Power, a program was initiated to memorialize strategic air command combat crew personnel who were killed in the performance of their flying mission. In january of 1946, it was stationed roswell aab, new mexico. The formation and early years of strategic air command. The development of strategic air command, 19461986 the fortieth anniversary history. Written, published, and distributed by strategic air command. The prestige of the strategic air command bespoke assurance that whatever the numbers of personnel and aircraft, if determination and training could deliver the atomic blow, the threat of atomic retaliation was real. Alert operations and the strategic air command, 19571991. Strategic command usstratcom, the 557th weather wing, and the 55th wing 55 wg of the air combat command acc, the latter serving as the host unit.
History of the strategic air command, 1 january 1958. The strategic air command was established march 21st, 1946 and placed under the command of general george c. Interesting pdf documents on the sac alert program sac dispersal and alert concepts in 1961. A brief history throughout most of its first decade, strategic air command operated from safe sanctuaries located in the united states. This edition differs slightly from the 1976 version in the coverage of the first 30 years of the command s existence. The development of strategic air command 19461981 a. Air force base south of omaha, adjacent to bellevue in sarpy county, nebraska. It is designed to serve as an open forum for the presentation and stimulation of innovative thinking on military doctrine, strategy, force structure, readiness, and other matters of national defense.
For afspc, the pride shared today in the heritage and rich history of the icbm mission. Here are the names of the other studies for future foia requests. The strategic air command sac was both a major command in the united states air force and a specified command in the united states department of defense. Strategic command is one of eleven unified commands under the department of defense dod.
For information regarding sac base site selection standards, etc, see base introduction. The afgsc history page contains stories, photos and videos about air force global strike command, as well our lineage to the strategic air command. The deterrent force was in this sense beyond question. Strategic air command gained a new responsibility on 1 november 1975 when headquarters usaf transferred the 1st airborne command and control squadron from the jurisdiction of headquarters command to sac. Holland, a former air force officer and now ballplayer who is recalled to duty as the new strategic air command. How the strategic air command would go to nuclear war. Strategic air command air force historical research. It was the first of four hollywood films that depicted the role of the strategic air command in the cold war era. A short history of usafs strategic air command in the. The development of the strategic air command, 19461986. The development of strategic air command, 19461981, provides a brief chronological account of the command s most significant activities and major contributions to the nations defense. Kenney during the reorganization and transition of the united states army air forces into the independent air force.
For afspc, the pride shared today in the heritage and rich history. General curtis lemay, who took over command in october 1948, made the bombing competition an annual affair with on the spot promotions for successful crews. A breathless survey of strategic air command sac history. For more information about air force history in general, visit the air force history site. This section contains a web page for each air base used by the strategic air command. Air force command charged with intercontinental air strikes, especially nuclear attacks. History strategic air command fiscal year 1969 historical. Army air forces on 21 march 1946, acquiring part of the personnel and facilities of the continental air forces caf, the world war ii command tasked with the air defense of the continental united states conus. Strategic air command veteran bruce blair takes the story in to the 1970s, with an extraordinary account, based on personal experience, of how sac would have carried out its. Army air forces established the strategic air command sac on. Meilinger, usaf, retired w hen the soviets blockaded berlin in june 1948 and war seemed imminent, the joint chiefs of staff asked the commander of strategic air command sac, gen george kenney, to brief them on his units readiness. In response to the threat by the soviet union, by the 1948 berlin blockade, president truman decided to realign usafe into a permanent combatcapable force.
Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Air combat command, with headquarters at langley air force base, va. Download strategic air command logo only if you agree. Strategic air command is a 1955 american military aviation film starring james stewart and june allyson, directed by anthony mann, and released by paramount pictures. Strategic bombardment operations during world war ii, however, had shown the need for a major command devoted exclusively to strategic, longrange air combat operations, and that became the command s assigned mission in 1946.
Icbm timeline national museum of the united states air force. Sac had been started two years earlier, and was supposed to be americas nuclear punch, which would so terrify the russians or anyone else, that they would never even think of attacking the u. The mission of the strategic air command provides the themes for the stained glass windows. This situation began to change in the mid1950s as the soviet union began to build up its longrange bomber force and to develop intercontinental ballistic. History of the strategic air command page 2 the startup. Air force and as a major part of the nuclear deterrent against the soviet union between 1946 and 1992. Media in category strategic air command the following 26 files are in this category, out of 26 total. People, aircraft and missiles polmar, norman, laur, timothy m. The development of strategic air command, 19461986 the. As the air force activates air force global strike command, a brandnew major command committed solely to the nuclear deterrence mission, 20th air force and the icbm mission will transfer from air force space command to afgsc.
The commanderinchief, strategic air command cincsac was the most senior officer and head of the strategic air command sac. List of commandersinchief of the strategic air command. On may 29,1960, the windows were dedicated and the chapel was designated the sac memorial chapel. Declassified usaf document alert operations and the strategic air command 19571991 sac history office strategic air command and the alert program. The development of the strategic air com mand, 19461986. Headquartered at offutt air force base, nebraska, usstratcom is responsible for strategic deterrence, global strike, and operating the defense departments global information grid. Strategic air command sac, former command of the u. Drastic cutbacks in manpower and support had an enormous impact. Strategic air command declassifies nuclear target list. It pretty well covers the history of sac from beginning, through the glory days of the 50s and 60s, the air vietnam war, to sacs unfortunate demise in the early. The total size of the downloadable vector file is 0.
Most of them were assigned to the command and are thus considered sac bases. United states strategic command usstratcom is one of the eleven unified combatant commands in the united states department of defense. In november of 1958, at the suggestion of the commander in chief, general thomas s. Sac units were often assigned to other bases and these are also listed. With his trademark sincerity, james stewart plays lt. Headquartered first at andrews air force base in maryland and then, after november 1948, at offutt. All products are provided by the afgsc history office. Air force special film project 1236, sac command post is. Sac was the operational establishment in charge of americas landbased strategic bomber aircraft and landbased intercontinental ballistic missile icbm strategic nuclear. From the motion picture strategic air command starring jimmy stewart and june allyson by paramount. Air force special film pro ject 1236, sac command post is available for free download at the internet archive. Group had dropped the two atomic bombs on japan and many regarded it as the nations most important strategic air unit.
Strategic air command was originally established in the u. He also shared the history of the strategic air command sac, which controlled strategic bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles during the cold war. Office of the historian, headquarters strategic air command, 1991. Raf lakenheath history united states air force use strategic air command.
The unit moved from andrews afb, maryland, to offutt afb. Strategic air command united states air force britannica. A breathless survey of strategic air command sac history posted on october 28, 2016 by launiusr during the latter 1940s, although some demobilization took place after world war ii, the cold war between the united states and the soviet union precipitated the creation of a strategic force that could strike an enemy with nuclear weapons anywhere. Hopkins on how the strategic air command would have gone to nuclear war provided incredible detail on sac procedures during the 1960s. The air and space power journal issn 15542505, air force recurring publication 101, published electronically bimonthly, is the professional journal of the united states air force.
During the latter 1940s, although some demobilization took place after world war ii, the cold war between the united states and the soviet union precipitated the creation of a strategic force that could strike an enemy with nuclear weapons anywhere in the world. Strategic air command is a look at the 1950s, when the needs of the cold war caused america to begin rearming after having nearly disarmed itself following world war ii. Strategic command and control and warning 19451972 479 pages pdf while very much not light reading very academic, this document gives a very indepth look at how the air force and nuclear forces evolved during the cold war. Strategic air command logo vector eps download for free. Raf lakenheath history united states air force use.
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