What is the Strategic Air Command, and what’s the story of them wanting to train Chinese pilots after one crashed in AZ in 1964? What was the story here? - Jinx
First off, you need to understand the concept behind “Strategic” and “Tactical”.
For generalization, “Tactical” referred to battlefield warfare, or the immediate theater. “Strategic” focused on the role of the industry/population behind the warfare. They are two different mission frames-of-mind.
During the Cold War, SAC was concerned with a variety of missions: nuclear/strategic bombardment of Soviet/Warsaw Pact population and military centers, as well as their production factories and supply points, and the bases that supported them. While TAC was fighting the tanks rolling across the Rhine in WWIII, SAC was beating the crap out of them behind the lines. Make sense?
As far as the Chinese crash in 1964, I’ve never heard of that story. I couldn’t tell you. I’d hate to ask for a cite, but, do you have one?
For a great website I got, try this SAC Website..
Tripler
Like I said, SAC and TAC were distinguished by wartime mission, kind of like the current ACC and AFSPC Major Commands.
And I forgot to mention:
SAC and TAC were more or less dissolved and reorganized in 1991, following the end of the Cold War. The current USAF Major Commands include ACC, AETC, AFMC, AFSPC, AFSOC, AMC, PACAF, USAFE, and AFRC.
Tripler
Me? I’m still a member of ACC.
This was mentioned during a look back of 1964. If I get a moment, I will go to the library ad check out a Yearbook for 1965 (events of 1964) to see what it says. So, we still have a SAC and TAC, correct? These would be two divisions of the Air Force, correct?
Um no. SAC and TAC were reorganized into several different organizations. After the Cold War ended in 1991, particular units got piecemealed out to different ‘new’ commands in a reorganization which helped redefine the Air Force mission. Nuclear strategic bombardment currently falls under AFSPC, while strategic conventional bombardment now falls under ACC. Most TAC functions also fall under ACC, except for specific things.
So, in the short answer, no there is no SAC and TAC for nigh on 13 years now. Best bet is to visit the official AF Website and take a gander.
Tripler
Everything changed with the end of the Cold War, and they’re still subtly changing now.
And for specifics, I apologize, but there are nuclear B-52 missions for deterrence.
I should clarify that IMHO, 90% of the reorganization in 1991 involved platforms, in which the missile based weapons went to AFSPC, and the airframe platforms went to ACC.
A minor discrepancy, but “platform for mission” was and is the prime driver behind ‘who goes where’.
Tripler
I’m still a ground-pounder for ACC.
Best damned basketball conference in the country!
The Republic of China (Taiwan) had many U-2 pilots, and many U-2 pilots were killed in crashes. Those “Chinese” pilots killed in 1964 include Liang Teh Pei over the Taiwan Straits, and Lt. Col. “Terry” Lee Nan Ping shot down over China. The ROC pilots were used to look into China.
Cite.
I have no idea how that relates to this OP.
Strategic Air Command stood down and was immediately replaced with Strategic Command. Before, it was a joint command (included members of all military branches) headed by the Air Force.
As Strategic Command, it is a joint command where the Air Force and Navy take turns commanding. Think it’s every two years they switch. Commander in Chief of Stratcom is Air Force for a couple years and the Deputy is Navy. Then new officers are brought in and the roles are reversed.
Stratcom’s mission is, as the name suggests, strategic use of weapons. Put simply, they make war plans.
The reason the United States can apply its force with such speed and effect is because the United States makes plans well in advance just in case the force has to be applied. Doesn’t mean the plans will be used. It means that if the President gets a bug up his butt to, like Clinton, throw missiles at desert camps or, like Bush, think on a grander scale and take two nations in two years, there isn’t a significant delay while the military tries to figure out the best way to do it. The plans are requested from Stratcom and modified to meat the tactical needs.
“What’s that? He wants to attack what? Yeah, we got that plan.”
That’s Stratcom.
They do the nuclear plans, too, but it’s easier to sleep at night if you don’t dwell on it. During the cold war, SAC had a mission to keep bombers ready and able to deliver nukes to the Soviet Union. Fortunately, that mission has eased just a little bit. Their still ready, but they ain’t quite as itchin’. That might be where the training Chinese pilots came in. Substitue Taiwanese for Chinese, and it would make sense. I don’t know that it is fact though.
I’ll stop now.
Now that I know your line of work, your sig is doubly disturbing 
Perhaps the most memorable headline from any military base’s newspaper:
“Nurse voted best in SAC”