Entire structure can be sealed, protected against a radioactive fallout. Through those doors and around the corner is the operations control room of the longrange air offense force. Thank you, sergeant. From this room, the force throughout the world is controlled and monitored 24 hours a day in peace as it would be in war. This force is a combat ready offense force. It is a Deterrent Force dedicated to the prevention of war, any war, large or small. This offense forces commented by the joint allied Early Warning offense control. Offense control, colonel dawes. Good. Recheck the weather in that area. The last check indicated thunderstorms. Right. Gentlemen, from this room, we control the entire longrange air offense force of 3000 bombers, tankers, and sport aircraft. In the joint chiefs of staffs force that is poised and ready to strike targets from anywhere in the world from bases in the United States and overseas. It is the most powerful military force in world history. We are in contact with this force through the most advanced communications is the never ever built it affords. Practically instantaneous communication with over 100 bases in the United States and our many bases overseas. Closedcircuit television provides immediate information to the Senior Officers of the staff, enabling them to make final decisions instantaneously. The transmit these decisions, we have this red phone alert circuit. This circuit allows us, by merely dialing 10 digits, to sieze for override all other lines and set up a Conference Call to the control centers on all our bases. All such conversations are recorded on these tape recorders here. Sitting over there are the controllers. For effective control of the longrange offense force, the world is divided into 3 areas. Each man controls the aircraft in a given area. This is a Deterrent Force with a primary mission of keeping a global war from starting. If we are to be successful in this mission, we have to have plans. Plans of all kinds, detailed blueprints that have been worked out far in advance. These are flexible plans, and can be changed to meet any contingency. Lets have a look at some of the displays. Andy, take over here, will you please . We call this the big board. These panels Show Missions in progress throughout the world. Some forces are being deployed, some are being shifted, some are special missions to improve combat effectiveness. These missions are going on 24 hours a day and averaging the high activity periods with the lows, the high activity. An Aerial Refueling operation takes place every 3. 5 minutes. See the clocks here . Never before in military history has time been so important. But of course, our true mission here is to control this offense force. As i have said, its a Deterrent Force. It is a force which we control in readiness to perform airstrikes against an enemy. In the event of war, one would make the strikes. Sergeant, lets see plan war dance. This is the typical war plan for our heavy units. The fate of a nation may well be determined on such a board of this. This plan of force application may be adjusted depending on the world situation. All the information needed to control the force is here. This board and other boards behind it fixate routes, refueling points, target areas, return points, and all the other things necessary to make plan work. If the button is ever pressed, we are all set to go. Youll notice this ring of bases encircling the enemy. Everyday we are running exercises in and around these bases with no formal pattern. Some of these exercises follow good tactics, but always we mix in many bad tactics which we would never actually use. Thus, we keep the enemy of forming any ideas of our plans and making his own plans to meet us. He has no idea which will use today, tomorrow, or if a war should start. Head he knows we can launch our attack without them. During the time period of 1958 through 1960, the United States, has an effective Intercontinental Nuclear air force. Secure as we can make it with our resources. A sizable portion of it is secure from destruction by the enemy regardless of what offenses and defense of action he takes against it. The size, composition, and alertness of the offense force is such that the enemy realizes that an attack on the United States would likely mean committing national suicide. A substantial portion of this force is maintained on constant alert, ready to begin taking off within a few minutes after receiving the order to launch. This means that even with no more warning, the map provided by our Early Warning radars , a force of hundreds of longrange Nuclear Bombers would be on their way towards vital targets in the enemy heartland before their bombers could reach our bomber bases. This constant combat readiness is the surest way to prevent war. This massive capability is the deterrent of wars. The more we disperse, the larger the portion of the force that can be launched in a few minutes notice, and the more difficult it is for the enemy to convince themselves of his ability to destroy it. The enemy cannot prevent the takeoff of these bombers on alert. And the enemy cannot prevent our penetration into his heartland as long as we maintain our relatively stronger Deterrent Force. But the enemy could someday gain greater strength and surpass our Deterrent Force. This must never happen. Nobody wins in nuclear war because both sides are sure to suffer terrible damage. Nevertheless it is imperative we make sure the enemy can never impose his will upon us by military force. Despite our efforts to deter them, the communists may resort to general war. This is not considered likely to happen before the year 1960. If they start a war, this is what will happen. The Early Morning air Defense Network in the United States and our allies would pick up the first sign of enemy aircraft. Offense control. Urgent. This is air defense. Go ahead, air defense. We have a large number of unidentified aircraft coming in from the north. Our Television Cameras cover the board at this moment. Roger, we see them. Sergeant williams, standby to establish a Conference Call to all bases. General larson, please. This is general larson. Go ahead. Sir, would you turn on your screen . A large number of unidentified aircraft have just appeared. Right. Go ahead, air defense. This is air defense. Large groups of unidentified aircraft have been reported at prince of wales island and bath island. Reports from alaska indicate unusual activity in the northeast siberia. We are considering reclassifying these unidentified aircraft as hostile because of the unusual numbers and tracks. Air defense, this is general larson. Is your commander there . How does this look to you . Im sure this is it based on indications from general intelligence last night. More reports keep coming in all the time. We just talked with our people in alaska and to the canadians. Both are picking up tracks. My crews are on five minute alerts. Our antiaircraft missiles are on alert, ready to launch. How much time to get our aircraft off the ground . Our first check of their speed indicates you have about two and a half hours for the bases in the northern United States. Thats a rough estimate and i will find on a get a better estimate. That is close enough. I am getting my people moving right away. We will have 1 3 of our force launched within 20 minutes. They will be in strict strike configuration, but will not proceed without further orders. Please keep us advised. Will do. Thanks, jim. Pentagon, get me the joint chiefs. The workforce and go under plan quick strike. How much we can say it depends on how soon i can give the execution. What are your orders . The president and joint chiefs are with me in the command post. Implement quick strike. Repeat, implement quick strike. I will forward the release the minute a decision is made. Good luck. Thanks. This is general larson. Put quick strike into effect. Make sure the crews understand they are to stand by for the proceed to target order. I want the first aircraft airborne in five minutes from now. Have a third of our force on the way in 15 minutes. Let me know every 15 minutes what percentage of the remaining force is in minimum condition for takeoff, and what percentage fully loaded and combat operational. Also, how soon can we have a strike backup capability for the alert force . And another item. Evacuation is independent with quiktrip. Notify our people in the far east the supreme allied Commander Europe we are taking off. We are authorized to proceed. All our strikes will be coordinated on target. That is all. Yes, sir. Thank you. This is colonel dawes. Offense force headquarters. All units in women plan quick all units implement plan quick strike. H hour is 16 45 z. Ensure the proceed to target order is understand by all crews. I say again, be sure all crews understand the proceed to target order. Dependent evacuation is automatic with this order. Repeat, dependent evacuation is automatic. Authentication is mulberry. All stations of knowledge at the count of five. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. [siren] the order for quick strike has reached all offense force bases simultaneously. [sirens] [alarms] with a portion of our bombers on the strip alert within 15 minutes, and antisabotage measures in effect the rest of , the offense force in the United States and overseas is moving into position, ready for takeoff. A key part of this offense force is the b52, with its crew of six highly skilled men. All the hard, rugged years and 15 hour practice sessions are now going to pay off. Also part of this massive strikeforce is the b58. The routes of all these aircraft, the b47s, the b52s, and b58s have been carefully timed to take advantage of optimum tactics. The c135 tankers are launching with them from their secure home bases. At some point, hundreds of miles from the home bases and high above all the clouds, the kc135 will deliver fuel to one or more of the bombers. It is this fuel was will get a bombers to their targets and will bring many of them back home after the attack. All the planes, all the elements fit into a plan to make the force operate as a precision instrument. While the alert force has been thrown into action, it can still be recalled, returning to home bases is the report of hostile aircraft proves false. These procedures ensure that the nations offense force need not be held on the ground until the enemy attack develops. Half an hour has passed since the first report of unidentified aircraft. , reports ofol room takeoffs impositions are being tabulated for the command staff. Under the supervision of the director of operations. General larson, this is turner. Go ahead. Sir, departure reports are being called in now. The alert force is airborne. We had a few takeoff late by several minutes, and one accident shortly after takeoff. With the exception that one, they are all off now. What about the rest . Sir, an enemy missile report just in. Just a moment, sir. Just received a missile report. A missile believed to be ballistic detonated three minutes ago. No damage to the base reported. This must still be confirmed. All right. What about that accident on takeoff . A b47 in the 16th wing exploded shortly after takeoff. Do they suspect sabotage . Is the commander checking the rest of the aircraft . We are better off than i hope because of the message sent last night. 25 of our remaining forces capable in evacuating the present basis. Half of these are ready to strike. Weapons loaded, fuel loaded. The tanker bomber ratio looks good. Get general ryan at air defense. I will be right in. Air defense, this is general turner at offense control. Is general ryan their . General larson with our to look at your board. This is general ryan. There is a camera. We are switching over. What is the latest on those unidentified aircraft . We have positive information they are soviets. We just had a report from a canadian interceptor who made contact with six of them. We picked up 75 on our radar screens and i think we can expect a lot more. We estimate they should get to your bases in about two hours. Was the status of your force . The alert force has taken off. I am holding off the rest as long as i can to build up the maximum strikeforce. We got an unconfirmed report of a missile attack near lockport. Do you have anything on it . We picked that up on one of our recorders. Also two in michigan and one in colorado. Is there any particular pattern in the bomber attack yet . They seem to be spreading out as a yet further south. There is no concentration in any one area. The bomberstay until attack pattern is determined. The amount likely to hurt us here with a ballistic missile. Have you spotted anything faster . Nothing except those ballistic missiles. General, the base commander will be in our headquarters. He is on his way. We will have to give the soviets credit for picking this place as an important target for launching several bombers against it. I dont doubt they can hit it. Please keep me informed. I will let you know when i leave. Good luck. Dutch, what is the status of headquarters . The aircraft and all personnel except your key people are standing by. Good. Yes . General . An orbiting aircraft reported a advanced space blue jay was hit by an enemy missile. Extensive damage appears to have been done to the two kc97 squadrons there. Six other advanced bases report missile explosions, but no hits. Those tankers werent supporting alert, were they . No. They were part of the poster i pull for the deep 52 strike. It means at least 10 less b52s will make it home. So the pattern is beginning. Still not knowing the enemys intentions, our offense force can be ready to hit back. By giving up the initiative, the west must expect to receive the first blow. 50 minutes have elapsed since the unidentified aircraft were picked up on the north american radar screen. The Vice Commander is en route to an alternate headquarters to take over operation of the offense force in the event at headquarters is hit before it can be evacuated. Meanwhile, general larson remains in command at headquarters. Get air defense and find out if there is a pattern yet. Urgent. Repeat, this is zebra control europe. Urgent. Urgent. Turn on your screen. Go ahead, zebra. We have just received reports that large groups of soviet aircraft have been cited over germany, france, denmark, the netherlands, and belgium. Our initial reports show that bombs have been dropped on airfields near hamburg, frankfurt, as well as amsterdam, brussels, and tule. Reports are still coming in showing extensive damage. This is xray, urgent, urgent. Holder, zebra. Go ahead. Cutting off. Nuclear weapons have been dropped on osaka, okinawa, yokohama and tokyo. More information to follow. That does it. Call air defense and see if they have an established pattern of attack yet on north america. Standby for a Conference Call to all our bases. Air defense, this is defense control. We just received a report from supreme allied Commander Europe and from xray in the far east. The soviets have dropped the atomic bombs on allied airfield in western europe and the far east. Do you have any further information yet on the pattern of attack on this continent . No, nothing. We have made several widely dispersed interceptions, but the pattern of attack still unknown. They are not firing blanks. Unless you have something else, im switching off. No more, out. General turner. Yes, sir. General larson. The command post is calling. This is larson, go ahead. This is brooks. The president has authorized the joint chiefs to give the auto field forces to proceed to target. Release quick strike. Repeat, you are authorized to give the order to proceed to assigned target. Release quick strike. That is all. Acknowledge. Roger. Release quick strike and proceed to target. Acknowledged. Release quick strike. Have all alert force aircraft proceed to assigned targets. Launch all available missiles. Orders, makerget sure you word everyone. I dont want anyone turning back because we couldnt contact them. Yes, sir. Are you ready on the Conference Call . This is general turner. All units, all quick strike aircraft proceed to assigned targets. I say again, all quick strike aircraft proceed to assigned targets. Attention missile sites, fire at will on designated targets. Repeat, fire at will on designated targets. The offense force has launched a double punch. Planes and missiles. All coordinated by the senior control room and his staff under the direction of the commander. Give me your attention here, please. We have now released plan quick strike. Launchede have now plan quick strike. Our missiles are launching at will. An hour ago the alert force execution order was issued. 15 minutes later this force within the air headed for its target. 10 minutes ago we canceled recall procedures and released these aircraft to carry out their full mission. The remainder of the force has been prepared for evacuation. It is now being placed in strike configuration and will be committed as part of the followthrough strikeforce as soon as orders are given. The bulk of the alert force theirout to carry out full war plan missions. These were the takeoff areas for the forces of the United States, the rest were launched from overseas. Aircraft already deployed to Forward Operating bases are tankers. Some of the bombers came off from intermediate basis. And from the united kingdom, north africa, alaska, and the far east. These aircraft will run a view with their refueling tankers in the designated areas. Revealing reports should be coming and within the next hour. Those aircraft taking off from forward bases will approach the netet Early Warning radar shown here by the dotted line. In less than one half hour. The lead aircraft with these other attacking forces will reach the outer limit of the net at the same time. Meanwhile, forces from these bases are also approaching the net. At designated h hour, lead aircraft of all these forces will penetrate the net and launch a simultaneous attack. Ser