Boeing EC-135
An essential element of that ability 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.Historically, from 1967 to 1998, the ALCC mission was performed by United States Air Force Boeing EC-135 command post aircraft.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.2 was dedicated to orbiting near the Minuteman ICBM Wing at Malmstrom AFB (Montana) providing ALCS assistance if needed.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 the Minuteman ICBM Wing located at Whiteman AFB (Missouri).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.It was under the direction of PACAF of which 5th AF in Fuchu AS, Tokyo Japan handled their voice communications both unsecure and secure.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 a dedicated, individual telephone line provided to the aircraft.Operation Nightwatch provided three EC-135J[17] command post aircraft to the President of the United States which were based at Andrews AFB (Maryland).The three Nightwatch aircraft were ready to fly the President and the National Command Authority (NCA) out of Washington in the event of a nuclear attack.Equipped with 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.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.
ManufacturerBoeingUnited States Air ForceC-135 Stratoliftercommand and controlBoeing C-135 StratolifterCold WarLooking GlassStrategic Air CommandApollo programBoeing E-6B MercuryTACAMORichard EllisCINCSACOperation Looking Glass34th Air Refueling SquadronOffutt Air Force BaseKC-135As38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron913th Air Refueling SquadronBarksdale Air Force BaseGrissom Air Force BaseEllsworth Air Force Base99th Air Refueling SquadronWestover Air Force BaseOffutt Air Force Base, Nebraskaairborne launch control centers906th Air Refueling SquadronMinot Air Force Base70th Air Refueling Squadron301st Air Refueling SquadronLockbourne Air Force Basenuclear forcesUnited States Strategic CommandNavy'sE-6 MercuryUSAF'sWC-135C Constant PhoenixLGM-30Airborne Launch Control SystemOperation Silk PurseU.S. European CommandRAF Mildenhall10th Airborne Command and Control SquadronU.S. Atlantic CommandLangley AFBHickam AFBAndrews AFBNational Command Authority310th Airlift Squadron6th Air Mobility WingMacDill AFBUnited States Central CommandGulfstream Vcargo aircraftAmerican Airlines707-320Department of DefenseApollo space programMcDonnell DouglasBendixantenna dishJimmy DuranteAir Force Eastern Test RangePatrick AFB4950th Test WingWright-Patterson AFBEdwards AFB412th Test WingE-8 J-STARScruise missileballistic missileSpace ShuttleMissile Impact Location Systemfleet ballistic missile programsPago PagoPalmyra IslandKirtland Air Force BaseTactical Air CommandAlbuquerqueWright-Patterson Air Force BasePope AFBDavis-Monthan AFBAir Combat CommandNational Museum of the United States Air ForceDayton, OhioAir Force Flight Test CenterSouth Dakota Air and Space MuseumBox Elder, South Dakota28th Bomb WingGrissom Air MuseumPeru, Indiana305th Air Refueling WingGrissom AFBOperation Just CauseOperation Desert ShieldDesert StormAirborne Launch Control CenterBellevue, NebraskaMuseum of AviationRobins AFBStrategic Air Command & Aerospace MuseumAshland, NebraskaPima Air and Space MuseumTucson, ArizonaPost Attack Command and Control SystemEmergency Rocket Communications System367-80KC-135NC-135OC-135RC-135WC-135CC-137EC-137KC-137Caesar's ChariotSAM 26000SAM 27000The StarshipAccidents and incidentsOperatorsBoeing 717-200A/B/E/F/N