Strategic Air Command: 'Peace is Our Profession'
Strategic Air Command
The end of World War Two brought new challenges for US homeland security. The advent of the nuclear age and the changing worldwide political landscape provided the catalyst for the development of a unique military force. Established in 1946, Strategic Air Command (SAC) was dominated by two early commanders, General Curtis LeMay and his successor General Thomas Power. Heavily under-resourced, it grappled initially with the poorly defined concept of nuclear warfare. Intent on containing an expansionist Soviet Union, and supported by vast governmental investment, SAC became a huge organization at the forefront of technological development and innovation. While maintaining a continuous alert, it helped shape US nuclear strategy and managed a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons.
It led bomber and missile design, as well as developing a sophisticated command and control structure that enabled it to strike within minutes. This book documents almost five decades of military advances in SAC’s race to develop its bomber, air-refuelling tanker, missile and reconnaissance capabilities. These became core elements of the nuclear triad and US national strategy. Included are details of SAC’s evolution through the Cold War and crises in which it participated, including the Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Southeast Asia and the 1991 Gulf War.
Available: NOW
ISBN: 978 1 80282 257 1
Price: £16.99
Format: Paperback, 96 pages
Author: Kevin Wright