EC-135C Looking Glass

"Operation Looking Glass" provided at least 11 EC-135C command post aircraft to the Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), which were either based at its headquarters at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, or at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. All aircraft have been retired or repurposed.

The U.S. nuclear strategy depends on its ability to command, control, and communicate with its nuclear forces under all conditions. 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. 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. Besides being the program name, "Looking Glass" is the official name for the "C" model aircraft of the EC-135. It has a crew of at least 15, including at least one or more general officers.

The Strategic Air Command (SAC) began 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.

On June 1, 1992, SAC was deactivated and replaced by USSTRATCOM, which now controls the Looking Glass.[2][3] On October 1, 1998, the Navy's E-6 Mercury TACAMO replaced the USAF's EC-135C in the Looking Glass mission.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• EC-135
• Looking
• Glass
• airborne
• command
• post
• SAC
• Strategic
• Air
• Command
• Offutt
• AFB
• nuclear
• warfare
• USAF

[LucidDream]

I talked to my dad today, he has some pretty interesting stories. One he told me about was going to Offut AFB in 1988, the year I was born, and going into a SAC meeting room underground. He talked about how there were a bunch of timers counting down, each timer was from a missile that the Soviet's had launched and were in the air during the time he was there. I'm sure I'm missing parts of the dialogue, but I found it pretty interesting.

[pozacathotmaildotcom]

I worked on the Airborne Radar and Navigation...Tacan, IFF, Raundevous Beacon, VOR/ILS and several other systems from 1973 to 1976 at Offutt AFB in Omaha, Nebraska

[balllinger]

I remember my (step)dad flying on those missions during the 70's.

[ChopofSlap]

@Freesoler01 EC-135's were reciever and tanker capable which made them very flexible. Look at the back of any EC-135 and ye' will see a boom.. which requires the use of a boom operator.

[FylthyBeest]

@Freesoler01 Yes, Boom Operator. The EC-135s that served as members of the Post Attack Command Control System (PACCS) including the Airborne and Auxiliary Airborne Command Posts had Boom Operators on the crew as the aircraft was equipped with an operational air refueling boom. And, unlike most other 135s, the ECs could receive fuel as well. This was by design. The PACCS aircraft were to depend on one another.

[Freesoler01]

@ChopofSlap Boom operator? Are you sure you didn't mean a KC-135? EC-135C weren't tankers as far as I know, they were strictly flying command centers for SAC.

[ILOVEUMPS]

@odiesdad01 What years were those? My dad was on Looking glass as well 1981 - 1985

[BARRIEMOREBARLOW]

My dad was on those missions.

[AirmanCylon401]

I used to work on the P&W TF33 engines at Offutt! P-9's were cool, P-5's were nasty and PW-102's were just odd.

[FylthyBeest]

The EC-135C was officially retired over a decade ago and replaced with the US Navy E-6 TACAMO (Take Charge and Move Out) aircraft. The TACAMO now supports the Looking Glass mission.