Posted on Apr 20, 2021
US Could Put Bombers Back on Alert if it Moves Away from Triad, STRATCOM Boss Warns - Air Force...
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13N: Nuclear and Missile Operations
Strategic Air Command (SAC)
Submarines
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Well that would produce a lot of complaining and gnashing of teeth. Having participated in taking B-1s off alert I have to wonder how much of the mechanics of having aircraft on 24/7 alert still exists. I guess the SIOP is still there, but how much of it is still oriented to aircraft vs missiles? Then there's the tanker issue, for every bomber on alert there is a tanker and given the shortage of tankers with no alert bombers it's hard to imagine our global reach concept not being severely impacted.
All that said bomber alert was a good deal for aircrews. Most of your ground based training was accomplished on alert so that when off alert you could focus on flight training. I got my masters degree while pulling alert; I'd usually come on alert a bit behind and get off alert all caught up and sometimes even ahead. Alert was also great for getting correspondence PME out of the way. Frankly with all the turmoil created by constant deployments alert would provide some stability for aircrews, similar to what we had during Vietnam Arc Light deployments and continuous alert.
All that said bomber alert was a good deal for aircrews. Most of your ground based training was accomplished on alert so that when off alert you could focus on flight training. I got my masters degree while pulling alert; I'd usually come on alert a bit behind and get off alert all caught up and sometimes even ahead. Alert was also great for getting correspondence PME out of the way. Frankly with all the turmoil created by constant deployments alert would provide some stability for aircrews, similar to what we had during Vietnam Arc Light deployments and continuous alert.
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Sgt Jim Belanus
I did feel sorry for you people on alert. Stop at the BX, Klaxon goes off and it's a mad dash to the alert area.
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Sgt Jim Belanus
It wasn't fun for the SP's walking around them in the middle of the nite at -40. You people didn't have an easy life, getting some time at home then off to Guam or Thailand for 3 months. You earned your pay.
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Stanley Kubrick Music - Dr. Strangelove: Bomb run
My favourite piece from the Kubrick Soundtrack. It is from Dr. strangelove.
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I don't think there are enough bombers to put on alert, only 2 bases have 52's and I think it's the same for B1B with 1 stealth base. A well targeted attack could eliminate the bomber force.
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Maj Marty Hogan
There's enough. I don't think you would be carpet bombing nukes. Strategic hit if they are using B52s. Desert Storm saw their numbers amd power. It is much different than the 70s and early 80s.
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Sgt Jim Belanus
I hope your right I know the devastation during desert story but I go back to Linebacker 2 when we were losing BUFFS to the N VietNam
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SSgt Jim Gilmore
We lost a good number of D & G models during LBII AND the crews that man them. We still have a global bomber presence though reduced from post Vietnam days.
The KC-135 is still a good an viable airframe, now in its 60s and in spite of the KC-46 debacle is still up to the task along with the KC-10.
When all is said and done, it will be the B-52 & KC-135 doing the flyby salutes when the B-1, B-2, KC-10 & KC-46 go to the Boneyard at Davis-Monthan...
The KC-135 is still a good an viable airframe, now in its 60s and in spite of the KC-46 debacle is still up to the task along with the KC-10.
When all is said and done, it will be the B-52 & KC-135 doing the flyby salutes when the B-1, B-2, KC-10 & KC-46 go to the Boneyard at Davis-Monthan...
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Sgt Jim Belanus
sure seems that way , the grandchildren of the first pilots are flying them now, I just wonder if we have the numbers we need.
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