On 23 September 1998, following the "LOOKING GLASS" Final Flight, the 7th Airborne Command Control Squadron was inactivated in a ceremony at Dock 1, Bennie Davis Maintenance Facility, Offutt air Force Base.

Operational control of the Looking Glass mission was transferred to the U.S. Navy and the E-6A/B MULTI-MISSION AIRCRAFT.

EC-135 FAREWELL CALENDAR OF EVENTS

EC-135 Farewell Golf Tournament and Pig Roast

25 Sep 98 ...

EC-135 Farewell Open House "LOOKING GLASS" Final Flight

EC-135 FAREWELL DINNER

Place: SAC Museum (Mahoney State Park) - Time: Cocktails 1800, Dinner 1900 Guest Speaker: General Dougherty (Retired) (Former CINCSAC) Entertainment: Heartland of America Band

Summary: Re: ... the EC 135 Farewell event

From: JSkywalker@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, October 10, 1998 9:26
To: dgrif@ns.net

Hi Don Griffin,

How are you? My dad and I enjoyed the EC-135 Farewell event. It was nice to see friends again. The dinner presentations were especially well done.

My father and I were interviewed by The Times/The Recorder (Papillion Paper) and Air and Space Magazine. We were asked how we felt about the passing on of the mission to the Navy and the end of the Air Force mission to operate the flying platform for the Looking Glass.

Dad told them, it was “while it was sad to see the mission going away after successful flights for so many years, it represented the changing times of our country and the world. We don’t need the level of security provided by the continuing airborne command post, and the Navy had the newer platforms in the E-6B; a pretty impressive weapon system.”

I said “heart of the EC-135 operation had always been the communications specialists and the maintainers. The pilots, commanders and battle staff members tended to come and go after a tour, but the airborne communicators and many of the maintainers tended to return to the mission because of their specialized training and few other areas to use that training. They often had most of their career on and around the EC-135. It was good to see so many cold war warriors coming back to bid the EC-135 farewell. The 7 ACCS did an outstanding job performing the mission right up to the last flight. They put on a fantastic end of an era celebration in retiring the EC-135. We are both proud to have been associated with the Looking Glass mission, although over 12 years separated our service on the Glass.”

Don, I hope this helps. If you need more specific stuff let me know. I appreciate your work on the 55 SRWA web site. You do fine work.

Jeff Steig

Digital Gallery ...

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... Col Greg Smith, BG Gary Ambrose, CMSGT (ret) Ed Calhoun, Bill Ernst

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... General Dougherty former CINCSAC and Admiral Mies present CINCSC, (no names for the others)

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... Jack Suggs, President, SAC ACCA; Mrs. Suggs; Fred Kemp, Treasurer SAC ACCA (Mayor of Bunker Hill Indiana)

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.. Ted Steig. "old " looking glass IP who has a son, (Jef), United Air lines Pilot, who flew as a Looking glass IP before retiring from the USAF

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... Jeff Steig, Capt Dan Clark, Capt Mike Kelly Ted Steig, Patio is the 7 ACCS’ squadron patio.

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... Col Greg Smith, Admiral Mies, General Dougherty, BG Ambrose, Lt Col Kathy Johnson, Col Joe Mudd.

In this picture, the person on the left is Col Greg Smith, Vice Commander, 55th Wing. The two on the right are Lt Col Kathy Johnson, Deputy Logistics Group Commander, and Col Joe Mudd, 55th Operations Group Commander. (Courtsy Bo Marlin)

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... Ted and Jef Steig, father and son, former Looking Glass IP’s

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... James R. Murphy, former looking glass IP, and Merlin Stevens, former 2ACCS Sq Commander, IP and 55th Strat Recon Wing Commander.

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... Max Moore, Merlin Stevens, Dan Peterson

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... James W Handy, Battle Staff Operations NCO Controller from June 1970 to January 1974

Initiated on a trial basis in July 1960, the Airborne Command Post, or LOOKING GLASS as it was later called, began continuous operations as the 34th Air Refueling Squadron (34 AREFS), on 3 February 1961, at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. In 1966, Det 1 of the 55 SRW moved to Offutt AFB and assumed flight operations of LOOKING GLASS. At the same time, the 34 AREFS was inactivated and the 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron assumed the LOOKING GLASS mission.

On 1 April 1970, Post Attack Command and Control System reorganized again. In this reorganization, Offutt's EC-135s were assigned to the 2nd Airborne Command Control Squadron (2 ACCS). The basic function of PACCS remained unchanged. LOOKING GLASS continued to remain airborne at all times in the vicinity of Offutt AFB. Auxiliary airborne command post and relay aircraft remained on round-the-clock ground alert.

On 20 July 1990, after 29 years, 171 days of continuous airborne operations, the LOOKING GLASS recorded its last continuous airborne alert sortie. General John T. Chain announced the implementation of the new modified alert concept. This new posture marked the beginning of daily flight operations. Although continuous flight operations ceased, the basic mission of the 2 ACCS remained unchanged. The LOOKING GLASS continued to act as alternate command control element.

On 3 February 1992, an EC-135 landed at Offutt and marked the 30th anniversary of the SAC Airborne National Command Post (ABNCP). During its 30 years of operation, the SAC ABNCP compiled the enviable record of over 281,000 continuous accident-free hours.

On 1 July 1992, United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) stood up and took control of the ABNCP mission. The battle staff was reassigned from the squadron to USSTRATCOM as the maintainers and communicators joined the 2 ACCS. The 2 ACCS, as a component of the 55th Wing, came under control of Air Combat Command.

On 20 July 1994, the 2 ACCS was inactivated in a ceremony at the Billy Skipworth Operations Center and operational control of Offutt's EC-135 squadron was transferred to the 7th Airborne Command Control Squadron.

eMail comments are invited. Forward your correspondence to: dgrif@ns.net
http://www.55srwa.org