Strategic Air Command (SAC) Group Build II

  Please excuse me for being dense, but this is my first GB.

 We can't actually start the kits until March 1st, right?

 And do we use the badges during, to show participation in the GB, or is it for an award after completion?

 Thanks.   

 Now I need to go rent Strategic Air Command with Jimmy Stewart... again...

Wirraway wrote:

Roger, put me down for the Revell/Monogram 1/72 BUFF

Done!

dmk wrote:

Please excuse me for being dense, but this is my first GB.  We can't actually start the kits until March 1st, right?  And do we use the badges during, to show participation in the GB, or is it for an award after completion?  Thanks.       Now I need to go rent Strategic Air Command with Jimmy Stewart... again...

No sweat, Dave! It's pretty simple. The build (and production) begins in march. I'd set it for then to give others a chance to do research, acquire kits/aftermarket products, clear the bench of other GBs and just get through the holidays.

As far as the badges, that depends on the individual GB. Some will prefer them as awards for completion, and others are given to show participation and affiliation. This one is for participation. You'd normally post it under your signature line (kinda like inserting pictures in a post). So by all means grab it and post it

I will be building the 1/72 Monogram RB-36H for sure with possibly more later.

Awesome job with the badges DesertRat! Yardbird has some really good info for us over on the interest post. I will post over there saying the official GB thread is up.

Just a thought, should we include bombers that would have been destined for SAC, such as the YB-35, YB-49, YB-60, and the XB-70? I am leaning torwards no because they never say active sevice, but it is your call.

Thanks! I thought the badges were workable. I'm glad ya approve!

And yes- I'd planned on including the X-planes and prototypes as well! I'd just forgot to list them down...

urich,

Hate to see you leave this GB. There is always a place for you here if you want.

If anyone is interested, there are some really good deals on Ebay (aka Evilbay) on the Italeri reissue of the XB-70. I am currently contemplating weither to get one or not. Also watching some other kits on there to start my 1/72 SAC collection.

DesertRat, just some food for thought on X Planes, how about the XB-46, XB-48, and XB-51? (I was just browsing Anigrand's site) Doubt if anyone would join with those kits but they would have made it to SAC most likely.

I also have two questions (ahemm, Yardbird or anyone else)
1. The B-52s that were involved in the bombings of Indochina during the Vietnam War were part of SAC. Is this correct? I am guessing so because who else would command them.
2. I read today that the AC-130s and AC-119s were part of SAC. I would have thought they were part of TAC. So, were they under SAC or TAC control?

WarHammer25 wrote:

I read today that the AC-130s and AC-119s were part of SAC. I would have thought they were part of TAC. So, were they under SAC or TAC control?

The B-52s that were involved in the bombings of Indochina during the Vietnam War were part of SAC. Is this correct? I am guessing so because who else would command them.

 The Buffs were definately SAC aircraft with SAC crews. They just re-painted and re-tasked them.

WarHammer25 wrote:

2. I read today that the AC-130s and AC-119s were part of SAC. I would have thought they were part of TAC. So, were they under SAC or TAC control?

WH- I was in the 919th SOW (AC130A) from 1982 to 2004 this was as Airforce reserve unit stationed at Eglin AFB Fld 3 when I started in the unit we were TAC in the mid to late 80's I don't remember when we went to MAC Then in the early 90's we switched to SOC Them we  retired our gunships and got MC-130E's and P's  I never heard gunships in SAC.

Also I will post pic's of the B-50 when done maybe. My work is not on the scale of what I've seen posted here But I have several a/c on the list I might be able to do this summer

Bish wrote:

I like the sound of this one for my first none WW2 and none German GB. Can you put me down for the Italeri 1/72 SR-71 please.

Done! Welcome aboard! Always love to see the SR-71 being built!

WarHammer25 wrote:

I also have two questions (ahemm, Yardbird or anyone else) 1. The B-52s that were involved in the bombings of Indochina during the Vietnam War were part of SAC. Is this correct? I am guessing so because who else would command them. 2. I read today that the AC-130s and AC-119s were part of SAC. I would have thought they were part of TAC. So, were they under SAC or TAC control?

All BUFFs in the South East Asia war were SAC aircraft flown by SAC crews, mostly out of Andersen AFB, Guam; quite a few from U-Tapao RTAFB in Thailand and a very small number from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa.  They used F models in NMF with white bellies in the very beginning, then painted the bottoms black and left the rest NMF.  The D model was introduced into the conflict and had the special SAC camouflage right from the start.  It looks very similar to standard USAF SEA colors, but is slightly different.  They used some G models late in the war with SIOP camo on the top and white bottoms.  The B, C, E and H were never used in SEA.

I would have to agree that the gunships were flown by Spec Ops which was part of TAC at that time.

Darwin, O.F. 

The aircraft of Strategic Air Command

I said in a previous post that the F-101 and C-124 were not used by SAC, but that is an error.  They were both used by SAC, the F-101 for a short while and the C-124 for a few years.

B-17 Flying Fortress by Boeing

B-25 Mitchell by North American

B-26 Invader by Douglas

B-29 Superfortress by Boeing

KB-29

B-36A/B/D/F/J/H Peacemaker by Convair

RB-36D/H

RB-45C Tornado by North American, (B-45 used as crew trainers), 91^st SRW

B-47B/E Stratojet by Boeing

RB-47E

B-50 by Boeing

KB-50

B-52B/C/D/E/F/G/H Stratofortress by Boeing

RB-52B

RB-57D by Martin, short wing

RB-57F by Martin, long wing with TF-33 engines and J-60 aux jets

B-58A Hustler, by Convair

TB-58A trainer

FB-111A, by General Dynamics, 380 BW, Plattsburg AFB, 509 BW, Peese AFB

B-1B Lancer by North American/Rockwell

B-2A Spirit by North American/Rockwell

F-51D/H Mustang by North American

F-82 Twin Mustang, 27^th Fighter Escort Group, Bergstrom AFB, TX

F-80 Shooting Star by Lockheed, 4^th FG, Andrews AFB, 56 FG, Selfridge AFB

F-84E/G Thunderjet, straight wing, by Republic, 12^th Fighter Escort Wing

F-84F Thunderstreak, six strategic fighter wings in 1955-57 (each with 75 a/c)

RF-84F Thunderflash, 71^st SRW, Larson AFB, WA, Jan 55-July 57, two squadrons

RF-84K Thunderflash, 71^st SRW, Larson AFB,WA, one squadron

F-86A Sabrejet by North American, 1^st Fighter Group, March AFB, 49-50

F-86D Sabre Dog, Torrejon & Zaragoza AB, Spain, 58-60

F-101 Voodoo, by McDonnell, 27^th SFW, Bergstrom AFB, TX , May & June 1957

UH-1B/D Huey by Bell

UH-19 Chikasaw by Sikorsky

HH-43B/F by Kaman

SA-16/HU-16 Albatross tri-phibian, by Grumman

U-2 Dragon Lady by Lockheed, small versions

U-2R/TR-1 Dragon Lady large versions

U-3A/B Blue Canoe by Cessna (model 310)

U-4 Aero Commander by Rockwell

U-6 Beaver by De Havilland

SR-71A/B Blackbird, by Lockheed, 9 SRW, Beale AFB, CA

DC-130A/E Hercules by Lockheed, drone carrier

BQM-34 Firebee drone by Ryan

T-29B/D Flying Classroom by Convair

T-33 Shooting Star by Lockheed

T-37 Tweet by Cessna

T-38 Talon by Northrop

T-39 Sabreliner by North American

E-4A/B

C-47 Dakota/Gooney Bird by Douglas

C-45H Expediter, by Beech

C-54 Skymaster, by Douglas, 1^st Air Transport Unit, Roswell Field, New Mexico

C-82 Packet by Fairchild

KC-97A/F/G by Boeing

VC-97 by Boeing

C-119 Flying Boxcar by Fairchild

C-123J Provider

C-124 Globemaster II, by Douglas, 2^nd Air Transport Unit, (3 Squadrons)

KC,-135A/E/R Stratotanker by Boeing

RC, EC-135 by Boeing

KC-10 Extender by McDonnell Douglas

SM-62 Snark, by Northrop, ICBM cruise missile

SM-75/PGM-17 Thor, IRBM, by Douglas

SM-78/PGM-19 Jupiter, IRBM, by Chrysler Corporation

SM-65 Atlas D, ICBM, by Convair, horizontal, above ground silo

SM-65 Atlas E, ICBM by Convair, horizontal ground level silo

HGM-16 Atlas F, ICBM, by Convair, vertical, below ground silo

HGM-25A, Titan I, ICBM by Martin

SM-68B/LGM-25C Titan II ICBM by Martin

LGM-30 Minuteman I, ICBM

LGM-30F Minuteman II, ICBM

LGM-30G Minuteman III, ICBM

LGM-118A, Peacekeeper, ICBM

AGM-69A, SRAM, Short Range Attack Missile

AGM-86A/B, ALCM, Air Launched Cruise Missile

GAM-72/ADM-20 Quail, decoy missile

GAM-77/AGM-28 Hound Dog missile

D-21 Tagboard drone by Lockheed

Those that might have been

XB-35 Flying wing by Northrop, 4 R-4360 piston engines

XB-49 Flying wing by Northrop, 8 jets, (later 6)

XB-60 by Convair, 8 jets, swept wing version of B-36

XB-70 Valkyrie, by North American

XF-85 Goblin, parasite fighter

Dangit, I was hoping the RA-5C was part of this but alas it is not. Oh well!

Josh

FastasEF wrote:

Dangit, I was hoping the RA-5C was part of this but alas it is not. Oh well! Josh

The Vigilante was a Navy aircraft, not an USAF aircraft. At least to my knowledge.

Yardbird,

Awesome list. Another question though:

Were B-52Ds ever used in a nuclear bomber role? I mean, were they just used for carpet-bombing in SEA or could you find them sitting on the flight line in the NMF and white anti-flash scheme of SAC ready to drop a nuke on someone?

Well, that would make sense then, lol.

Josh

I would love to join a CB Project like this as I have never joined one dedicated to aircraft. All the ones I have ever joined were automotive in nature.

I do have several KC-135 kits as well as a couple of the AMT released 1/72nd scale B-52's, but I believe they were "H" or "G" Models and therefore not eligible for this build.

I wouldn't mind trying to finish a 1/72nd KC-135A if that is acceptable to those in charge of this build. At leaste that kit I can spray with rattle cans and not have to rely on my airbrush.  Just let me know....

WarHammer25 wrote:

Were B-52Ds ever used in a nuclear bomber role? I mean, were they just used for carpet-bombing in SEA or could you find them sitting on the flight line in the NMF and white anti-flash scheme of SAC ready to drop a nuke on someone?

 Yes, B-52Ds stood nuclear alert duty in the NMF/White scheme before they went to SEA. I suppose you could also build your aircraft as a B-52C with the proper markings.

PhantomPhreak wrote:

I do have several KC-135 kits as well as a couple of the AMT released 1/72nd scale B-52's, but I believe they were "H" or "G" Models and therefore not eligible for this build.

 Here, you guys can read all about the different versions here:

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher2/b52.html 

I figured that B-52Ds were used in the nuclear deterant role but wan't to make sure. I am thinking about getting Monogram's old 1/72 B-52D and possibley paint it in the traditional SAC scheme......

Which brings me to another question: Anybody now of a 1/72 decal set for a B-52D or B-52C that is SAC NMF/white?

Pavlvs wrote:

Mr. Desert Rat It appears that I do not have the B-58 kit after all. I sent some kits to Baghdad and it must have been among them. Can I switch kits and build an FB-111 Aardvark instead? I also have two tech questions. How do I "grab" the badge and put it in my signature and how do I put those cool smiley faces in my posts?

Done! Is it the same scale? Just curious...

Ok, the tech questions...

First off with the smilies, when you type a post, look at the top menu bar. If you click on the smiling face above, it'll open up a new window with all your options. Once you click on your selection, the window closes and your smilie is automatically inserted into your post (you'll see it once it's posted).

On the badges, go to the first post and click on them. It'll open in full in a new window. CLick and save into your computer. Next, you'll need to open up your photosharing page (photobucket is the most common. Basic membership is free). Once it's uploaded, you'll have a link at the bottom of the picture. Copy that link, then go under the "update profile" link here on FSM. Paste that link in the signature block portion of your personal info (don't forget to save). It'll take a couple of minutes for your account to update, but it'll show up there with all of your posts.

Like anything else with computers, it doe take a little bit of time to fiddle with in order to figure alot of it out. But you'll find it gets really easy once you get familiar with it! Try it out and good luck. I you still have any problems, lemme know!

WarHammer25 wrote:

I figured that B-52Ds were used in the nuclear deterant role but wan't to make sure. I am thinking about getting Monogram's old 1/72 B-52D and possibley paint it in the traditional SAC scheme...... Which brings me to another question: Anybody now of a 1/72 decal set for a B-52D or B-52C that is SAC NMF/white?

http://www.72scale.com/aircraft/Boeing/B-47.htm

I'd assume that except for tail numbers it would fit the bill, plus of course the Hasegawa B-47 comes with those, but I gave my kit to a good friend of mine, so can't be sure.

Not too many markings, really.

Here's a trivia question, what was the name of the base in "Strangelove"?

The Monogram (Revell) B-52D comes with a decal sheet that has options for the NMF and SEA camouflage versions.  Micro Scale, Meteor Productions, Golden Dragon and Buff Masters all make aftermarket decals for the BUFF.  Most are the camo versions, but a few are for NMF.

The Dog model BUFF did indeed stand nuclear alert before, during and after the Viet Nam war.  Actually, every model from the B through the H has done so.  During the heavy activity periods of SEA, most of the D's were at either Andersen or Utapao flying ARC Light sorties, so the other versions took care of the stateside alert duties.  When I was at Andersen 1977-1979 they had 15 of the D's assigned to the 43 Strat Wing.  4 were kept on ready alert with weapons and mission targeting material in the aircraft with crews in the alert shack.  We kept the mission materials for the other 11 in the Intel vault ready to go on short notice.

From 1955 to 1967, SAC kept some B-52s on airborne alert called Chrome Dome and others on ground alert, both ready to head to bad guy country immediately upon notification.  About a year after the Palomares Spain incident, the airborne alert was stopped and only the ground alert continued through the late 90s.  In 1966, a B-52 (G, I think) was refueling over Spain from a KC-135 when they had a mid-air collision.  Both aircraft were destroyed and four B-61 Nukes were dumped out.  When the weapons hit the ground, two had a low order detonation of the high explosive around the core.  This spread radioactive material around the area and resulted in a massive decontamination and clean up.  # 3 landed on the ground and was beat up, but did not detonate.  #4 impacted in the Mediterranean Sea and it took several months to find it.

Darwin, O.F.