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The Boeing EC-135 is a retired family of command and control aircraft derived from the Boeing C-135 Stratolifter . During the Cold War , the EC-135 was best known for being modified to perform the Looking Glass mission where one EC-135 was always airborne 24 hours a day to serve as flying command post for the Strategic Air Command in the event of nuclear war. Various other EC-135 aircraft sat on airborne and ground alert throughout the Cold War, with the last EC-135C being retired in 1998. The EC-135N variant served as the tracking aircraft for the Apollo program .

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69-441: EC135 , EC-135 , or EC 135 may be: Boeing EC-135 , a cargo airplane used for several U.S. Air Force missions. Eurocopter EC135 , twin-engine civil helicopter [REDACTED] Topics referred to by the same term This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title formed as a letter–number combination. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change

138-515: A dedicated, individual telephone line provided to the aircraft. The ground stations were self sufficient in that they were configured in trailers so they could be relocated to safer positions in the event of a national emergency.  The equipment installed in the vans was identical to the electronics on board the aircraft.  This necessitated the requirement for motor-generators to provide conversion from 60 Hz to 400 Hz power. Each equipment van had an omni-directional antenna mounted on

207-484: A fourth aircraft was ordered. It was fitted with more advanced equipment, resulting in the designation E-4B. On 21 December 1979, Boeing delivered the first E-4B, AF Serial Number 75-0125, which was distinguished from the earlier version by the presence of a large streamlined radome on the dorsal surface directly behind the upper deck. This contains the aircraft's SHF satellite antenna. By January 1985, all three E-4As had been retrofitted to E-4B models. The E-4B offered

276-667: A member of the National Command Authority (NCA) from an undisclosed location. There are at least 48 crew aboard any E-4B mission. Behind the briefing room is the operations team area, containing the automatic data processing equipment and seats and console work areas for 29 staff members. The consoles are configured to provide access to or from the automated data processing, automatic switchboard, direct access telephone and radio circuits, direct ("hot") lines, monitor panel for switchboard lines, staff, and operator inter-phone and audio recorder. The aft compartment at

345-535: A prominent role in two motion pictures. In the 1990 HBO film By Dawn's Early Light , following a nuclear strike by the Soviets, the aircraft serves as a flying platform for the presumed president, the ex– Secretary of the Interior , who is played by Darren McGavin . The aircraft is pursued by a Boeing EC-135 "Looking Glass", which successfully intercepts it. In the 2002 motion picture The Sum of All Fears ,

414-821: A re-engining that changed the EC-135N to the EC-135E . In 1994, the ARIA fleet relocated again to Edwards AFB , California, as part of the 412th Test Wing . However, taskings for the ARIA dwindled because of high costs and improved satellite technology, and the USAF transferred the aircraft to other programs such as E-8 J-STARS . Over its thirty-two year career, the ARIA supported the United States space program, gathered telemetry, verified international treaties, and supported cruise missile , ballistic missile defense tests, and

483-484: A short while on the EC-135L. Starting in 1970, there were only two SAC squadrons that operated ALCS capable aircraft. This included the 2nd Airborne Command and Control Squadron (ACCS) operating EC-135C aircraft out of Offutt AFB and the 4th ACCS operating EC-135A, EC-135C, and EC-135G aircraft out of Ellsworth AFB . All three variants of these EC-135A/C/G aircraft had ALCS equipment installed on board. The 4th ACCS

552-829: A steerable seven-foot antenna dish in its distinctive "Droop Snoot" or "Snoopy Nose", the EC-135N A/RIA became operational in January 1968, and was often known as the " Jimmy Durante " of the Air Force. The Air Force Eastern Test Range (AFETR) at Patrick AFB , Florida, maintained and operated the A/RIA until the end of the Apollo program in 1972, when the USAF renamed it the Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft (ARIA). Since Patrick AFB

621-538: A temporary command post on the ground, until facilities could be built on site. No E-4B was employed during the Hurricane Katrina disaster of 2005, though one E-4B was used by FEMA following Hurricane Opal in 1995. One E-4B is kept on alert at all times. The "cocked" or "on alert" E-4B is crewed 24 hours a day with the watch crew on board guarding all communications systems awaiting a launch order ( klaxon launch). Those crew members not on watch would be in

690-691: A third aircraft was added in July 1973. In 1973, the first E-4A was completed at the Boeing plant in Everett, Washington . E-Systems won the contract to install interim equipment in these three aircraft. In July 1973, the first completed E-4A was delivered to Andrews Air Force Base , Maryland. The next two were delivered in October 1973 and October 1974. The third E-4A was powered by the GE F103 engine, which

759-415: A vast increase in communications capability over the previous model and was considered to be 'hardened' against the effects of a nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP) from a nuclear explosion. Hardening the aircraft meant that all equipment and wiring on board was shielded from an EMP. In 2005, the Air Force awarded Boeing a five-year, US$ 2 billion contract, equivalent to $ 3.12 billion in 2023, for

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828-540: Is Looking Glass; its crew and staff ensure there is always an aircraft ready to direct bombers and missiles from the air should ground-based command centers be destroyed or rendered inoperable. Looking Glass is intended to guarantee that U.S. strategic forces will act only in the manner dictated by the President. It took the nickname "Looking Glass" because the mission mirrored ground-based command, control, and communications centers. The Strategic Air Command (SAC) began

897-471: Is capable of operating with a crew up to 112 people, including flight and mission personnel, the largest crew of any aircraft in US Air Force history. With in-flight aerial refueling it is capable of remaining airborne for a considerable period, limited only by consumption of the engines' lubricants. In a test flight for endurance, the aircraft remained airborne and fully operational for 35.4 hours. It

966-471: Is designed to be able to remain airborne for a full week in the event of an emergency. It takes two fully loaded KC-135 tankers to fully refuel an E-4B. The E-4B has three operational decks: upper, middle, and lower. The flight deck contains stations for the pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer, plus a special navigation station not normally found on commercial Boeing 747s. A lounge area and sleeping quarters for flight and maintenance crews are located aft of

1035-455: Is located in the forward right side of the forward lower equipment area, installed for airplane entry and exit. In the event of an emergency, the airstair can be jettisoned. The aft lower lobe contains the maintenance console and mission specific equipment. The lower trailing wire antenna (TWA) area contains the aircraft's 5-mile-long (8.0 km) TWA reel—which is used by up to 13 communications links—the antenna operator's station, as well as

1104-648: The Space Shuttle . ARIA aircraft were equipped to collect data from the Sonobuoy Missile Impact Location System (SMILS) composed of a large sonobuoy field and a fixed bottom transponder. Specially equipped Navy P-3 aircraft were also equipped to collect data from this system which supported the Navy's fleet ballistic missile programs testing. Boeing E-4 The Boeing E-4 Advanced Airborne Command Post ( AACP ),

1173-639: The United States Strategic Command . When the President travels outside of North America using a VC-25A as Air Force One, an E-4B will deploy to a second airport in the vicinity of the President's destination, to be readily available in the event of a world crisis or an emergency that renders the VC-25A unusable. When President Barack Obama visited Honolulu , Hawaii, an E-4B was often stationed 200 miles away at Hilo International Airport on Hawaii Island . In June 2017, two of

1242-610: The attack on the Pentagon . In his book Black Ice , Dan Verton identifies this aircraft as an E-4B taking part in an operational exercise, and the exercise was canceled when the first plane struck the World Trade Center . Air traffic control recordings and radar data indicate this E-4B call sign VENUS77 became airborne just before 9:44 am, circled north of the White House during its climb, and then tracked to

1311-701: The Blue Eagle Ground Station.  The call sign for the Kadena Blue Eagle Operation was “Settler”. All Blue Eagle Ground Stations were contracted to Philco Corporation and consisted of two trailer vans that could be pulled by a single tractor.  One van was configured with a 15KW diesel powered generator and diesel fuel tank and the other was outfitted with a 15-ton heavy duty air conditioning unit, three motor generators, three UHF/VHF FM transmitters and receivers, two multiplexers each providing up to 24 telephone lines and

1380-567: The Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), which were based at Hickam AFB (Hawaii). Operated by the 9th Airborne Command and Control Squadron 1969–92. Communications, secure/unsecure voice and teletype, handled by the 1957th Communications Group, Hickam AFB (1969–1992) "Upkeep" was the call sign for the EC135 flying in southeast Asia during 1969 to 1971, based out of Hickam AFB. It

1449-475: The Commander, United States Central Command . These aircraft have since been replaced with three C-37A Gulfstream V aircraft. The Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft are EC-135B s, modified C-135 B cargo aircraft and EC-18B (former American Airlines 707-320 ) passenger aircraft that provided tracking and telemetry information to support the US space program in the late 1960s and early 1970s. During

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1518-546: The E-4B. As of the 2015 federal budget there were no plans for retiring the E-4B. The E-4B airframe has a usable life of 115,000 hours and 30,000 cycles, which would be reached in 2039. The maintenance limiting point would occur sometime in the 2020s. All four produced are operated by the U.S. Air Force, and are assigned to the 1st Airborne Command Control Squadron (1ACCS), of the 595th Command and Control Group at Offutt Air Force Base , Nebraska . Operations are coordinated by

1587-520: The EASTAUXCP was ALCS capable, it did not have a dedicated ALCS mission. Operation Silk Purse program provided four EC-135H command post aircraft to the Commander, U.S. European Command (USEUCOM), which were based at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom. Flown by the 10th Airborne Command and Control Squadron 1970–91. Onboard secure/non-secure communications and avionics equipment

1656-480: The EC-135C. Officially known as " Operation Looking Glass ", at least 11 EC-135C command post aircraft were provided to the Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), and were based at various locations throughout the United States and worldwide. Operations began in 1961 with the 34th Air Refueling Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base (Nebraska), initially using EC-135As (converted from KC-135As ) until

1725-611: The Looking Glass mission on February 3, 1961, and Looking Glass aircraft were continuously airborne 24 hours a day for over 29 years, accumulating more than 281,000 accident-free flying hours. On July 24, 1990, "The Glass" ceased continuous airborne alert, but remained on ground or airborne alert 24 hours a day. The EC-135A flew the Command Post mission until EC-135C were delivered starting in 1963. The aircraft were delivered to Offutt AFB and as well as one aircraft to each of

1794-570: The Minuteman ICBM Wing at Malmstrom AFB (Montana) providing ALCS assistance if needed. The 4th ACCS also maintained an EC-135C or EC-135G on ground alert at Ellsworth AFB as the West Auxiliary Airborne Command Post (WESTAUXCP) as a backup to SAC's " Looking Glass " Airborne Command Post (ABNCP) as well as a radio relay link between the Looking Glass and ALCCs when airborne. Although equipped with ALCS,

1863-425: The Minuteman ICBM Wing located at Whiteman AFB (Missouri). Not only did Whiteman AFB have Minuteman II ICBMs, but it also had ERCS configured Minuteman missiles on alert. The 2nd ACCS also had an additional EC-135C on ground alert at Offutt AFB as the EASTAUXCP, providing backup to the airborne Looking Glass, radio relay capability, and a means for the Commander in Chief of SAC to escape an enemy nuclear attack. Although

1932-611: The Minuteman Wings at Ellsworth AFB and F.E. Warren AFB (Wyoming) providing ALCS assistance if needed. ALCCs No. 2 and No. 3 were routinely on forward deployed ground alert at Minot AFB. During a wartime scenario, ALCC No. 3 would have orbited between the Minuteman ICBM Wings at Minot AFB and Grand Forks AFB, both in North Dakota, providing ALCS assistance if needed. ALCC No. 2 was dedicated to orbiting near

2001-401: The President of the United States which were based at Andrews AFB (Maryland). All three aircraft were transferred to other ABNCP missions. Nightwatch was initiated in the mid-1960s utilizing the three EC-135J aircraft, modified from KC-135Bs, as command post aircraft. The three Nightwatch aircraft were ready to fly the President and the National Command Authority (NCA) out of Washington in

2070-511: The Stateside Numbered Air Force Headquarters – Second Air Force at Barksdale AFB (Louisiana); Eighth Air Force at Westover AFB (Massachusetts); and Fifteenth Air Force at March AFB (California). EC-135s flew all the missions except one, on March 4, 1980, when an E-4B was tested on an operational mission, flying a double sortie as the replacement aircraft could not launch due to weather. About a week after

2139-583: The U.S. Air Force began developing a replacement for the E-4. The new platform is currently known as the Survivable Airborne Operations Center . This aircraft is to be developed by Sierra Nevada Corporation collaborating with Rolls Royce , based on the Boeing 747-8I . Data from USAF Fact Sheet, Boeing 747-200 specifications General characteristics Performance 12 hours (without refueling) The E-4B plays

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2208-484: The U.S. president and secretary of defense could access them quickly in the event of an emergency. The name "Nightwatch" originates from the richly detailed Rembrandt painting, The Night Watch , that depicts local townsfolk protecting a town. It was selected by the Squadron's first commanding officer. Later, the aircraft were moved to Offutt Air Force Base where they would be safer from attack. Until 1994, one E-4B

2277-525: The United States , the Secretary of Defense , and successors . The four E-4s are operated by the 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron of the 595th Command and Control Group located at Offutt Air Force Base , near Omaha, Nebraska . An E-4 when in action is denoted a "National Airborne Operations Center" (NAOC) and has been nicknamed the "Doomsday plane". Two of the original 747-200 airframes were originally planned to be commercial airliners. When

2346-569: The WESTAUXCP did not have a dedicated Minuteman ICBM wing to provide ALCS assistance to. The 2nd ACCS was another major player in ALCS operations. The primary mission of the 2nd ACCS was to fly the SAC ABNCP " Looking Glass " aircraft in continuous airborne operations. However, due to its proximity in orbiting over the central United States, the airborne Looking Glass provided ALCS coverage for

2415-573: The aircraft allow the Secretary's senior staff to work for the duration of the mission. With the adoption of two highly modified Boeing 747-200Bs, Air Force designation VC-25A , to serve as Air Force One in 1989, and the end of the Cold War , the need for NEACP diminished. In 1994, NEACP began to be known as NAOC, and it took on a new responsibility: ferrying Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) crews to natural disaster sites and serving as

2484-618: The aircraft in February 2007. Rumsfeld's successor, Robert Gates , reversed this decision in May 2007. This is due to the unique capabilities of the E-4B, which cannot be duplicated by any other single aircraft in Air Force service, and the cancellation in 2007 of the E-10 MC2A , which was considered as a successor to the EC-135 and E-8 aircraft, and could also perform many of the same tasks of

2553-500: The aircraft were damaged by a tornado that struck Offutt AFB, having been struck by falling debris after the tornado damaged the hangar the aircraft were stationed in. They were out of service for eleven weeks while repairs took place. The E-4B aircraft have been based at the nearby Lincoln Air National Guard Base three times: in 2006, then 2019 during the Missouri flood , and 2021–22 subsequent runway replacement. In 2021 and 2022,

2622-601: The airline did not complete the order, Boeing offered the airframes to the United States Air Force , as part of a package leading to a replacement for the older EC-135J National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP). Under the 481B NEACP program the Air Force Electronic Systems Division awarded Boeing a contract in February 1973 for two unequipped aircraft, designated E-4A, powered by four P&W JT9D engines, to which

2691-480: The alert barracks, gymnasium, or at other base facilities. The 24-hour alert status at Andrews AFB ended when President Clinton ordered the aircraft to remain at Offutt unless needed. Relief crews remain based at Andrews and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base . On 11 September 2001, an aircraft closely resembling an E-4B was spotted and filmed orbiting the Washington, D.C. area by news outlets and civilians, after

2760-485: The antenna reel controls and indicators. Much attention has been given to hardening this area against EMP, especially as the TWA, essential for communicating with Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines , is particularly effective in picking up EMP. The flight avionics area contains the aircraft systems power panels, flight avionics equipment, liquid oxygen converters, and storage for baggage and spare parts. The E-4 fleet

2829-471: The conference room and/or the briefing room, and has since been modernized with flat screen displays. The battle staff includes various controllers, planners, launch system officers, communications operators, a weather officer, administrative and support personnel, and a chief of battle staff. The Operation Looking Glass missions were commanded by a general officer with two staff officers. The National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) may rendezvous and embark

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2898-603: The continued upgrade of the E-4B fleet. In addition to the purchase and upgrade costs, the E-4 costs nearly $ 160,000 per hour, equivalent to $ 203,128 in 2023, for the Air Force to operate. The E-4B fleet had an estimated unit cost of approximately US$ 223.2 million each in 2024. The E-4B is designed to survive an EMP with systems intact, and has state-of-the-art direct fire countermeasures. Many older aircraft have been upgraded with glass cockpits . The E-4B still uses traditional analog flight instruments , as they are less susceptible to damage from an EMP blast. The E-4B

2967-558: The current "Nightwatch" aircraft, is a series of strategic command and control military aircraft operated by the United States Air Force (USAF). The E-4 series are specially modified from the Boeing 747-200B for the National Emergency Airborne Command Post ( NEACP ) program. The E-4 serves as a survivable mobile command post for the National Command Authority , namely the President of

3036-410: The dedicated EC-135Cs entered service in 1964. Originally built as KC-135Bs, they were re-designated as EC-135Cs from 1 January 1965. Other Offutt-based units included the 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (1966–1970), the 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron (1970–1994), and the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron (1994–1998). Other units operating the Looking Glass mission included

3105-738: The early 1960s, NASA and the Department of Defense (DoD) needed a very mobile tracking and telemetry platform to support the Apollo space program and other unmanned space flight operations. In a joint project, NASA and the DoD contracted with the McDonnell Douglas and the Bendix Corporations to modify eight Boeing C-135 Stratolifter cargo aircraft into EC-135N Apollo / Range Instrumentation Aircraft (A/RIA). Equipped with

3174-493: The end of the main deck is the Technical Control (Tech Control) area. This area was the nerve center for all communications and communications technicians. Typically three of the six crew positions were occupied here by specialized US Air Force technicians that were responsible for the proper monitoring and distribution of all communications power, cooling, and reliability. The Technical Controller No. 1 (Tech 1, TC1)

3243-536: The event of a nuclear attack. The E-4 aircraft (a modified Boeing 747-200) came on line with the Nightwatch program in 1974 replacing the EC-135s on this mission. The 310th Airlift Squadron , part of the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill AFB (Florida), operated two NKC-135 s that were reconfigured as EC-135Y aircraft from 1989 to 2003 as executive transport and command & control platforms to support

3312-486: The flight deck. The flight crew consists of an aircraft commander, co-pilot, navigator, and flight engineer. The middle deck contains the conference room, which provides a secure area for conferences and briefings. It contains a conference table for nine people. Aft of the conference room is a projection room serving the conference room and the briefing room. The projection room had the capability of projecting computer graphics, overhead transparencies, or 35 mm slides to

3381-518: The flight, Washington deleted the funds for additional E-4 aircraft. On June 1, 1992, SAC was inactivated and replaced by the United States Strategic Command , which now controls the Looking Glass. On October 1, 1998, the Navy's E-6 Mercury TACAMO replaced the USAF's EC-135C in the Looking Glass mission. The last active, former, Looking Glass was converted to a WC-135C Constant Phoenix , where it

3450-671: The following: Other EC-135 aircraft (including EC-135A, G, and L models) supporting the Looking Glass missions (communications relay and Minuteman airborne launch control centers ) were flown by the 906th Air Refueling Squadron at Minot Air Force Base (North Dakota) (1963–1970) , the 70th Air Refueling Squadron at Grissom AFB (1975–1993), and the 301st Air Refueling Squadron at Lockbourne Air Force Base (Ohio) (1963–1970). All aircraft have been retired or repurposed. The United States nuclear strategy depends on its ability to command, control, and communicate with its nuclear forces under all conditions. An essential element of that ability

3519-419: The forward entry area is the main galley unit and stairways to the flight deck and to the forward lower equipment area. This area contains refrigerators, freezers, two convection ovens, and a microwave oven to give stewards the capability to provide more than 100 hot meals during prolonged missions. Four seats are located on the left side of the forward entry area for the secret service and the stewards. Behind

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3588-594: The forward entry area, is the National Command Authority (NCA) area, which is designed and furnished as an executive suite. It contains an office, a lounge, a sleeping area, and a dressing room. Telephone instruments in this area provide the NCA with secure and clear worldwide communications. The briefing room contains a briefing table with three executive seats, eighteen additional seats, a lectern, and two 80-inch flat screen LED monitors flush mounted to

3657-455: The ground over a wide range of frequencies covering virtually the entire radio communications spectrum from 14 kHz to 8.4 GHz. Ground stations can link the E-4B into the main US ground-based communications network. The forward lower equipment room contains the aircraft's water supply tanks, 1200 kVA electrical power panels, step-down transformers, VLF transmitter, and SHF SATCOM equipment. An AC/DC powered hydraulic retractable airstair

3726-431: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=EC135&oldid=932806936 " Category : Letter–number combination disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Boeing EC-135 The Boeing E-6B Mercury " TACAMO " replaced

3795-536: The mission. Secure Voice was provided. The SHF Operator (or technician) maintained the SHF satellite link and provided other worldwide communications services, probably having replaced a lot of the UHF capabilities. The rest area, which occupies the remaining portion of the aft main deck, provides a rest and sleeping area for the crew members. The rest area contains storage for food and is used for religious ceremonies. Within

3864-506: The partition. The communications control area is divided into a voice area and a data area. The voice area, located on the right side of the compartment, contains the radio operator's console, the semi-automatic switchboard console, and the communication officer's console. The data area, located on the left side of the area, contains the record communications console, record data supervisor's console, high speed DATA/AUTODIN/AFSAT console, and LF/ VLF control heads. The E-4B can communicate with

3933-583: The president and his staff travel on an E-4B, following the detonation of a nuclear weapon by terrorists. In the novel, the Vice President and his family are aboard the NEACP after terrorists detonate a nuclear bomb in Denver, while the President and his National Security Advisor are stuck at Camp David during a blinding snowstorm. National Geographic produced a television special on doomsday planning of

4002-463: The roof of the van and 3 additional portable antennas that were deployed on telephone poles.  The antennas could be switched electro-mechanically from each transmitter/receiver pair.  The vans at Kadena AB were never moved from their initial installation location. Blue Eagle was formed in 1965 and started 24/7 operation in October 1965 and continued until disbanded in 1992. Operation Nightwatch provided three EC-135J command post aircraft to

4071-418: The south of Washington, D.C., where it entered a holding pattern. In 2008, Brent Scowcroft explained that he was on this plane to go on an inspection tour to one unspecified nuclear weapons site, as chairman of a DoD team called "End to End review". In January 2006, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced a plan to retire the entire E-4B fleet starting in 2009. This was reduced to retiring one of

4140-472: Was later made standard and retrofitted to the previous two aircraft. The A-model effectively housed the same equipment as the EC-135, but offered more space and an ability to remain aloft longer than an EC-135. In November 1973, it was reported that the program cost was estimated to total $ 548 million, equivalent to $ 3.76 billion in 2023 for seven 747s, with six as operational command posts and one more for research and development. In December 1973,

4209-520: Was located on the Atlantic Ocean, salt water and salt air-induced corrosion issues and associated aircraft maintenance challenges were problematic for the ARIA while based there. Transferred to the 4950th Test Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB , Ohio, in December 1975 as part of an overall consolidation of large test and evaluation aircraft, the ARIA fleet underwent numerous conversions, including

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4278-466: Was maintained by the 513th Avionics Maintenance Squadron and the 2147th Communications Squadron. Aircraft S/Ns 61–0282, 285, 286 and 291. Operation Scope Light provided five EC-135C/HJ/P command post aircraft to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (CINCLANT), which were based at Langley AFB (Virginia). Operated by the 6th Airborne Command and Control Squadron 1972–92. Operation Blue Eagle provided five EC-135J/P command post aircraft to

4347-592: Was originally deployed in 1974, when it was termed National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP), often pronounced "kneecap". The aircraft was to provide a survivable platform to conduct war operations in the event of a nuclear attack. Early in the E-4's service, the media dubbed the aircraft as "the doomsday planes". The E-4 was also capable of operating the "Looking Glass" missions of the Strategic Air Command (SAC). The aircraft were originally stationed at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland , so that

4416-456: Was performed by United States Air Force Boeing EC-135 command post aircraft. This included EC-135A, EC-135C, EC-135G, and EC-135L aircraft. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, ALCS crews belonged to the 44th Strategic Missile Wing (SMW) at Ellsworth AFB and the 91st SMW at Minot AFB. ALCS equipment was installed on various Boeing EC-135 variants to include the EC-135A, EC-135C, EC-135G, and for

4485-667: Was retired in November 2020. Airborne Launch Control Centers (ALCC—pronounced "Al-see") provided a survivable launch capability for the United States Air Force's LGM-30 Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) force by utilizing the Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS) on board that is operated by an airborne missileer crew. Historically, from 1967 to 1998, the ALCC mission

4554-453: Was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base at all times so the President could easily board it in times of world crisis. The NEACP aircraft originally used the static call sign "Silver Dollar". This call sign faded from use when daily call signs were put in use. The E-4B serves as the Secretary of Defense's preferred means of transportation when traveling outside the U.S. The spacious interior and sophisticated communications capability provided by

4623-491: Was the direct interface with the aircraft Flight Engineer and Flight Crew. This position was also the main focal point for all communications related issues. The Technical Controller No. 2 (Tech 2, TC2) was responsible for maintaining all UHF communications between the aircraft and the Nightwatch GEP (Ground Entry Points). These GEP's provided 12 voice lines to the aircraft which were used in the day-to-day operations of

4692-448: Was the workhorse of ALCS operations. Three dedicated Airborne Launch Control Centers (ALCC) were on ground alert around-the-clock providing ALCS coverage for five of the six Minuteman ICBM Wings. These dedicated ALCCs were mostly EC-135A aircraft but could also have been EC-135C or EC-135G aircraft depending on availability. ALCC No. 1 was on ground alert at Ellsworth AFB and during a wartime scenario would have taken off and orbited between

4761-473: Was under the direction of PACAF of which 5th AF in Fuchu AS, Tokyo Japan handled their voice communications both unsecure and secure. <1956 Comm Gp USAF 1969 to 1971> Blue Eagle Ground Stations were located at Hickam AFB, Yakoto AB (Japan) Kadena AB (Okinawa), and Clark AB (Philippines).  There may have been an additional Ground Station on Guam. At Kadena AB, the 1962nd Communications Group hosted

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