Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska
Lincoln Air Force Base began its life during the early days of manned flight
during the 1920's when the city selected a plot of land Northwest of the city
to be used as a municpal airport. It was to be named after a young Charles
Lindbergh, noted for his famous flight across the Atlantic in 1927. Lindbergh
learned flying at Lincoln during 1923. Lincoln became an air mail stop during
the 1928 and became a United Airlines stop during 1927, it continues its
service to Lincoln to this day.
With the begining of hostilities in Europe on September 1st, 1939, The United
States Army soon began surveying sites for army air fields to train and equip
airmen before being sent overseas. Army officers began to search the area
during 1941. The Pearl Harbor attack increased the need dramatically and soon
on Febuary 27th 1942 Lincoln was announced to be home of an Army Air Field.
During the course of less than five months, Lincoln Army Air Field rose out of
the fields and became a fully functional air field.
Lincoln AAF was a
noted mechanics school but also trainned air crews in the heavy bombers of the
period such as the B-17, B-24 and later the B-29. However Lincoln was only one
of 12 Army Air Fields around the state of Nebraska. Alliance, Scribner,
Scottsbluff, Omaha, Harvard, Fairmont, Bruning, McCook, Ainsworth,
Kearney and Grand Island trained airmen during World War II.
A hospital, barracks, mess halls, hangars and an extensive air field were built
very quickly. At the insistance of Elenor Roosevelt (the president's wife of
the time) a Chapel was also constructed. Today this chapel is on the register
of historic places and still resides Northwest of Air Park.
Soon however, the war was ending and more airmen returned home. Lincoln AAF
began ending its trainning efforts and became a homecoming transfer base for
crews returning from Europe. Immediately after war's end. Lincoln was closed
along with most other fields in the state (With the exception of Offutt,
Kearney and Grand Island) The last month of operations was December 1945 and
the runways became quiet.
The silence did not last as the newly formed Nebraska Air National Guard
moved into the former grounds along with a Naval Reserve unit. The 173rd
Fighter Squadron was equipped with P-51 Mustang fighters in 1946 and were in
fact the second air national guard unit ever created. A few years later, F-80C
Shooting-Star jet fighters would replace the F-51s (Renamed from Persuit to
fighter) unit the advent of the Korean War.
The former base hospital for Lincoln Army Air Field was soon converted after
the war. This plot of land along with its buildings soon became Huskerville.
A small town primarily consisting of University students who attended the U of
N. The small area contained a grocer, theater and many apartments. Perhaps the
most infamous tale of Huskerville was the Polio outbreak there in 1952 leaving
2 dead and 31 paralyized.
In 1946 also, the Strategic Air Command was formed with the task of managing
American bomber forces and the nuclear detterent that the nation monopolized.
Soon in 1948, SAC moved to Offutt AFB near Omaha, Nebraska to set up its
official headquarters. The command, consisting of a few hundred B-29 bombers
and many support types, was a skeleton of its size during World War II. If
America would have a nuclear detterent, SAC forces would have to be made
larger and better.
1948-49 saw the first flare-up of the Cold War with the Berlin Blockade. Only
American airlift secured the city from falling into Communist hands. The next
year, the Soviets detonated their first nuclear bomb and the Cold War
threatened to get hot. SAC began its re-activation of old Army Air Fields and
began flying new advanced bombers. The B-36 and the B-50 were perhaps the
pinnicles of propellor-driven bomber designs but were simply outdated. A
radical new design named the B-47 would soon dominate the American arsenal.
The first jet bomber to be deployed in numbers, its swept-back wings and sleek
design allowed for high-speed and manoverability. Barrel rolls and loops were
achieveable by the bomber and accually could out-run contemporary fighters of
the period.
June 25th 1950 saw the invasion of South Korea by North Korea and also sparked
the beginings of Lincoln Air Force Base. The Lincoln chamber of commerce
first proposed the idea to Nebraska senator Kenneth Wherry who in turn fought
for activation. Lincoln Air Force Base was on a bill to be passed by congress
until a few days before it was to be passed. Only an envoy of Lincoln
residents and its mayor were between re-activation and failure. They lobbied
only hours before the vote and were victorious. SAC officers would soon
survey the land that would become LAFB.
The city of Lincoln wanted the base so much that they in fact re-channeled
Oak Creek through the future base. They made it straighter and longer to wrap
around the end of the expected long runway the base would demand. Curtis E.
LeMay, commander of SAC and aviation legend, demanded that SAC control the
entire field. Thus, construction began immediately across the field for new
facilities needed to house the Air National Guard and Naval Reserve units.
On Febuary 21st, 1952 the 4120th Air Base Group
was activated at Lincoln to begin work on the base. The unit was placed
under 15th Air Force control.
Construction included new barracks for the airmen, mess halls, road
improvments, recreation facilities, warehouses, and expanded operations
buildings. Two giant hangars were built at the cost of 1 million each and
concrete bunkers were built to house the powerful weapons that would soon
make Lincoln AFB home. Construction continued for many years into the late
1950's on the base.
On Febuary 1st 1954, Lincoln AFB was officially activated and so was the
98th Air Base Group, in charge of running the field. The 98th Air Refueling
Squadron was its first aircraft unit, arriving from Kansas the same month.
The first major aircraft, a KC-97, made its appearance in Lincoln during
April. During July, the 98th Bomb Wing arrived from Davis-Monthan AFB where
it had disposed of its war-warry B-29 bombers from Japan where it served
during the Korean War. Later, during November 1954, the
307th Bomb Wing had also arrived from Okinawa also after the unit's action
over Korea. The same month, the 98th Air Base Group was de-activated and the
new 818th Air Base Group took over its operations. The 818th Air Division
took over control of the base during the month and assumed responsibility
over the 307th and 98th Bomb Wings, Their respective Air-Refueling Squadrons
and the entirety of Lincoln Air Force Base. Jurisdiction also moved that
month from the 15th to the famous 8th Air Force.
Other elements at the base that were activated during the period were the
Field Maintenence Squadrons, Periodic (later Organizational) Maintenence
Squadrons, Armement and Electronic Squadrons, Headquarters Squadrons, a
Material (Supply) Squadron, a Motor Vehicle (Transportation) Squadron, an
Air Police (Combat Defense) Squadron, an Civil Engineering (Installations)
Squadron, a Food Services (Services) Squadron, a medical section, an Air
Depot (Munitions Maintenence) Squadron as well as air-traffic control and
air transport detachments.
On December 7th 1954, the first B-47 stratojet landed at Lincoln fresh from
the factory. The 98th would become combat-ready in April of 1955 and the
307th later in June. They soon began their role in nuclear detterance.
90 B-47 bombers would soon line the flightline of Lincoln AFB.
The Air Base was a city in its own right (accually becoming later the 5th
largest town in Nebraska). Everything from barber shops to a credit union to
a dental clinic made the base great. Swimming pools, a gym, tennis courts,
baseball fields and clubs soon made their presence felt as well.
"Perry's Pond" otherwise known as Bowling Lake
was constructed during the airmen and officers "free time". The
lake was dug on the Northwest side of the base and was known for its
fishing qualities and boating events.
Of course, a base would not operate without its
housing. 1,000 units of duplex, apartment and standard houses were built
West of Northwest 48th Street from 1955 through 1960. A small chapel and
school made the area complete. Although it should be said that airmen also
found homes inside of Lincoln, especially the Belmont neighborhood of
Northwestern Lincoln.
From 1955 through 1964, a considerable number of accidents occurred at the
base. Primarily with the B-47 jet bomber. Crashes occured near Ceresco and
near Raymond during the time. Bowling Lake was named for Russell Bowling
who crashed in England during 1956. His nuclear armed bomber skidded off
the runway at Lakenheath RAF into a nuclear weapons bunker and nearly
caused a major nuclear catastrophe, though not to his fault of the crew.
The Major Meeks incident was also a major crash where the Major made sure
his crew was out of the bomber that was then on fire and stayed long enough
with it to make sure the bomber would not crash into nearby farm houses and
a school. Unfortunatley, his ejection seat failed and was the only casualty
on board, thanks to him there were no others.
Throughout the 1950's Lincoln became a major Strategic Air Command base and
a very powerful asset to American nuclear forces. Its B-47 complement would
reach 120 before 1961 and news of missile deployment assured the area that
the base would be there long to come. (A welcomed sight to vendors and
businesses in the city who depended on the base to provide customers to
their stores) Of Course, not forgetting the KC-97 tanker who made the
bomber into a strategic one, also roared above the city with a force of
30-40 aircraft. It provided much support with its dual transport/refueling
role. In 1959, news that the tanker force may be re-deployed elsewhere hit
Lincoln but also that the 2nd Air Force would now control jurisdicion over
the base. Making Lincoln one of the few SAC bases to be under all 3 of the
command's air forces. Lincoln Air Force Base would move into the 1960's
strong and proud.
During 1960, the 307th Air Refueling Squadron was re-deployed from Lincoln
to Michigan and the 98th ARS would be Lincoln's only tanker asset. New
missions arrived however, starting with the depolyment of
Nike-Hercules Surface-to-Air missiles sites
around Southeastern Nebraska. One site was
located near Davey and another near Crete, the other two sites defended the
Offutt/Omaha defense area. The supersonic missiles were deployed in 12 at
each site and were nuclear capable. The 6th Missile Battalion, 43rd
Artillery controlled the sites and was Army controlled.
1960 also
saw the start of missile silo construction at Lincoln with word that the
base would operate Atlas ICBMs soon. 12 silos were placed near Eagle,
Elmwood, Avoca, Nebraska City, Palmyra, Tecumseh, Cortland, Beatrice,
Wilber, York, Seward and Brainard. After a difficult construction the sites
were soon operational in late 1962 under the
551st Strategic Missile Squadron
. The massive ICBM contained a 3 megaton warhead
and had the range to strike targets in the Soviet Union. A five man crew
watched over the missile for many hours at a time, waiting for the call to
raise the missile out of its protective silo and to launch it at a
predeterminded target.
Due to the new threat posed by Soviet ICBMs, the Air Force began to develop
a rapid-response alert program aimed at sending several bombers airborne in
a matter of minutes. This was realized at Lincoln AFB with the
alert pad
in 1960. Here, 8 stratojets sat on 24/7 alert for several years.
In October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Lincoln dispersed its
bombers in case of attack and raised its new missile force out of the
ground on alert. The Army Nike missile sites also went on alert. Tense
moments arose but the crisis ended without major confrontation. This would
be the peak of Lincoln Air Force Base's time during the middle of of our
20th century.
1962 also saw the beginings of the 4362nd Support
Squadron (later changed to Post-Attack Command and Control Squadron or
PACCS) where B-47 bombers were converted to serve as communication relay
aircraft in the event of nuclear war. The 4362nd came under 307th
control.
During the two years following the Cuban crisis, Lincoln's downward
continued with the last KC-97 tanker of the 98th ARS leaving the base in
1963. It was announced the next year that Lincoln would no longer be needed
and be included in long list of base closings during 1965-66.
Soon during March 1965, the 307th Bomb Wing was de-activated and so was the
818th Strategic Aerospace Division (name changed after 551st SMS assigned).
The sole major component of Lincoln was once again the 98th, though this
time under the name 98th Strategic Aerospace Wing with the remaining 551st
SMS transferred to their control.
Even the mighty Atlas missile
could not escape deactivation and was pulled from its silos during June
1965. The 551st Strategic Missile Squadron was the last active Atlas unit
in the U.S.
December 7th, 1965, 11 years to the day the B-47 first landed in Lincoln,
the last 3 of the 98th SAW took-off into the Lincoln skies never to appear
again. The 98th lingered on at a now quieter Lincoln Air Force Base until
June 25th 1966 when the base offically closed. The two Nike missile
batteries stood down the same day, the last major weapon systems to be
stationed for Lincoln AFB. Caretaking hereafter controlled by the
4255th Air Base Squadron
and the end of major Air Force involvement in
Lincoln.
On any particular Sunday at
Air Park,
a key word is silence. The skies are no longer filled with the thunder of
jets sailing gracefully through the air. No more backed up traffic at the
base gates, no traffic nearly at all.
Lincoln Air Force Base during its day was once said to be one of the most
crutial
SAC bases
in the United States. It also was home to many airmen and provided an
economic powerhouse to the city of Lincoln. Though today it goes unnoticed
by the passer-byer, signs of its existance are passing every day into
history and so are the stories told by its veterans. The Cold War was an
extremely dangerous conflict, for never before a single war threatened so
many. It should not be forgotten.
And that proud SAC base in Nebraska was Lincoln, contributing so much to
local and international history. SAC HQ in Omaha may of been the location
of the big red button, but Lincoln was the force behind it.
History of the Atlas at Lincoln can be found here.
History of the Nike at Lincoln can be found here.