‘Fighter pilots make movies, bomber pilots make history’ – or so the bomber pilots say, anyway.Strategic Air Command held a constant nuclear-armed vigil, ready to launch nuclear war at a moment’s notice, twenty-four hours a day. SAC was responsible for two of the three components of the Nuclear Triad – manned strategic bombers and land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) – alongside the Navy’s SLBMs.

Also responsible for the USAF’s strategic reconnaissance aircraft, SAC maintained a large fleet of tankers to support its bombers and spy planes.After a drawdown of strength in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, SAC rebuilt its strength throughout the 1980s as part of a wider revitalisation of the US armed forces under President Reagan.

New advanced bombers, tankers and ICBMs joined the fleet with the promise of new stealth aircraft under development.


Format Häftad Omfång 96 sidor Språk Engelska Förlag Amberley Publishing Utgivningsdatum 2022-07-15 ISBN 9781445698700