34th Air-Refueling Squadron (Offutt Air Force Base)
October 1 1958 - June 25 1966
Wing Assignments
4321st Strategic Wing - 1 Oct 1958 to 1 Jan 1963
385th Strategic Aerospace Wing - 1 Jan 1963 to 15 Dec 1964
818th Strategic Aerospace Division - 15 Dec 1964 to 25 Mar 1965
810th Strategic Aerospace Division - 25 Mar 1965 to 25 Jun 1966
Assigned to 818th Strategic Aerospace Division (overall) - August 1962 to March 1965
October 1 1958 - June 25 1966
Wing Assignments
4321st Strategic Wing - 1 Oct 1958 to 1 Jan 1963
385th Strategic Aerospace Wing - 1 Jan 1963 to 15 Dec 1964
818th Strategic Aerospace Division - 15 Dec 1964 to 25 Mar 1965
810th Strategic Aerospace Division - 25 Mar 1965 to 25 Jun 1966
Assigned to 818th Strategic Aerospace Division (overall) - August 1962 to March 1965
History
- From Air Force Order of Battle (http://usafunithistory.com/PDF/30-49/34%20STRATEGIC%20SQ.pdf) Accessed 6 Mar 2017. Information from that document came from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
"Prior to the arrival of KC-135 aircraft of the 34th Air Refueling Squadron in January 1959, another project associated with the KC-135 aircraft was the strengthening and lighting of the Offutt runway. The 10,000-foot runway had been strengthened during the summer months in order to accommodate the increased load posed by the landing of the KC-135 aircraft. This construction program was completed during November 1958, and the runway was officially opened to all traffic on 26 November with only minor work still remaining to be accomplished in order to allow for complete lighting installation, painting, etc.
Preparation for the arrival in 1959 of the 34th Air Refueling Squadron and their inventory of KC-135 aircraft generated much discussion, planning, and preparation in 1958.
Several trips were made by various members of the wing staff during the year to inspect operations at other bases and to determine what the maintenance, supply, operational, and manpower requirements would be for the refueling-type operation. A preliminary plan was also drawn up by the wing to outline the actions necessary to accommodate the KC-135 squadron at Offutt AFB. After approval by the wing commander, personnel from the Operations Directorate went to Westover AFB to brief personnel at Headquarters Eighth Air Force. In early January 1959, the 3902 ABW received the 34th Air Refueling Squadron. The first two aircraft arrived on 8 January and were named the City of Omaha and the City of Bellevue."
- From Air Force Order of Battle (http://usafunithistory.com/PDF/30-49/34%20STRATEGIC%20SQ.pdf) Accessed 6 Mar 2017. Information from that document came from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
"Prior to the arrival of KC-135 aircraft of the 34th Air Refueling Squadron in January 1959, another project associated with the KC-135 aircraft was the strengthening and lighting of the Offutt runway. The 10,000-foot runway had been strengthened during the summer months in order to accommodate the increased load posed by the landing of the KC-135 aircraft. This construction program was completed during November 1958, and the runway was officially opened to all traffic on 26 November with only minor work still remaining to be accomplished in order to allow for complete lighting installation, painting, etc.
Preparation for the arrival in 1959 of the 34th Air Refueling Squadron and their inventory of KC-135 aircraft generated much discussion, planning, and preparation in 1958.
Several trips were made by various members of the wing staff during the year to inspect operations at other bases and to determine what the maintenance, supply, operational, and manpower requirements would be for the refueling-type operation. A preliminary plan was also drawn up by the wing to outline the actions necessary to accommodate the KC-135 squadron at Offutt AFB. After approval by the wing commander, personnel from the Operations Directorate went to Westover AFB to brief personnel at Headquarters Eighth Air Force. In early January 1959, the 3902 ABW received the 34th Air Refueling Squadron. The first two aircraft arrived on 8 January and were named the City of Omaha and the City of Bellevue."
"Looking Glass"
- From Air Force Order of Battle (http://usafunithistory.com/PDF/30-49/34%20STRATEGIC%20SQ.pdf) Accessed 6 Mar 2017. Information from that document came from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
"On 1 July 1960, SAC began testing an airborne command post at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Beginning that day and extending throughout the year, one of five specially modified KC-135s of the 34th Air Refueling Squadron was placed on ground alert and periodically tested to determine its ability to take off within 15 minutes. Once airborne, the KC-135's primary mission was to serve as an alternate command post, one that could assume control over the SAC combat force in the event an enemy attack destroyed the underground facility at Offutt and the other command posts collocated with the numbered air force headquarters. On each flight, the KC-135 was manned by a SAC general officer and a team of controllers and communications experts. Strategic Air Command first tested the practical application of an airborne counterpart to its underground command post in July 1960. The concept was proven valid and continuous airborne alerts, flown by the 34th Air Refueling Squadron stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, commenced on 3 February 1961. The aircraft used for this mission was a modified KC-135A.
In March 1963, the 34th AREFS received eight newly- configured KC-135As to support a growing command, control and communications (C3) mission at Offutt. In August of the following year, these were replaced with KC-135B that had turbofan engines, advanced electronics equipment and both tanker and receiver capabilities for air-to-air refueling operations. These new aircraft were soon redesignated as EC-135Cs. Offutt was not the only base to receive the new EC-135Cs. They were simultaneously delivered to other bases as well, expanding the airborne C3 network considerably. On 1 July 1966, the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing based at Forbes AFB, KS, assumed responsibility for LOOKING GLASS from the 34th Air Refueling Squadron. Detachment 1 of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing based at Offutt AFB, NE, actually conducted flight operations for the Glass. About a month later, the wing headquarters was moved to Offutt. At that time LOOKING GLASS operations were transferred to the 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, whose responsibility was to fly the five EC-135C's in support of the SAC ABNCP mission.
The need for a survivable SAC Command Post as a key component of adequate U.S. deterrence and security meshed well with the change in U.S. nuclear policy from massive retaliation to flexible response and its focus upon control of America's nuclear strike force during the trans- and early post-SIOP periods. The one likely survivable candidate was an airborne platform, and plans had been under consideration by SAC since late 1958 to test an airborne command post variant of the KC-135, with a desired operational capability by 1960. On May 26, 1960, the first KC-135A (58-0022) began modification to an airborne command post configuration, and operational tests started two months later at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. Five modified KC-135As assigned to the 34th AREFS were placed on ground alert and periodically tested to determine their ability to take off within 15 minutes. Once airborne, they would serve as an alternate command post, assuming primary control over the SAC combat force if (or, more appropriately, when) an enemy attack destroyed the underground facility at Offutt AFB and the other NAF command posts. On board each flight was a senior SAC officer (initially a colonel and eventually a general) - known as the Airborne Emergency Action Officer (AEAO) - who would take over command of the SIOP forces in the event communications were lost with the NCA and SAC headquarters.
After six months the test was deemed a success, hailed by CINCSAC General Thomas S. Power as 'conclusive proof" of the effectiveness of an airborne command post, and a decision was made to expand the program. Additional KC-135As were converted into airborne command posts for use as back-ups to the primary airborne command post. In Jan of 1960, President Kennedy directed that one of SAC's new airborne command posts to be airborne at all times, and, on 3rd February 1961, the KC-135 Looking Glass Airborne Command Post(ABNCP) began continuous airborne operations, with additional back-up airplanes on 15-minute ground alert. The KC-135 airborne command post sortie - dubbed the "Looking Glass" - was airborne safely and continuously from 3rd February 1961, to 24th July 1990."
- From Air Force Order of Battle (http://usafunithistory.com/PDF/30-49/34%20STRATEGIC%20SQ.pdf) Accessed 6 Mar 2017. Information from that document came from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
"On 1 July 1960, SAC began testing an airborne command post at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Beginning that day and extending throughout the year, one of five specially modified KC-135s of the 34th Air Refueling Squadron was placed on ground alert and periodically tested to determine its ability to take off within 15 minutes. Once airborne, the KC-135's primary mission was to serve as an alternate command post, one that could assume control over the SAC combat force in the event an enemy attack destroyed the underground facility at Offutt and the other command posts collocated with the numbered air force headquarters. On each flight, the KC-135 was manned by a SAC general officer and a team of controllers and communications experts. Strategic Air Command first tested the practical application of an airborne counterpart to its underground command post in July 1960. The concept was proven valid and continuous airborne alerts, flown by the 34th Air Refueling Squadron stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, commenced on 3 February 1961. The aircraft used for this mission was a modified KC-135A.
In March 1963, the 34th AREFS received eight newly- configured KC-135As to support a growing command, control and communications (C3) mission at Offutt. In August of the following year, these were replaced with KC-135B that had turbofan engines, advanced electronics equipment and both tanker and receiver capabilities for air-to-air refueling operations. These new aircraft were soon redesignated as EC-135Cs. Offutt was not the only base to receive the new EC-135Cs. They were simultaneously delivered to other bases as well, expanding the airborne C3 network considerably. On 1 July 1966, the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing based at Forbes AFB, KS, assumed responsibility for LOOKING GLASS from the 34th Air Refueling Squadron. Detachment 1 of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing based at Offutt AFB, NE, actually conducted flight operations for the Glass. About a month later, the wing headquarters was moved to Offutt. At that time LOOKING GLASS operations were transferred to the 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, whose responsibility was to fly the five EC-135C's in support of the SAC ABNCP mission.
The need for a survivable SAC Command Post as a key component of adequate U.S. deterrence and security meshed well with the change in U.S. nuclear policy from massive retaliation to flexible response and its focus upon control of America's nuclear strike force during the trans- and early post-SIOP periods. The one likely survivable candidate was an airborne platform, and plans had been under consideration by SAC since late 1958 to test an airborne command post variant of the KC-135, with a desired operational capability by 1960. On May 26, 1960, the first KC-135A (58-0022) began modification to an airborne command post configuration, and operational tests started two months later at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. Five modified KC-135As assigned to the 34th AREFS were placed on ground alert and periodically tested to determine their ability to take off within 15 minutes. Once airborne, they would serve as an alternate command post, assuming primary control over the SAC combat force if (or, more appropriately, when) an enemy attack destroyed the underground facility at Offutt AFB and the other NAF command posts. On board each flight was a senior SAC officer (initially a colonel and eventually a general) - known as the Airborne Emergency Action Officer (AEAO) - who would take over command of the SIOP forces in the event communications were lost with the NCA and SAC headquarters.
After six months the test was deemed a success, hailed by CINCSAC General Thomas S. Power as 'conclusive proof" of the effectiveness of an airborne command post, and a decision was made to expand the program. Additional KC-135As were converted into airborne command posts for use as back-ups to the primary airborne command post. In Jan of 1960, President Kennedy directed that one of SAC's new airborne command posts to be airborne at all times, and, on 3rd February 1961, the KC-135 Looking Glass Airborne Command Post(ABNCP) began continuous airborne operations, with additional back-up airplanes on 15-minute ground alert. The KC-135 airborne command post sortie - dubbed the "Looking Glass" - was airborne safely and continuously from 3rd February 1961, to 24th July 1990."