22.03.2013 Views

A Concise History of the US Air Force - Air Force Historical Studies ...

A Concise History of the US Air Force - Air Force Historical Studies ...

A Concise History of the US Air Force - Air Force Historical Studies ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

In addition, vast distances to targets challenged <strong>the</strong> skill and en-<br />

durance <strong>of</strong> its aircrews. Although SAC operated <strong>the</strong> B-36 intercontinen-<br />

tal bomber to strike anywhere in <strong>the</strong> world, it initiated <strong>the</strong> development<br />

<strong>of</strong> an aerial refueling capability in fall 1947. In 1948 it adopted <strong>the</strong> British<br />

hose method, converting some piston-engine B-29s to tankers, and for-<br />

med two aerial refueling squadrons in June 1948. SAC later adopted <strong>the</strong><br />

Boeing flying boom method <strong>of</strong> refueling, made standard in 1958. Using<br />

four aerial refuelings, <strong>the</strong> B-50 Lucky Lady ZZ flew nonstop around <strong>the</strong><br />

world between February 26 and March 2, 1949, to demonstrate <strong>the</strong> tech-<br />

nique’s global strike potential. Destined to serve <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> jet bombers<br />

and fighters for <strong>the</strong> next four decades and beyond, <strong>the</strong> jet turbine-powered<br />

KC-135 Stratotanker, became operational in 1957.<br />

The crisis that precipitated <strong>the</strong> Berlin <strong>Air</strong>lift began on June 24,<br />

1948. It revolved around American plans for rebuilding a separate West<br />

German State and led <strong>the</strong> Soviet Union to initiate a ground blockade <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Western-controlled zones <strong>of</strong> Berlin, 90 miles inside Soviet-controlled<br />

East Germany. Forcing <strong>the</strong> blockade would have required <strong>the</strong> West to<br />

launch a general mobilization, fire fiist shots, and possibly set <strong>of</strong>f anoth-<br />

er global war. Although <strong>the</strong> United States had deployed <strong>the</strong> conventional<br />

B-29 to Europe, perhaps in a calculated bluff that relied on <strong>the</strong> aircraft’s<br />

reputation as an atomic delivery vehicle, <strong>the</strong> crisis continued. The Allies<br />

saw an apportunity to resupply Berlin and feed its 2.5 million belea-<br />

guered inhabitants by air through three air corridors guaranteed by agree-<br />

ment with <strong>the</strong> Soviet Union. Lieutenant General Curtis LeMay, <strong>the</strong>n com-<br />

manding U.S. <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong>s in Europe (<strong>US</strong>AFE), pieced toge<strong>the</strong>r an airlift<br />

force <strong>of</strong> C-47 Skytrains left over from World War 11, but <strong>the</strong> 80 tons per<br />

day <strong>the</strong>y supplied were not enough. On July 30, 1948, Major General<br />

William Tunner, who had run <strong>the</strong> Himalayan “Hump” airlift during <strong>the</strong><br />

war, replaced LeMay, <strong>the</strong> combat leader. Reinforced with four-engine<br />

C-54 Skymasters and C-74 Globe-masters, Tunner initiated around-<strong>the</strong>-<br />

clock flights guided by ground control approach radar. His aircraft land-<br />

ed every three minutes, carrying a record capacity <strong>of</strong> 5,620 tons per day.<br />

When <strong>the</strong> airlift appeared to succeed, <strong>the</strong> Soviet Union threatened to<br />

interfere with it.<br />

President Truman responded by sending a wing <strong>of</strong> B-29s, wide-<br />

ly described in <strong>the</strong> world press at <strong>the</strong> time as “atomic” bombers, to Eng-<br />

land. They were not, but <strong>the</strong> Soviet Union apparently believed <strong>the</strong>y were<br />

and made no move to interrupt <strong>the</strong> airlift. In May 1949 it provided <strong>the</strong><br />

United States with <strong>the</strong> first victory <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Cold War (without a shot being<br />

fired) when, after eleven months, 277,000 flights, and 2.3 million tons <strong>of</strong><br />

life-sustaining supplies, it opened Berlin to surface traffic. A few months<br />

44

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!