Southwestern Bell bldg.
Good luck with your search, your going to need all the help you can get...