III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 479 

Commemorating the dedication of the Strategic Air Command Memorial 

during the 20th anniversary of its stand down. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 5, 2012 

Mr. JOHANNS (for himself and Mr. NELSON of Nebraska) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the dedication of the Strategic Air Command Memorial during the 20th anniversary of its stand 

down. 

Whereas Strategic Air Command was formed on March 21, 

1946, to provide the United States with long-range 

bombing capabilities; 

Whereas Strategic Air Command operations were moved to 

Offutt Air Force Base in 1948 to avoid a surprise attack 

from the growing nuclear threat by the Soviet Union during the Cold War; 

Whereas the men and women of Strategic Air Command perfected aerial refueling, allowing Strategic Air Command 

bombers to reach any spot in the world and advancing 

the ability of the United States to project military power 

worldwide; 


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•SRES 479 ATS 

Whereas in 1953, following the Korean War, the defense 

strategy of the United States shifted and President Eisenhower designated Strategic Air Command as the primary nuclear deterrent for the United States; 

Whereas the Strategic Air Command played a major role in 

the triad of aircraft, missiles, and submarines that provided an undefeatable nuclear force that prevented nuclear war and kept the Soviet Union at bay until the demise of the Soviet Union in December 1991; 

Whereas Strategic Air Command is credited with the development of the Snark, Atlas, and Minuteman missiles; 

Whereas Strategic Air Command maintained continuous airborne alert operations from October 1957 until September 1991, which many consider the longest continuous military operation in history; 

Whereas in 1962, the visibility of Strategic Air Command 

bombers responding to the DEFCON 2 order issued by 

President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis presented a clear indication to the Soviet Union of the determination of the United States to remove Soviet missiles 

from Cuba; 

Whereas at its height in 1962, Strategic Air Command employed 283,000 personnel and maintained 3,400 aircraft 

and 224 land-based missiles; 

Whereas in December 1972, 33 crewmembers and 10 B–52 

bombers supported by Strategic Air Command were lost 

during Operation Linebacker II in North Vietnam during 

the aerial bombing campaign that forced Vietnamese 

leadership back to negotiations and a peace settlement; 

Whereas the need for absolute command and control by national leaders led Strategic Air Command to organize the 


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•SRES 479 ATS 

National Emergency Airborne Command Post operation, 

which became the National Airborne Operations Center 

and the E–4B aircraft operating at Offutt Air Force 

Base; 

Whereas the operational practices and procedures for safe 

and secure nuclear weapons were established by Strategic 

Air Command and continue under the leadership of 

United States Strategic Command and Air Force Global 

Strike Command; 

Whereas the Strategic Air Command performed the assigned 

mission flawlessly according to its famous motto, ‘‘Peace 

is Our Profession’’; 

Whereas the United States, and particularly the State of Nebraska, is extremely grateful to those who served the 

United States at Strategic Air Command; and 

Whereas the Senate recognizes the service and dedication of 

the individuals whose unyielding commitment and sacrifice contributed to the continued safety of the United 

States for over 4 decades: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the 20th anniversary of the stand 

3 down of Strategic Air Command and the immeas4 urable contributions and prominent role of Strategic 

5 Air Command in national security and nuclear deter6 rence during the Cold War; 

7 (2) commemorates the dedication of the Stra8 tegic Air Command Memorial in the State of Ne9 braska, which pays tribute to the men and women 

10 who worked tirelessly to make Strategic Air ComVerDate Mar 15 2010 00:13 Jun 06, 2012 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR479.ATS SR479

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•SRES 479 ATS 

1 mand the most powerful and professional military 

2 organization in the world; and 

3 (3) honors the personnel who served at Stra4 tegic Air Command and those who have carried on 

5 the tradition of excellence through service at United 

6 States Strategic Command. 

Æ 


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