Posted on 10/22/2017 6:42:38 PM PDT by Ben Mugged
That means the long-dormant concrete pads at the ends of this base’s 11,000-foot runway — dubbed the “Christmas tree” for their angular markings — could once again find several B-52s parked on them, laden with nuclear weapons and set to take off at a moment’s notice.
“This is yet one more step in ensuring that we’re prepared,” Gen. David Goldfein, Air Force chief of staff, said in an interview during his six-day tour of Barksdale and other U.S. Air Force bases that support the nuclear mission. “I look at it more as not planning for any specific event, but more for the reality of the global situation we find ourselves in and how we ensure we’re prepared going forward.”
(Excerpt) Read more at defenseone.com ...
Back in my Cold War rotc classes the time to air was several minutes. That’s an awful short time for something that big going from standstill to moving.
And it would be all of them, not just one.
““North Korea is not close to being capable of such a first strike.
I understand. That’s partially what’s worrying.”
I think the message being delivered is to Russia and China. Just reminding them that any intervention would be a bitch for both of them.
BUFF bookmark....
I see the “Iron Eagle” raising from his grave and lighting his cigar!
Here is an old youtube video of a B-52 MITO (Minimum Interval Take Off). From klaxon to first wheels up is about 4 minutes give or take.
I love the B52s, but I also realize we have a host of nuclear-laden submarines and surface ships, each singularly capable of taking out an entire country. Then there are the B1 and B2 bombers. Just how many strikes would it actually take?
The B52 display is likely a highly visible public presentation, obviously intended for NORK consumption.
It’s a good idea to be prepared - it tells the little NORK twit that if he hits us we’ll destroy his hellhole...
It was Clinton’s “stand down” orders in 1994/95 that led to 9/11. There were no “ready alert” fighters anywhere near DC (closest was Langley, Va and they arrived after the plane had crashed into the Pentagon (I heard the plane, the explosion and saw the smoke. If I had not been a little late for work, I would have been right next to the Pentagon when it got hit).
The same for no “ready alert” fighters in New York City area, a major target for any terrorist group.
I won’t blame Clinton for all the “stand down” orders because some were justified, but NOT leaving our skies protected, esp. around DC, New York, Boston, Chicago, etc. was stupid, stupid, stupid.
It’s “Zulu Alert” time again. Remember it well...
We only have a handful of BUFFs and the B-2s that are still nuclear certified.
They’re not going to be loaded for penetration missions, they’d be used to launch standoff weapons like nuclear cruise missiles.
We do not have near enough aircraft to do something like that and we never had aircraft flying at the Fail Safe points. For several years SAC had Operation Chrome Dome that had loaded aircraft that flew patterns that had them over the northern reaches of Canada points east and west. Do a search for that as it is very interesting.
Also, military flying is dangerous and keeping live nukes up in the air compounds that danger. Having the Alert birds like we had for the Cold War is more than sufficient.
The Alert birds are cocked and ready to fly. The crewsrun or drive to the aircraft and perform a quick start and, if ordered, take off. The planes are kept ready by the Crew Chiefs that also stand Alert.
That’s good to see: our military forces and Executive ready to do whatever might need to be done under any circumstance. Far less chance of unforeseen surprises for us that way.
Interesting. A B-1B flew over my house yesterday at low altitude. About 50 miles from Whiteman AFB.
The 101st FS out of Otis ANGB scrambled two jets on 9/11. They were the only east coast unit that still had alert aircraft. Due to the confusion that day, they didn’t get on station until after the second tower was hit.
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