Looking Glass (or Operation Looking Glass) is the historic code name for an airborne command and control center operated by the United States. In more recent years it has been more officially referred to as the ABNCP (Airborne National Command Post).[1] It provides command and control of U.S. nuclear forces in the event that ground-based command centers have been destroyed or otherwise rendered inoperable. In such an event, the general officer aboard the Looking Glass serves as the Airborne Emergency Action Officer (AEAO)[2] and by law assumes the authority of the National Command Authority and could command execution of nuclear attacks. The AEAO is supported by a battle staff of approximately 20 people, with another dozen responsible for the operation of the aircraft systems. The name Looking Glass, which is another name for a mirror, was chosen for the Airborne Command Post because the mission operates in parallel with the underground command post at Offutt Air Force Base.[3]
EC-135 Looking Glass aircraft were airborne 24 hours a day for over 29 years,[8] until July 24, 1990,[9] when "The Glass" ceased continuous airborne alert, but remained on ground or airborne alert 24 hours a day.[10]
Looking Glass mirrors ground-based command, control, and communications (C3 or C³) located at the USSTRATCOM Global Operations Center (GOC) at Offutt AFB.[5] The EC-135 Looking Glass aircraft were equipped with the Airborne Launch Control System, capable of transmitting launch commands to U.S. ground-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in the event that the ground launch control centers were rendered inoperable.[5][11][12]
The Looking Glass was the anchor in what was known as the World Wide Airborne Command Post (WWABNCP) network. This network of specially equipped EC-135 aircraft would launch from ground alert status and establish air-to-air wireless network connections in the event of a U.S. national emergency. Members of the WWABNCP network included:
Operation "Scope Light" for the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (CINCLANT), based at Langley AFB, VA;
Operation "Blue Eagle" for the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), based at Hickam AFB, HI; and
Operation "Nightwatch" which supported the President of the United States and were based at Andrews AFB, Maryland. In the early 1970s the E-4A aircraft replaced the EC-135Js on this mission.[6]
The Eastern Auxiliary (EAST Aux) and Western Auxiliary (West Aux) Command Posts were also part of the WWABNCP ("wah-bin-cop") network and were capable of assuming responsibility for Looking Glass as the anchor. The West Aux 906th Air Refueling Squadron was based at Minot AFB, North Dakota, and moved to the 4th Airborne Command and Control Squadron at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, in April 1970 and the East Aux mission 301st Air Refueling Squadron was based at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, and moved to the 3rd Airborne Command & Control Squadron at Grissom AFB, Indiana, in April 1970. After 1975, East Aux was assumed from the Looking Glass backup ground alert aircraft launched from Offutt AFB. In June 1992, United States Strategic Command took over the Looking Glass mission from the Strategic Air Command, as SAC was disbanded and Strategic Command assumed the nuclear deterrence mission.[6]
Current statusedit
On October 1, 1998 the United States Navy fleet of E-6Bs replaced the EC-135C in performing the "Looking Glass" mission, previously carried out for 37 years by the U.S. Air Force. Unlike the original Looking Glass aircraft, the E-6Bs are modified Boeing 707 aircraft, not the military-only KC-135. The E-6B provides the National Command Authority with the same capability as the EC-135 fleet to control the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force, nuclear-capable bombers and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM).[5] With the assumption of this mission, a USSTRATCOM battle staff now flies with the TACAMO crew.[13][5]
If the USSTRATCOM Global Operations Center (GOC) is unable to function in its role, the E-6B Looking Glass can assume command of all U.S. nuclear-capable forces. Flying aboard each ABNCP is a crew of 22, which includes an air crew, a Communications Systems Officer and team, an Airborne Emergency Action Officer (an Admiral or General officer), a Mission Commander, a Strike Advisor, an Airborne Launch Control System/Intelligence Officer, a Meteorological Effects Officer, a Logistics Officer, a Force Status Controller, and an Emergency Actions NCO. In addition to being able to direct the launch of ICBMs using the Airborne Launch Control System, the E-6B can communicate Emergency Action Messages (EAM) to nuclear submarines running at depth by extending a two and a half-mile-long (4 km) trailing wire antenna (TWA) for use with the Survivable Low Frequency Communications System (SLFCS), as the EC-135C could.[5]
There was some speculation that the "mystery plane" seen flying over the White House on September 11, 2001, was some newer incarnation of Looking Glass. However, the plane circling the White House on 9/11 was a E-4B (callsign ADDIS77/VENUS77) acting as the tertiary NAOC (Nightwatch) aircraft which was launched from ground alert at Andrews Air Force Base. [14]
^Looking Glass: USSTRATCOM's Airborne Command Post By Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong, Public Affairs / Published September 23, 2016. the Airborne Command Post (ABNCP). ..According to Konowicz, the ABNCP is dual purposed. While it primarily functions as a communications relay platform for submarines with its two trailing antenna wires, it also serves as an Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS). and EC-135, Looking Glass. Federation of American Scientists
^Looking Glass: USSTRATCOM's Airborne Command Post By Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong, Public Affairs / Published September 23, 2016 Evans sits on alert as an Airborne Emergency Action Officer in command of the battle staff. He remembers first visiting Minot AFB was in the fall of 1986. “The mission hasn’t changed much and neither has its importance,” said Evans.
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Looking Glass or Operation Looking Glass is the historic code name for an airborne command and control center operated by the United States In more recent years it has been more officially referred to as the ABNCP Airborne National Command Post 1 It provides command and control of U S nuclear forces in the event that ground based command centers have been destroyed or otherwise rendered inoperable In such an event the general officer aboard the Looking Glass serves as the Airborne Emergency Action Officer AEAO 2 and by law assumes the authority of the National Command Authority and could command execution of nuclear attacks The AEAO is supported by a battle staff of approximately 20 people with another dozen responsible for the operation of the aircraft systems The name Looking Glass which is another name for a mirror was chosen for the Airborne Command Post because the mission operates in parallel with the underground command post at Offutt Air Force Base 3 Boeing EC 135C Looking Glass Contents 1 History 2 Current status 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThe code name Looking Glass came from the aircraft s ability to mirror the command and control functions of the underground command post at the U S Air Force s Strategic Air Command SAC headquarters at Offutt AFB Nebraska nbsp Early Looking Glass battle staff nbsp Gen Richard Ellis CINCSAC in battle staff compartment 1979 nbsp Looking Glass battle staffThe SAC Airborne Command Post or Looking Glass was initiated in 1961 4 and operated by the 34th Air Refueling Squadron at Offutt AFB The mission transferred to the 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron in August 1966 to the 2nd Airborne Command and Control Squadron in April 1970 to the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron in July 1994 and to the USSTRATCOM s Strategic Communications Wing One in October 1998 5 6 The Strategic Air Command began the Looking Glass mission on February 3 1961 using five specially modified KC 135A 7 aircraft from the 34th Air Refueling Squadron based at its headquarters at Offutt AFB backed up by aircraft flying with the Second Air Force 913th Air Refueling Squadron at Barksdale AFB Louisiana Eighth Air Force 99th Air Refueling Squadron at Westover AFB Massachusetts and Fifteenth Air Force 22d Air Refueling Squadron March AFB California 6 EC 135 Looking Glass aircraft were airborne 24 hours a day for over 29 years 8 until July 24 1990 9 when The Glass ceased continuous airborne alert but remained on ground or airborne alert 24 hours a day 10 Looking Glass mirrors ground based command control and communications C3 or C located at the USSTRATCOM Global Operations Center GOC at Offutt AFB 5 The EC 135 Looking Glass aircraft were equipped with the Airborne Launch Control System capable of transmitting launch commands to U S ground based intercontinental ballistic missiles ICBMs in the event that the ground launch control centers were rendered inoperable 5 11 12 The Looking Glass was also designed to help ensure continuity and reconstitution of the US government in the event of a nuclear attack on North America Although the two types of aircraft are distinct the Doomsday Plane nickname is also frequently associated with the Boeing E 4 Nightwatch Advanced Airborne Command Post mission and aircraft The Looking Glass was the anchor in what was known as the World Wide Airborne Command Post WWABNCP network This network of specially equipped EC 135 aircraft would launch from ground alert status and establish air to air wireless network connections in the event of a U S national emergency Members of the WWABNCP network included Operation Silk Purse for the Commander in Chief U S European Command USCINCEUR based at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom callsign Seabell Operation Scope Light for the Commander in Chief U S Atlantic Command CINCLANT based at Langley AFB VA Operation Blue Eagle for the Commander in Chief U S Pacific Command USCINCPAC based at Hickam AFB HI and Operation Nightwatch which supported the President of the United States and were based at Andrews AFB Maryland In the early 1970s the E 4A aircraft replaced the EC 135Js on this mission 6 The Eastern Auxiliary EAST Aux and Western Auxiliary West Aux Command Posts were also part of the WWABNCP wah bin cop network and were capable of assuming responsibility for Looking Glass as the anchor The West Aux 906th Air Refueling Squadron was based at Minot AFB North Dakota and moved to the 4th Airborne Command and Control Squadron at Ellsworth AFB South Dakota in April 1970 and the East Aux mission 301st Air Refueling Squadron was based at Lockbourne AFB Ohio and moved to the 3rd Airborne Command amp Control Squadron at Grissom AFB Indiana in April 1970 After 1975 East Aux was assumed from the Looking Glass backup ground alert aircraft launched from Offutt AFB In June 1992 United States Strategic Command took over the Looking Glass mission from the Strategic Air Command as SAC was disbanded and Strategic Command assumed the nuclear deterrence mission 6 Current status editOn October 1 1998 the United States Navy fleet of E 6Bs replaced the EC 135C in performing the Looking Glass mission previously carried out for 37 years by the U S Air Force Unlike the original Looking Glass aircraft the E 6Bs are modified Boeing 707 aircraft not the military only KC 135 The E 6B provides the National Command Authority with the same capability as the EC 135 fleet to control the nation s intercontinental ballistic missile ICBM force nuclear capable bombers and submarine launched ballistic missiles SLBM 5 With the assumption of this mission a USSTRATCOM battle staff now flies with the TACAMO crew 13 5 If the USSTRATCOM Global Operations Center GOC is unable to function in its role the E 6B Looking Glass can assume command of all U S nuclear capable forces Flying aboard each ABNCP is a crew of 22 which includes an air crew a Communications Systems Officer and team an Airborne Emergency Action Officer an Admiral or General officer a Mission Commander a Strike Advisor an Airborne Launch Control System Intelligence Officer a Meteorological Effects Officer a Logistics Officer a Force Status Controller and an Emergency Actions NCO In addition to being able to direct the launch of ICBMs using the Airborne Launch Control System the E 6B can communicate Emergency Action Messages EAM to nuclear submarines running at depth by extending a two and a half mile long 4 km trailing wire antenna TWA for use with the Survivable Low Frequency Communications System SLFCS as the EC 135C could 5 There was some speculation that the mystery plane seen flying over the White House on September 11 2001 was some newer incarnation of Looking Glass However the plane circling the White House on 9 11 was a E 4B callsign ADDIS77 VENUS77 acting as the tertiary NAOC Nightwatch aircraft which was launched from ground alert at Andrews Air Force Base 14 See also editTACAMO Boeing EC 135 Boeing E 4 Advanced Airborne Command Post Nightwatch E 6 Mercury Airborne Launch Control System Airborne Launch Control Center Decapitation strike Letters of last resort Dead Hand Perimeter Continuity of Operations Plan Single Integrated Operational Plan Nuclear utilization target selectionReferences edit Looking Glass USSTRATCOM s Airborne Command Post By Airman 1st Class J T Armstrong Public Affairs Published September 23 2016 the Airborne Command Post ABNCP According to Konowicz the ABNCP is dual purposed While it primarily functions as a communications relay platform for submarines with its two trailing antenna wires it also serves as an Airborne Launch Control System ALCS and EC 135 Looking Glass Federation of American Scientists Looking Glass USSTRATCOM s Airborne Command Post By Airman 1st Class J T Armstrong Public Affairs Published September 23 2016 Evans sits on alert as an Airborne Emergency Action Officer in command of the battle staff He remembers first visiting Minot AFB was in the fall of 1986 The mission hasn t changed much and neither has its importance said Evans E 6B Airborne Command Post AF generals take turns Eugene Register Guard Oregon Associated Press 27 July 1960 p 3A a b c d e f USSTRATCOM ABNCP Fact Sheet a b c d Hopkins Robert S 1997 Boeing KC 135 Stratotanker more than just a tanker Aerofax pp 116 117 ISBN 978 1 85780 069 2 Strategic Air amp Space Museum EC 135 Looking Glass Flying with the A Bomb on Board Looking Glass Archived from the original on 2017 12 12 Retrieved 2019 04 26 Adams Chris 2009 Deterrence An Enduring Strategy ISBN 9781440169786 Lloyd Alwyn T 2006 The Boeing KC 135 Stratotanker at 50 American Aviation Historical Society Journal 51 255 LGM 30G Fact Sheet ALCS Article page 13 TACAMO Take Charge And Move Out Archived 2007 06 29 at the Wayback Machine Ambinder Marc 9 April 2014 Inside the Holy Grail of 9 11 documents theweek External links editThe History of the PACCS USSTRATCOM ABNCP Fact Sheet KPTM Story on USSTRATCOM s Looking Glass on YouTube Ghosts of the East Coast Doomsday Ships Cold War museum nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Navy nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Operation Looking Glass amp oldid 1182212456, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
