Strategic Air Command Overseas Deployments

From the start, SAC had a problem in reaching its potential targets. Its B-29s, B-50s, and B-47s had a practical operating radius little further than 2,000 miles unrefueled, which was insufficient for reaching the USSR from the continental US and then making it back. Even the B-36 with its huge fuel capacity would need forward basing to fully exploit its capabilities.

B-29s had not been employed over Europe during WWII, but the early postwar era saw Superfortresses deploy to West Germany and elsewhere, as a counter to the rising menace of the USSR. For example, the 43d Bomb Group operated half a dozen B-29s from West Germany during November-December 1947, this deployment coming several months after two US C-47 transports were shot down by the Communists.

Boeing B-47 Stratojet overhead view

B-47 Stratojet (USAF photo)

The first really major crisis was the Blockade of Berlin, which began in June 1948. In response, SAC began sending additional 301st BG Superfortresses to join others in West Germany. On 17 July, four dozen B-29s of the 28th Bomb Group started arriving in the UK. The 28th, under COLONEL John Henry, had made the flight from North Dakota with a refueling stop at Labrador. Four C-54s with support personnel accompanied a second flight of bombers.

Basing aircraft in continental Europe was not. an ideal solution, as bases there could be overrun by the Red Army or hit by Soviet tactical aircraft. Great Britain, which had hosted strategic bombers of the US Eighth Air Force during WWII, was better suited, and throughout. the 1950s and 1960s SAC bombers and tankers on UK airfields were a clear deterrence to Soviet action against NATO.

By the mid-1950s, SAC had a string of Western European forward bases within range of the USSR. The UK-based 7th Air, Division was joined by the 5th Air Division in Morocco and the 16th Air Force in Spain, which took over the 5th AD in 1957. The range-limited B-47s were common visitors to European bases, with the initial ninety-day deployment program starting in June 1951 with 306th BMW Stratojets flying to Europe.

B-52D SEA camo

Boeing B-52D-60-BO (S/N 55-0104) of the 484th Bomb Wing, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on March 20, 1966. (U.S. Air Force photo)

SAC also deployed aircraft to the Pacific region, where the USSR, Communist China, and North Korea menaced US interests. Early postwar training missions saw bombers flying to Japan, but Anderson AFB, Guam was to become one of the major Pacific SAC bases. While within range of mainland Asia, Guam was more secure from attack than bases closer in. Probably the closest that bomber-model B-50s ever got to involvement in a shooting war was a deployment to Anderson in the waning days of the Korea War. These stood ready to deliver nuclear weapons, should the Communists not go through with the armistice.

   B-36s were also deployed to Guam in August--September as part of OPERATION BIG STICK, and in October of the following year the complete 92d BW was sent to Anderson. With the phase out of FEAF Bomber Command, SAC's Third Air Division would came into service on Guam in 1954, and would eventually control SAC combat operations over Southeast Asia during the 1960s.

   SAC also made use of bases in Canada, including Churchill, Cold Lake, Frobisher Bay, Goose Bay and Namda.

   While medium bombers made up a large proportion of SAC's force during the 1950s, a decade later this was not the case. The B-47s were gone by 1966 and the B-58s by early 1970; only the FB-111A was designated as a medium bomber, and only a small number of this machine were built. Additionally, Soviet intermediate-range ballistic missiles could rapidly reach forward bases, making the survival of even alerted aircraft problematical. With a force almost exclusively made up of long-range B-52s and a large KC-135 fleet to support it, SAC was able to move away from forward basing, although training for such contingencies continued.

During the 1980s, SAC deployed bombers, tankers and recce aircraft to Europe as part of the U S commitment to NATO. The European tanker Task Force was centered at RAF Mildenhall, under control of the 306th Strategic Wing. KC-135s, on 45-day TDY to Mildenhall generally numbered five.