The information on the AFHRA: 3rd FW does NOT indicate any deployments to Misawa, but does show "detached" status. However, the "detached" status period DOES match the time frame described in Col. Anderson's narrative above. From this we surmise that these "detached" periods were the deployment dates to support the Kunsan alert tasking from Aug 1965 through Jun 1966. The deployments ceased when the unit returned to the states prior to the 3rd TFW's move to Bien Hoa, Vietnam in Nov 1965. The schedule is as follows:

• 90th: 3 Aug-19 Nov 1965;
• 416th: 16 Nov 1965-15 Jun 1966

Note: We are SPECULATING that the rotation was only for three months -- NOT six months. Thus the rotation would end in about Feb 66. The 612th TFS was already released from the 401st TFW in Nov 65 and may have been at Misawa from Feb - May 66. At this time, we have no documentation to support this, though Robert Keats wrote in Nov 2004 that the 612th was at Misawa in 1966 -- though actually TDY to Vietnam. He stated,

"Discussion about 612th Tac Ftr Sqdn at Misawa AB and deployment to Japan. I was with Ops and Tng, 39th Air Div at Misawa 1965-1967. In 1966 the 612th was permanently assigned to Misawa AB and TDY to Vietnam. I know this because my OIC Col William F. Baker III was appointed Acting CO for the 612th TFS and I was appointed Acting 1st Sgt. This was done to comply with US/Japan Treaty which forbid the permanent assignment of a unit from Japan to a combat zone. Thus the planes were gone, the pilots were gone, the ground support was gone, but the 612th was still assigned to Misawa. I was reassigned to Vietnam from Misawa Apr 1967. At that time the 612th was in Vietnam, but I was assigned to 377 Cmbt Spt Gp at Tan Son Nhut. Col Baker became Air Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok later in 1967. The practice of TDY from Misawa was common. I still have a copy of the orders which assigned me to the 612 Tac Ftr Sq, Dated 27 Feb 1967 and those orders state that 612 was at Misawa. Only on paper my friend."

NOTES ON OTHER 3RD TFW UNITS:

531st TFS: AFHRA: 3rd FW under "Squadrons" shows the 531st TFS, 3rd TFW detached between 2 Nov 1964-18 Mar 1965, but we are not sure of this deployment's location. The 531st was previously attached to the 39th Air Division (See 39th AD (1960-1964).) The "Nov 1964" would be the approximate date the 531st TFS was relieved by the 523rd TFS from duty with the 39th AD. (Go to 3rd TFW: Bien Hoa for excellent photos of the F-100s of the 90th, 510th and 531st.)

510th TFS: The 510th TFS, 3rd TFW was detached from the 3rd TFW between 5 May-c. 20 Aug 1965, but this was a deployment to Clark AFB, PI and does not apply to the Misawa schedule.

10th TFS: There is one strange entry under the AFHRA: 3rd FW which we have no explanation for. The 10th Fighter is listed as being part of the 3rd TFW from 8 Apr 1966–17 Apr 1967. However, according to AFHRA: 10th Test Flight Squadron, the 10th TFS was assigned to the 50th TFW Hahn AB, Germany at the time and the AFHRA: 50th Space Wing shows no deployments for the 10th TFS during the period in question. The 10th flew F–100 between 1958-1966 when it converted to the F-4.

We believe this is a typo and probably indicates the "510th". However, the deployment is still a mystery as the 510th was at Bien Hoa, Vietnam at the time (Nov 65-Nov 69).

Additional Notes: Col. Anderson later wrote, "I believe the 612th TFS from 401st TFW also had a Misawa TDY and may have PCSd to Misawa. I would also check the Cannon Wings as providing rote or PCS squadrons in 65, 66." As for the "Cannon Wings," Cannon AFB has been the home of the 27th Fighter Wing since 1959. We are grateful for Col. Anderson's clue as we found that the 523d and 524th TFS of the 39th AD were indeed "detached" from the 27th TFW at Cannon AFB. The 27th TFW in the 1960s flew F-100s. Other 27th TFW squadrons -- the 522d TFS and 481st TFS -- did not appear to be involved with the Misawa deployments. We still researching this item.

1966:

401st TFW

Nov 65-May 66: The 612th TFS flying F-100D/Fs was with the 401st TFW from Sep 1957 - Nov 1965. However, between Nov 65-May 66 the unit's whereabouts are unknown according to the data we have.

David K. Anderson, Colonel, USAF (Ret) wrote, "I believe the 612th TFS from 401st TFW also had a Misawa TDY and may have PCSd to Misawa. I would also check the Cannon Wings as providing rote or PCS squadrons in 65, 66." (NOTE: Colonel Anderson's advice on checking the Cannon Wings led to us discovering the 523d and 524th TFS of the 39th AD were indeed "detached" from the 27th TFW at Cannon AFB.)

However, we have eye witness confirmation that in 1966 the 612th TFS was assigned to Misawa, but actually in Vietnam. Though not conclusive proof that it pulled the nuclear alert rotation to Kunsan prior to going to Vietnam, we at least are getting closer. Robert Keats wrote in Nov 2004 that the 612th was at Misawa in 1966 -- though actually TDY to Vietnam. He stated,

"Discussion about 612th Tac Ftr Sqdn at Misawa AB and deployment to Japan. I was with Ops and Tng, 39th Air Div at Misawa 1965-1967. In 1966 the 612th was permanently assigned to Misawa AB and TDY to Vietnam. I know this because my OIC Col William F. Baker III was appointed Acting CO for the 612th TFS and I was appointed Acting 1st Sgt. This was done to comply with US/Japan Treaty which forbid the permanent assignment of a unit from Japan to a combat zone. Thus the planes were gone, the pilots were gone, the ground support was gone, but the 612th was still assigned to Misawa.

I was reassigned to Vietnam from Misawa Apr 1967. At that time the 612th was in Vietnam, but I was assigned to 377 Cmbt Spt Gp at Tan Son Nhut. Col Baker became Air Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok later in 1967.

The practice of TDY from Misawa was common. I still have a copy of the orders which assigned me to the 612 Tac Ftr Sq, Dated 27 Feb 1967 and those orders state that 612 was at Misawa. Only on paper my friend."

NOTE: Robert is correct that unlike the 614th and 615th TFS which were assigned to the 366th TFW in Phan Rang, the 612th TFS became "Det 1, 612th TFS" attached to the 366th TFW -- but assigned to Misawa under the 39th AD. It was assigned to Misawa, but without any planes or troops.

The 612th TFS/401st TFW, nicknamed the "Screaming Eagles" at the time, relieved the 416th TFS/3rd TFW in Feb 66 and pulled the first rotation at Misawa. It then departed for Vietnam to become part of the 366th TFW at Phan Rang. (See 366th TFW site.) Unlike the 614th and 615th TFS which were assigned to the 366th TFW in Phan Rang, the 612th TFS became "Det 1, 612th TFS" attached to the 366th TFW -- but assigned to Misawa under the 39th AD. It was assigned to Misawa, but without any planes or troops. It remained a "defacto squadron" until it moved to Phan Rang in Mar 1971 under the 35th TFW and then unit moved from Misawa in name only to Phan Rang.

Larry Carrol added in Jun 02, "After leaving phan rang, they went to Phu Cat, then wound up in Turkey sometime in early 70. They were disbanded sometime later. This is hearsay, I have no had facts. I was with the 612th at Phan Rang from May 1966-June 67. I was a Hun chief." Robert Guier wrote on a BBS in Jun 2002, "Actually, several of us did go to Phu cat and some to Bien hoa and some went home. The 612th itself did not got to Phu cat but was apparently disbanded or possibly became an Air Guard unit although I dont have hard facts either. I just know that the 612th did not go to Phu Cat. I was a hun chief in 70-71'."

Next the 615th TFS/401st TFW, nicknamed the "Black Panthers," relieved the 612th TFS at Misawa -- as was normal for their former 401st TFW rotation schedule. Its rotation was from May-Jul 66 where upon it joined the 366th TFW in Phan Rang. On a Vietnam Msg Board a former member of the 401st TFW Charles Teague said, "I don't have any current info but I was a crew chief in the 615th when we first ferried to Phan Rang in Jul 66. The 612th beat us there by a couple months."

Then the 614th TFS/401st TFW, nicknamed the "Lucky Devils," relieved by the 615th from Jul-Sep 66 where upon it joined the 366th TFW in Phan Rang.

The 401st TFW was stationed at England AFB, LA until it moved to Torrejon AB, Spain in 1970. The 401st was deactivated in 1991 flying F-16s at Torrejon AB, Spain. Note, the reference below conflicts with the time of movement to Torrejon as being April 1966, but from the time frame of the last launches out of Vietnam this is not possible.

The following is from 401st TFW Public Affairs

... In the early 1960s, Tactical Air Command began supporting NATO strike commitments at forward operating bases in NATO's Southern Region through the rotation of fighter squardrons from the United States to bases in Italy and Turkey. By 1966, because of its commitment to the Vietnam War, TAC could no longer support this rotational program and Headquarters United States Air Force decided to reassign on of Tac's fighter wings to Torrejon for this purpose.

Accordingly, in April 1966 the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing deployed to Torrejon with three fighter squadrons. At the same time, Headquarters Sixteenth Air Force and Torrejon were assigned form SAC to United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). The 401st Tactical Fighter Wing was the only U.S. Air Force fighter wing in the Mediteranean region as of March 1988. The 401st Tactial fighter Wing was scheduled to leave, at the request of the Spanish government, no later than May of 1992.

F-100s of 121st TFG, 127th TFS
(U.S. Air Force Photo)

F-100D Super Sabre Specifications: The F-100 Super Sabre was a sleek, swept-back-wing fighter that gave the United States a supersonic Air Force. Although the first version was produced prior to 1950, various improved versions served as trainers and as active military craft at many U.S. and foreign bases. In addition to its nuclear bomb armament and four 20 mm cannons, the Super Sabre could be equipped to fire rockets and missiles, including the heat-seeking GAR-8 Sidewinder. The F-100 had a service ceiling above 50,000 feet and a range of more than 1,000 statute miles. In addition to the thin, highly swept wing and tail, the F-100 design incorporated other features that reflect an answer to the problem of supersonic flight. Heat-resisting titanium was used extensively throughout the plane. A low-drag, ultra-streamlined fuselage and canopy with but one thin-lipped air intake duct helped make supersonic speed possible. The canopy line matched the rear fuselage in a smoothly curving line so that from the side, the Super Sabre appeared to be slightly arched. Other features included automatic leading-edge slats and a low-positioned one-piece horizontal stabilizer. The F-100 was the first USAF airplane to utilize the low tail. The plane had an automatically regulated air conditioning and pressurizing system and automatic fuel system. Particular attention was given to placement of all controls, equipment, and instruments in the cockpit for ease of operation.

The following was excerpted from North American F-100:

F-100 SUPER SABRE

First Flight: 1953

The F-100 Super Sabre was a sleek, swept-back-wing fighter that gave the United States a supersonic Air Force. Although the first version was produced prior to 1950, various improved versions served as trainers and as active military craft at many U.S. and foreign bases.

Since May 1953, when the first prototype model, the YF-100, bettered the speed of sound on its first flight, the versatile fighter set numerous records for speed, endurance, range and maintenance.

Late production models of the F-100D and F-100F had the capability of being launched from remote areas in the manner of manned missiles. An F-100D Super Sabre became the first supersonic aircraft to be "boosted" airborne without use of a runway in successful Zero Length Launch (ZEL) tests at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. in 1958.

In addition to its nuclear bomb armament and four 20 mm cannons, the Super Sabre could be equipped to fire rockets and missiles, including the heat-seeking GAR-8 Sidewinder.

While the later models of the F-100 had a speed in excess of 1,000 mph, two earlier models of the "A" and "C" established the world's first supersonic speed records. Colonel F.K. (Pete) Everest reached 755.149 mph in October 1953, and Colonel Horace Hanes topped 822 mph in August 1955.

To demonstrate the ability of its pilot and aircraft, the Air Force chose F-100 Super Sabres to perform throughout the world in aerial precision demonstration flights. The famed "Thunderbirds," a four-man aircraft team, were viewed by over 19 million people as the storied pilots performed intricate precision maneuvers at low altitude. In Europe the "Skyblazers" flew similar demonstrations.

The jet fighter was originally powered by a Pratt & Whitney J57-P-7 axial-flow engine. Later models of the F-100 were powered by a Pratt & Whitney J57-P-21A engine. Both were two-stage turbojet engines with afterburner, rated in the 10,000-pound thrust class.

The F-100 had a service ceiling above 50,000 feet and a range of more than 1,000 statute miles.

In addition to the thin, highly swept wing and tail, the F-100 design incorporated other features that reflect an answer to the problem of supersonic flight. Heat-resisting titanium was used extensively throughout the plane. A low-drag, ultra-streamlined fuselage and canopy with but one thin-lipped air intake duct helped make supersonic speed possible. The canopy line matched the rear fuselage in a smoothly curving line so that from the side, the Super Sabre appeared to be slightly arched. Other features included automatic leading-edge slats and a low-positioned one-piece horizontal stabilizer. The F-100 was the first USAF airplane to utilize the low tail.

The plane had an automatically regulated air conditioning and pressurizing system and automatic fuel system.

Particular attention was given to placement of all controls, equipment, and instruments in the cockpit for ease of operation.



The following is from U.S. Aircraft: North American F-100:

First supersonic fighter in the West, the F-100 originated in the early 1950s as direct successor to the famous F-86 Sabre. The USAF ordered two prototypes on November 1, 1951, and the first of these took off on May 25, 1953. Mass-production began immediately with the initial A variant (203 machines). In the second C version the role of interceptor was transformed into that of fighter-bomber: ordered in February 1954, 476 machines were built. Then followed the F-100D version (first flight January 24, 1956), produced in largest numbers, with 1,274 machines. The last was the F-100F, a two-seater training plane (first flight March 7, 1957), of which 339 were built. The Super Sabre, in service from 1954, first saw action ten years later in Vietnam, where it remained in service until 1971. These planes were used principally for tactical support work.

The F-100Ds, last single-seater version of the first American supersonic fighter, provided with an autopilot and also armed with bombs attached to the underside of the wings, played an important role in the Vietnam war, with over 300,000 missions from August 1964 to July 1971, when the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing finally left Phan Rang to return to the United States. The 615th TFS was the first unit furnished with F-100Ds to reach Da Nang on August 5, 1964, followed on August 17 by the 401st TFW, stationed at Tan Son Nhut. The Super Sabres, familiarly known as 'Huns', a shortened version of 'Hundred', were immediately used for low-level night bombing missions, and during the first years of the war pounded objectives in South Vietnam where suspected concentrations of Viet Cong had been sighted. For this type of mission the F- 100Ds were armed with two CBU-24 bombs which, on opening, released a large number of anti-personnel devices, and two 750lb (340kg) napalm bombs. Once they had dropped their load, the Super Sabres proceeded to spray the zone under attack with their four 20mm cannons to complete the 'cleaning up' work. Because of their adaptability and, even more, the lack of a real alternative, numerous F-100 Wings were used in Vietnam, some of them consisting of squadrons of the Air National Guard, called up for front line service. The 3rd TFW alone carried out more than 100,000 missions in 1969! From the end of 1965 a number of two-seater F-100Fs, the Wild Weasel 1, carrying anti-SAM electronic equipment, were in action, operating from the Korat base in Thailand.

"Little John" F-100D -- 39th AD, 416th TFS
Misawa AB, Japan (Nov 1961)
(Click on photo to enlarge)

F-100 SUPER SABRE DATA

DIMENSIONS: Wing span: 38.6 feet; Sweepback (25% chord) 45 degree
Length: 47.8 feet
Height: 15.3 feet
Tread: 12.4 feet
WEIGHT: 28,971 pounds
POWER PLANT: Pratt & Whitney J57-P-7 or -39 engine (producing 14,800 pounds thrust with afterburner); or Pratt & Whitney J57-P-21A engine (16,000 pounds thrust with afterburner)

OTHER FEATURES:
In-flight refueling system
Extra fuel drop tanks and bombs
Radar
Autopilot
Two-place tandem cockpit

According to the Baugher site: F-100D, the F-100D was intended as a dedicated fighter-bomber, with no concession being made to a secondary air-superiority role.

The F-100D had a wing with an increased root chord, increasing the total wing area to 400.18 square feet. Unlike earlier Super Sabres, the F-100D was equipped with landing flaps, with the added flap area giving rise to the crank-wing trailing edge, which was the familiar distinguishing feature of the F-100D. The F-100D had the same six underwing hard points as the F-100C, but the detachable underwing pylons used forced ejection rather than gravity release for dropping their stores. The vertical fin and rudder were increased in area, and the fin trailing edge featured a larger and wider square protrusion which carried an AN/APR-26(v) rearward radar warning antenna in addition to the usual fuel jettison pipe. The nose-mounted AN/APR-25(v) gun tracking radar of the earlier F-100s was retained. The F-100D was equipped with a Minneapolis-Honeywell MB-3 automatic pilot which allowed the pilot to concentrate on navigation or tactics while the F-100D flew itself to the target. Improved electronic LABS equipment was fitted so that a MK-7, MK-38, or MK-43 nuclear bomb could be delivered. Conventional bomb loads could include six 750-pound or four 1000-pound bombs.

The F-100D had a provision for centerline-mounted fuselage attachment points. These points could carry "special stores"-a euphemistic term for nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons could be carried on the left wing intermediate attachment point or on the fuselage centerline attachment points. The nuclear weapons that could be carried included the Mk 7, Mk 28 EX, Mk 28 RE, Mk 43, TX-43, and TX-43 X1, with yields ranging from a kiloton to nearly ten megatons. For delivery of these nuclear weapons, the F-100D carried the AN/AJB-1B low-altitude bombing system (LABS). This system was used in conjunction with information provided by the A-4 gyro sight to calculate aiming and release information for the toss-boming of nuclear weapons. In a typical mission, the F-100D would approach the target down on the deck at about 500 mph and pull up at a steady 4Gs acceleration. Partway into what would be a half loop, the bomb would be automatically released by the computer. The plane would then complete the half-loop and undergo a half-roll and head away from the target. The F-100D would then go to full afterburner in order to get as far away as possible from the bomb when it exploded.

According to the Baugher site: F-100D:

"By June of 1967, only five squadrons of F-100s remained at home in the USA, most of the rest having been transferred to Vietnam to fight in the rapidly-escalating war. Although it encountered some maintenance difficulties, the F-100D proved remarkably adaptable to rough-field operations in the tropical heat and rain of Southeast Asia. For a time, F-100s enjoyed the best maintenance record of any aircraft in the Vietnam combat zone. However, as a tactical bomber, the F-100D was inferior to the F-105 and the F-4. The F-105 could carry a larger bombload further and faster. In addition, the F-105 was built to take the extreme structural loads of low-level, high-speed flight, whereas the F-100 was not. Consequently, from mid-1965 onward, F-100D fighter bombers generally operated only in the South, leaving the North for the F-4 and the F-105."

"Following their withdrawal from Vietnam, numerous USAF F-100Ds were turned over to the Air National Guard. The ANG had actually gotten its first F-100Ds in 1969, with the 174th TFS of the Iowa ANG being the first receipient. However, the needs of Vietnam had caused the USAF to delay the handover of F-100Ds to the ANG, and by mid-1970 the ANG still had only 20. As the pace of the drawdown from Vietnam stepped up, transfers to the ANG began to accelerate, and by mid-1972, the Guard had gotten 335 F-100Ds."

347th TFW

No F-105s were on alert at Kunsan: According to this account, the 6441st TFW was formed from the F-105s (35TFS/36TFS/80TFS) left behind by the departing the 8th TFW in Jun 64. The F-105s would have been under the 6441st TFW umbrella (starting in Apr 65). Kiyomi Noriye, SMSgt, USAF (ret) wrote, "I have no knowledge of the 105s ever pulling alert at Kunsan, However, that does not mean that it did not happen, I was not privy to any info on this and I was not in Korea or Japan 1968 /69 I was in Phan Rang." Kiyo pulled a lot of alerts at Osan AB as a nights line chief. From his statement, we are not considering the F-105s as pulling the alerts at Kunsan between Sep 66-Dec 67. Kiyo Noriye's statement of no F-105s being at Kunsan, coupled with eyewitness accounts in 1968-1969 which state that F-100s from Misawa were ALWAYS in place -- NOT the F-105s.

In Field Days, a novel by Nathan Sturman based on autobiographical experiences at Kunsan, he gives a first-hand account in Chapter VII, "Any planes here for me to work on?" -- "None really. ROKAF..uh, Korean Air Force have there own mechanics for their F-86s. Korean war vintage Sabre jets. Their 111th Fighter Squadron is here, The gate to their ramp is right across from where you'll be working, at the tank farm. Drop tanks, war reserve material. They're for the 39th Air Division's F-100s at Misawa, Japan that are supposed to come over here if war breaks out. They've got a small detachment of four planes here now on alert. You won't be working on them cause they've got their own ground crews with them."

From this account -- taking place in 1967 just prior to the Pueblo Incident -- the 39th AD supported the nuclear alerts at Kunsan. The reason we can find little information on this item is that people were "debriefed" on relocation from Kunsan and sworn to secrecy on nuclear weapons in Korea. Even after all these years, former GIs still are reluctant to talk about it. Steve Gattis a Security Policeman at Kunsan up till Feb 68 wrote, "By the way, I was amazed about the information on alerts for the 39th AD and later the 475th. After I was debriefed, I never spoke about them again. It gives me chills to even acknowledge the information." The Department of Defense has always assumed a policy of "neither confirmation or denial" -- meaning they say nothing.

347th TFW (Dec 67-Jan 68):The Cold War Thuds - F-105 Thunderchief at Yokota AB continued, "The 41st Air Division, 6441st TFW, and 441st Combat Support Group at Yokota were inactivated in January 1968 and replaced by the new 347th TFW and 347th Combat Support Group (CSG) respectively. Kunsan AB, Korea, was a Forward Operating Location (FOL) for the 347th at this time. On 18 Dec 1967, the first F-4C aircraft from the 347th TFW had arrived at Kunsan from Yokota. On 09 Jan 1968, the 347th units returned to Yokota, leaving certain maintenance and support personnel in Korea to work future deployments. Though stationed at Yokota AB, Japan, the 347th's 35th, 36th and the 80th TFS supported tactical air operations and air sector defense in Korea starting from 1968 on a rotation basis. Detachment 1 of the 347th TFW operated out of Osan AB, Korea, with some aircraft of the det located at Kunsan AB, Korea."

Stephen Cornick wrote at Classmates.com, "Kunsan AB, population of 850 in July 1967, reminded me of the novel Catch 22. There were only 2 combat aircraft (F105). A U-6 Beaver, on loan from the Army, made the mail run to and from Osan AB." These F-105s were probably from the 8th TFW at Yokota and were NOT permanently deployed there as Osan was the primary location.

"The 347th completed its conversion to the Phantom in two months at Yokota, then deployed to Thailand for combat operations March 1968 - December 1968. It then returned to Yokota with its Phantoms (as well as operating the remainder of the RB-57 and C-130B reconnaissance types of the 556th Recon Squadron) until May 1971, when the wing returned to the US." As an added note Kiyomi Noriye stated, "When the Pueblo crisis hit I understood that the 6441st was transitioning to F-4s and were unable to make a quick response to the incident mainly due to lack pods and racks for the airframes. etc, etc. ..." We noted that they may not have been able to field a complete unit for the Pueblo Crisis, we believe they did provide aircraft for the nuclear alert.

Starting in December 1967, the 347th TFW took over with F-4s, but returned to Yokota in Jan 68 to deploy to Thailand. However, it provided the initial cadre for the Det 1 475th TFW units from Misawa by leaving behind support personnel.

We lend credence that the 347th TFW from Yokota having a presence at Kunsan during the Pueblo Crisis from the eyewitness account of Bill Cosens, of the 4531st TTW who wrote when asked about the nuclear alert wrote, "...there were 2 single aircraft hangars there that were somewhat quonset hut shaped. Shortly after we got there, these 2 hangars were surrounded with layers of concertina wire and housed 2 F-4s detached from Yakota loaded with 1 neuc. (nuclear weapon) each hanging centerline. APs were posted around them. Thank God we didn't have to use them." "The 2 F-4s from Yakota" (Yokota) that Bill mentions would mean that the 347th TFW was handling the nuclear alert at Kunsan instead of the 39th Air Division -- which became the 475th TFW in Jan 68.

The following is a quote from James Hope's website. James Hope is a retired USAF Lt. Col. One sentence throws doubt on who was at Kunsan. He stated, "We pulled SIOP alert in Korea, us at Osan 4 planes, Misawa at Kunsan, 4 planes."

From Vietnam I went to the 347TFW at Yokota, Japan still very much a hawk despite what I may have led you to believe in my last input. I was an emergency actions officer in the command post. We controlled the codes that would launch nuclear strikes , two man control, pistols ,all that stuff that someone else wrote about. Anyway I was in the command post when the Pueblo was seized. Some background. Yokota and Misawa both had TAC Fighter Wings, 3 Sq each. We had just completed change over from F105s to F4Cs. All the 105s and many pilots had been shipped to Vietnam. We had one F105 on station. We pulled SIOP alert in Korea, us at Osan 4 planes, Misawa at Kunsan, 4 planes. When the Pueblo was taken the only planes we had were loaded with nuclear weapons dedicated to the SIOP.

I'm hazy on the details but when we received the code word requesting air support we found the OPLAN in a drawer waiting for destruction. It was more than 3 years old and it tasked 5th AF to provide strip alert with F105s. [US]. This poor soul was sailing inside the 12 mile limit North Korea claimed but outside the 3 mile limit we recognized thinking all he had to do was yell to get fighter support. No one had told us to put anything on alert. We immediately requested permission to take the airplanes off SIOP alert and reconfigure them with conventional ordinance.

We launched 4 F4s and the F105 to Korea. They were out of range from Japan. The airplanes left unarmed to be uploaded and refueled in Korea if we got launch orders. When the airplanes got to Korea, it was discovered that the wire bundles necessary to configure conventional were not there, they were still in Japan. The North Koreans had anywhere from 6 to 20 aircraft airborne between our birds and the Pueblo. The F105 pilot wanted to go but we couldn't get permission to launch him. It took 6 hours before we got permission to degrade the SIOP sorties. By then the Pueblo was enroute or in Wonsan harbor.

In succeeding days there was some talk of dropping/exploding a small tactical nuke in Wonsan harbor to show the North Koreans we were unhappy but nothing came of that.

Until otherwise corrected, we are showing the nuclear alerts as the 347th TFW with F-4C/Ds from Dec 67-Jan 68. They formed the initial cadre for the Det 1 475th TFW.

1968

• Pueblo Incident Deployments
  • 475th Tactical Fighter Wing (Jan 68 - Feb 68: Pueblo Crisis)
    
  • 4th Tactical Fighter Wing (Jan 68 - Jul 68) -- Buildup at Kunsan and Kwangju
    
    
    
    
  • 354th Tactical Fighter Wing (Jul 68 - Jun 70) -- F-100 ANG units
    
  • 54th Tactical Fighter Wing (Jul 70 - Oct 70)
    
• 6175th Air Base Group (1966-1971) for Air Base Group.
• 557th CES (HR) Red Horse (Apr 68 - Nov 69) for description of Kunsan AB expansion to accommodate new personnel.

475th TFW

Acknowledgement: Special thanks to Bruce Charles for his narrative account of the Det 1 475th TFW. Thanks to Ken Adams for his narrative on the Det 1 475th TFW supported from Misawa.

Starting in August of 1958, the 3rd Bombardment Group of Yokota AB set up a rotation of crews to stand nuclear alert at Kunsan (K-8) air base in Korea. The rotation continued until April of 1964, when the 3rd BG returned to Yokota to begin the process of inactivation. The 39th Air Division Headquarters picked up the nuclear commitment with F-100s and then converted to F-4s in Jun-Oct 1967. The F-4s and the nuclear alert commitment was turned over to the 475th TFW in December 1967.

According to Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947-1977, 1984, (p265), "The wing maintained forward operating locations at Kunsan, South Korea (Jan 1968-Mar 1971) and Taegu, South Korea (Jul 1968-Apr 1970), and maintained squadrons or segments thereof at each location, with periodic rotation back to Misawa. A major earthquake on 16 May 1968 caused over $1 million damage to Misawa facilities. Phased down at Misawa in early 1971 and inactivated on 15 Mar, all resources moving to Kunsan AB, South Korea, for the 3d Tactical Fighter Wing."

According to Bruce Charles an F-4C Phantom II driver with the 67TFS between 1968-1970 said, "Yes, the 67th, and two other squadrons were "sitting" at the 475th in '68, '69 and '70. I suspect they hung around there for a number of years thereafter, but I do not know. All SIOP/GWP alert."

The PACAF Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP) Quick Reaction Alert commitment prior to October 1974 consisted of four F-4D aircraft sitting on alert fully-loaded with nuclear weapons at Kunsan. However, Bruce Charles stated that the Det 1, 475th had 8-10 aircraft on alert between 1968-70. This commitment of the Det 1 475th TFW would later be handed over to the 374th TFW (35th, 36th and 80th TFS) in Feb 71. At that time, there were between 4-6 aircraft on alert at any given time. In Mar 71, the 3rd TFW "Alert Pad" assumed this alert when the wing absorbed the three squadrons from the 374th. However, when the 8th TFW arrived in Sept 1974, the commitment was switched to the 18th TFW at Kadena, Okinawa in October 1974. (Note: SIOP information was released through the Freedom of Information Act in 1999 in various bits and pieces through the Nautilus Organization.)

475th TFW Det 1 at Kunsan was an alert detachment with F4C aircraft -- similar to the 347th TFW Det 1 at Osan AB. It would later transition to F-4Ds in the 1970s. The original Det 1, 475th TFW that started in Dec 1967 was about a 500-man unit. It was treated as a permanent party unit by Kunsan AB -- which had no permanent flying unit assigned at the time. The enlisted resided in a two-story barracks on the road that ran directly across Taxiway Charlie to the C-pad. Officers resided in the BOQ area with trucks marked Alert Force.

Prior to 1968 there appears to have been only two quonset-type structures to house the nuclear alert aircraft on the C-pad at Kunsan. The Christmas Tree Area had not been built yet and would be built around Dec 1968. (NOTE: Between 1968-1971 at Kunsan, there were only eight arches in the "Tree Area" at the south end of the runway. All were reserved for the Det 1 475th TFW alert aircraft.)

When the deployments of the 4th TFW came in Jan 68 due to the Pueblo Incident, they were parked in the open. The deployed aircraft were parked along the old east-west runway (Taxiway Charlie) and down the ramp. The 558th TFS (of the 12th TFW) was the furthest south on the ramp. The nuclear alert carried a higher priority and when the 4th TFW arrived, multiple strands of concertina wire were strung around the facility. Prior to this there was only a double fence line topped with barbed wire -- patrolled by K-9 between the fencelines.

During the 1968 Pueblo Incident, Bill Cosens of the 4531st TFW of Homestead AFB, FL was deployed to Kunsan AB as support personnel for the 4th TFW. When asked about the nuclear alert ability to perform with the crowded conditions from so many aircraft, he wrote,

"I'm not familiar with the term "Wonder Arch" (hardened shelter), but there were 2 single aircraft hangars there that were somewhat quonset hut shaped. Shortly after we got there, these 2 hangars were surrounded with layers of concertina wire and housed 2 F-4s detached from Yakota loaded with 1 neuc. (nuclear weapon) each hanging centerline. APs were posted around them. Thank God we didn't have to use them." "The 2 F-4s from Yakota" (Yokota) that Bill mentions was a mistake. These F-4s would have been 475th TFW assets from Misawa -- not 347th assets from Yokota. (However, there is a claim that the 347th that they did support the nuclear alert starting in December 1967. We do not lend credence to this claim at this time.)

Before the Pueblo Incident, the 475th TFW was in fact a "paper wing" with most of its aircraft on loan to Vietnam units. After the Pueblo Incident, the 475th TFW became an F-4C/D unit -- supplemented by Reserves -- that appeared to have been hastily assembled in response to the increased tension. It replaced the 39th Air Division at Misawa AB, Japan, in Jan 1968 and trained for offensive and reconnaissance operations from 1968-1971. Two assigned squadrons (45th Tactical Reconnaissance and 612th Tactical Fighter Squadrons) were "paper" units. F-4C/D units were drawn from other wings to support the 475th's alert operations in Korea. They were the 67th TFS from the 18th TFW; the 356th TFS from the 354th TFW; and the 391st TFS from the 366th TFW (in a unit designator switch with the 558th of the 12th TFW).

All heavy maintenance and major Isochronal inspections were done at Misawa AB, Japan. The aircraft assigned to the 475th during the Pueblo Incident simply "sat" on alert at Taegu and Kunsan in case of the outbreak of hostilities. At the same time, aircraft assigned to Det 1, 475th TFW continued to provide nuclear alert coverage at Kunsan separate from the operational alert taskings. The "tree area" was built in about Dec 1968 and the Det 1 moved its operations from the C-pad to the Tree Area.

Richard Chavez from San Francisco, CA wrote in Sep 2007, "I was assigned to det 1 475TFW in January 18, 1968....commander Was Col Vaughn , I was part of the permanent party, just before the Pueblo takeover..at that time we were about 500 on base...During this time, we spent a lot of time off base....at the clubs, going downtown on payday....We were always told stay away from Happy Mountain.. poor area of town... (SITE NOTE: This was the red-light district near the railroad station and an off-limits area after dark. It had been the center of the brothels and standbars from the Korean War until present.)

"Base was always open in some area of the base....We used to have dancing dollies at the club. Dance with them, they always sat against the walls of the club...never had any problems...

"Life was good, until, the Pueblo (Incident)...then everything changed... Base was closed, no liberty, in the middle of winter our base was built up to several thousand, it seemed to be overnight...Wow, we moved a lot making room. He went on, "We were Regular Air Force, the Reserves came in and they weren't really ready, didn't have equipment, clothing, etc...."

He continued, "On the Tree area., it always had tight security, required ID Badges and was highly restricted....." Richard drove the alert truck, Call sign: Fastboy 12. (SITE NOTE: During this period, the "boy" part of "Fastboy" came from the tradition of naming nuclear weapons ending in "boy." The first nuke in the 1940s was "Fatboy" -- and in the 1960s various nuclear weapons were codenamed "Tallboy", "Shortboy", etc.).


Richard Chavez with Alert Truck (Fastboy 12)

He remembered one of the Officer Day rooms. "I do remember a building, Officer day room...in the day room, there was a wall, with signature and units, that every pilot that was ever was station/tdy...wrote his name and unit...the wall was completely full, I don't know how long this building was in existence....but it was awesome....to see all those name/unit on there... didn't allow cameras, I just wish I could have broken this rule...and taken a picture!

Ken Adams, part of the replacement group from Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam (558th TFS, 12th TFW) in July 1968 to the 475th Wing at Misawa, Japan. Ken wrote, "The rules at the time were that Japan and Korea were a 24 month unaccompanied tour and Vietnam was a 12 month tour. I had spent close to 7 month in Vietnam so I had close to 10 month left in Japan/Korea before going stateside."

"After getting settled in and squared away in Misawa I went back to Taegu in October/November for another TDY of 30 days. I came back to Misawa in November and right after Christmas I returned to Kunsan (K8) for duty with Detachment1 of the 475th at the Nuc Pad. I can state that at the time it was very new, Christmas Tree with hangers for 8-9 planes and I was living down the road in a brand new 2 story barracks. I was never able to get off the base or go very far away from the alert hanger, we had one Broken Arrow(surprised readiness inspection) and what was to be a 2 week tour ended up to be 6 weeks (claim no one to replace me but they all new I was too close to returning stateside to do any more TDY's so they kept me there."

Ken continued, "What was most interesting about this timeframe was that I was on alert duty during the time frame that President Lyndon Johnson was handing over the reins to Richard Nixon and tensions were heavy. I remember having to respond to 8-10 alerts a day from January 19-21, 1969. One reason I suspect the North Koreans returned the Pueblo Crew in December was that they didn't know what Richard Nixon would do. Nothing like watching pilots scramble into planes, start engines and a Nuc Tech under the plane ready to "pull the safety" ... "I don't remember any other US Air Force planes on the base at the time. I was in a restricted area and it was cold and a lot of snow."

Bruce Charles wrote, "From (about) January, 1968 to May, 1970, when I left, The 475th Wing from Misawa AFB, Japan pulled nuke alert at Kunsan. South end of runway ... Alert "Christmas Tree... big fences, no beer, lots of unhappy fellows with guns, etc." I think this started (or restarted) as a result of the USS Pueblo ... or that is what we were told was the reason we were diverted from other sunny SEA duty."

He continued, "F4Cs to about the second quarter of 1970 when F4Ds were introduced to Misawa. ... About 8 - 10 birds on alert, each with a single weapon. (I understand that they went to two weapons sometime after I left.)" From these statements you learn that the eight jets were sitting in the eight alert bunkers located in what is now known as the "Tree area". These bunkers were turned over to the ROKAF after the SIOP nuclear commitment moved to the 18th TFW in Kadena. Unlike SAC alerts that had a comfortable alert facility to relax in, at Kunsan there were no-frills for the pilots on alert.

There is nothing more frustrating for a fighter jock than to have a shooting war going on -- and not be allowed to go and kill something. South East Asia (SEA) was where the action was...and Kunsan was nothing. Bruce added, "Temporary" is a little misleading, as this was a standard part of our duty. I understand that we could not go PCS because of political restraints. Fighter pilots generally hated the duty ... up to two weeks living with your aircraft without beer, women or flying. (That type of duty was for the SAC boys!)" Leave it to the TAC types to get a dig in at the SAC wiennies.

F-4C Phantom IIs

Go to F-4 Phantom Specifications for more details.

"Fighting Cocks"
67th TFS
(Go to 67th TFS and 67th TFS/347th TFW for current information on the 67th TFS of Moody AFB, Georgia.)

67th TFS (Taegu - Dec 68-Apr 70 / Kunsan - Apr 70-Feb 71): Prior to the 39th AD HQ it was assigned to the 18th Fighter Bomber Wing (later 18th TFW) of Kadena AB, Okinawa flying F-105s (1962-1967). According to the AFHRA: 67th FS, the 67th TFS was attached to the 39th Air Division of Misawa AB on 15 Dec 1967. The unit converted to F-4Cs in 1968.

In Jan 68, the Pueblo Incident occurred and the 475th TFW was hastily assembled and sent to Kunsan. After the 4th TFW arrived, the 475th left for Taegu where they set up operations from October 1968-April 1970. The 67th TFW was part of the Advance contingent (ADVON) to open up Taegu in Oct-Dec 68 and then remained there on a rotation basis until Apr 70. (NOTE: The 391st TFS preceded it to Taegu in setting up operations in July 68.)

According to the AFHRA: 67th FS, the 67th TFS was assigned to the "475th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Jan 1968 (attached to Fifth Air Force ADVON, 7 Oct–8 Dec 1968, 3 Mar–3 Apr 1969, 2 Jun–2 Jul 1969, 30 Aug–1 Oct 1969, 1–18 Jan 1970, 16 Feb–2 Mar 1970, and 29 Mar–8 Apr 1970." According to Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947-1977, 1984, (p264) the 67th TFS was assigned to the 475th TFW from 15 Jan 1968 to 15 Mar 1971.

After the congestion cleared at Kunsan in 1970 with the F-100 units going home -- and the inactivation of the 54th TFW in Oct 70 -- the unit was deployed to Kunsan on a rotation basis between Apr 70-Feb 71. It became part of the rotation to support Detachment 1, HQ 475th Tactical Fighter Wing from Apr 70-Feb 71. According to the AFHRA: 67th FS it was assigned to "Detachment 1, HQ 475th Tactical Fighter Wing, 8–12 Apr 1970, 10–24 May 1970, 21 Jun–4 Jul 1970, 18 Jul–25 Aug 1970, 15–29 Nov 1970, 10–22 Jan 1971, and 5–15 Feb 1971)". The unit remained stationed at Misawa AB, Japan and according to the AFHRA rotated to "Kunsan AB, South Korea, 8–12 Apr 1970, 10–24 May 1970, 21 Jun–4 Jul 1970, 18 Jul–25 Aug 1970, 15–29 Nov 1970, 10–22 Jan 1971, and 5–15 Feb 1971".

The unit converted to the F-4 starting in 1968. The 1968 time-frame would match the transfer dates of F-4s to the 39th Air Division. The 4453rd CCTW F-4C & F-4D Phantom II's page showed a number of F-4s transfered to the 39th Air Division Headquarters at Misawa between Jan -Oct 67. These aircraft would later be transferred to the 475th TFW in December 67 after which the 475th picked up the nuclear alert commitment at Kunsan. The 475th TFW was not reactivated until December 1967 (after the Pueblo Crisis) and from January 1968 onward, it took over the nuclear commitment.

In Mar 1971, it departed for the 18th TFW at Kadena AB, Okinawa when the 3rd TFW took over. It would redeploy back to Kunsan to support the SIOP mission taskings on 2 Jun–28 Jul 1972 and 8 Sep–16 Oct 1972 when the 3rd TFW, 35th TFS was deployed to Danang, Vietnam and Korat RTAFB, Thailand.

356th TFS

356th TFS (Jan 68-Mar 71): Though we cannot be certain at this time, we believe the 356th TFS was also part of the 39th Air Division before it joined the 475th TFW. The 356th TFS is no longer active so it is hard to trace its historical roots. We do know that the 356th TFS was stripped away from the 354th TFW to form the 475th TFW. This in turn made the 354th TFW into a "paper" wing. (NOTE: The 354th TFW served as the "cover wing" that accepted the F-100 ANG units to Kunsan AB, South Korea between 2 Jul 1968 – 14 Jun 1970.)

We are ASSUMING that the squadron, like the 67th TFS, was assigned first to the 39th Air Division in 1967 and then attached to the 475th TFW in Jan 1968 when the wing was activated.

According to Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947-1977 , 1984, (p264) the 356th TFS was assigned from 15 Jan 1968 to 15 Mar 1971. The unit converted to F-4Cs in 1968. At this time we are uncertain where the 356th TFS departed for after the 3rd TFW took over the operation of Kunsan AB -- and absorbed all the assets of Misawa AB to support Kunsan in Mar 1971. However, we suspect because of the timing that the unit was deactivated as its original parent unit (354th TFW) had passed its assets on to the 54th TFW and returned stateside.

According to F-100 Super Sabre, between Sep. 1957 - Nov. 1965, it was assigned to the 354th TFW flying F100D/Fs. Between Nov 1965-Jan 1968, we cannot find where the squadron was. The next entry we have for the unit is when it was attached to the 475th TFW in Jan 1968 flying F-100D/Fs. The F-100s were phased out in 1968 and the unit converted to F-4Cs.

"Bold Tigers"
391st FS

391st TFS (Taegu - Jul 68-Mar 70 / Kunsan - Apr 70-Feb 71): Prior to the 39th AD HQ it was assigned to the 12th TFW of Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam flying F-4s (1965-1971). According to the Air Force Historical Research Agency: 67th Fighter Squadron, the 391stth TFS was attached to the 475th Tactical Fighter Wing from 22 Jul 1968 to 28 Feb 1971.

The unit appears to have been a deployed to Taegu supporting the Pueblo Incident attached to the hastily formed 475th TFW. It was the original unit sent to Taegu to open up operations, and was joined by the 67th TFS in Oct 68. It remained there on a rotation basis until Mar 70.

According to the AFHRA, "deployed at Taegu AB, South Korea, 22 Jul–7 Oct 1968, 7 Feb–5 Mar 1969, 1 May–2 Jun 1969, 1–30 Aug 1969, 1–15 Feb 1970, and 15–29 Mar 1970". Ken Adams wrote, "One of the other facts that was not mentioned was that at Taegu the F4's were always flying, many were 3+ hour MIGCap missions along the DMZ, as far as I know all the planes were from the 391st at Misawa while I was there."

After the congestion cleared at Kunsan in 1970 with the F-100 units departing -- and the inactivation of the 54th TFW in Oct 70 -- the unit was deployed to Kunsan on a rotation basis between Mar 70 - Feb 71. It became part of the rotation to support Detachment 1, HQ 475th Tactical Fighter Wing from Apr 70-Feb 71. According to the Air Force Historical Research Agency: 67th Fighter Squadron it was assigned to "475th Tactical Fighter Wing, 22 Jul 1968–28 Feb 1971".

The unit remained stationed at Misawa AB, Japan and according to the AFHRA rotated to "Kunsan AB, South Korea, 26 Apr–10 May 1970, 7–21 Jun 1970, 30 Aug–12 Sep 1970, 4–18 Oct 1970, 1–15 Nov 1970, 13–19 Dec 1970, and 1–15 Feb 1971".

In Jul 1971, the unit departed for 347th TFW at Mountain Home, ID when the 3rd TFW took over all Misawa assets for Kunsan.

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"Fighting Cocks" 67th TFS

"Green Devils" 356th TFS

"Bold Tigers" 391st FS

These units were assigned to the 475th from January 1968 through about February 1971 -- just prior to the arrival of the 3rd TFW they were relieved by the 347th TFW's 35th, 36th and 80th TFS. After they were relieved of their alert commitment, the squadrons were transferred or inactivated as the 3rd TFW at Kunsan AB absorbed all assets of Misawa AB and started their transition to the F-4D. During the transition, the Det 1, 374th TFW from Osan AB brought their whole operation to Kunsan and flew the nuclear commitment with F-4Cs. When the 3rd TFW completed their transition, the Det 1, 374th shutdown and moved their equipment to Taegu to await transfer to Kadena units -- and disbanded.

The 475th TFW was redesignated as the 475th Air Base Wing and activated on 1 Nov 1971 at Yokota AB, Japan.

(NOTE: According to Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947-1977, 1984, (p264) the 475th TFW had other units attached for short periods in addition to the three prime squadrons involved in the Kunsan and Taegu operations. These units were stationed at Yokota. Between Jan 1968 and Mar 1971, the following units were assigned: 16th Tactical Reconnaissance 16 Mar 1970-15 Feb 1971, attached 16-22 Feb 1971. 45th Tactical Reconnaissance: 15 Jan 1968-15 Mar 1971 (not operational: all assets in Southeast Asia). 67th TFS: 15 Jan 1968-15 Mar 1971. 356th TFS: 15 Jan 1968-15 Mar 1971. 391st TFS: 22 Jul 1968-28 Feb 1971. 421st: Attached 23 Apr-25 Jun 1969. 612th TFS: 15 Jan 1968-15 Mar 1971 (not operational: all assets in Southeast Asia).)

This practice of stripping away squadrons and aircraft from their home units and attaching them indefinitely to another wing was a common practice in the mid-1960s through early-70s as squadrons (and replacement aircraft) were deployed to support Vietnam. In fact, two of the 475th's units (45th TRS and 612 TFS) were non-operational because all their assets were deployed to Southeast Asia. The stripping away of the 356th TFS to form the 475th TFW turned the 354th TFW into a "paper" wing as mentioned previously. When the 67th TFS was stripped away from the 18th TFW, it left the wing with only one operational F-105D squadron (12th TFS). The second squadron (44th TFS) had become a "paper" squadron after its remaining F-105D aircraft were deployed to Thailand. The 391st TFS had just returned to the 366th TFW after a stint in Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam attached to the 12th TFW.

Initially, these units were attached to the 475th TFW and deployed at Osan AB, South Korea between 28 Jan - 13 Jun 1968. Starting in July 1968, these units "sat" on alert at Taegu and Kunsan. The units rotated between the locations. For example, the 391st was primarily at Taegu between Jul 68 - Mar 70 and primarily at Kunsan between Apr 70 - Feb 71.

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Background: Nuclear Alert Mission Remember that the nuclear mission at Kunsan started in 1958. It was done when Eisenhower authorized the forward positioning of nuclear weapons in Korea. This was done after China launched nuclear weapon tests -- with the help of the Soviet Union. The Chinese then started its moves to take over the Formosan outer islands of Quemoy. The aircraft with nuclear weapons were TDY from mainly Okinawa as mainland Japan refused to allow nuclear weapons on its soil. (NOTE: Okinawa was still a protectorate of the US at the time.)

The nuclear mission continued into the 1960s. The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1963 was still fresh in everyone's mind. Communist expansionism was occurring around the globe. And to complicate matters, Mao Tse Tung had decided to follow his own path for Communism. The Chinese exploded their first A-bomb in 1964 and their H-bomb in 1967. The threat of nuclear war was a real possibility. It is assumed that these aircraft were positioned not in defense of Korea, but as part of the air defense plan for Japan.

Though nuclear weapons were planned for use within the first hour of battle (H+1) to deny the North Koreans access to South Korean corridors, the weapons of choice were primarily the heavy artillery with tactical nuclear warheads. From this inference, it is assumed that the aircraft's nuclear strike targets were in Russia or China (as a deterent) -- not North Korea which possessed only conventional armament. Bits and pieces of information now show that the main targets for the aircraft at Kunsan were the Chinese nuclear testing areas (and later missile silo areas when China developed ICBMs) and the Russian Vladivostok sub pens.

According to a Nautilus Organization: July 19, 1999 release, after the reversion of Okinawa to Japan, "the 3rd, 8th, and 18th TFW continued to play a major SIOP non-alert role." This means that the 8th TFW retained a SIOP non-alert role for nuclear response. It is was an "open secret" that Kunsan Air Base stored nuclear weapons (the "Silver Bullet"). However, Seoul and Washington persistently maintained an NCND (No Confirmation, No Denial) policy as far as the sensitive issue was concerned. These weapons were removed from Korea around 1992 and reportedly were prepositioned in Guam.

However, in an April 19, 2000 Korea Times (Hankook Ilbo) interview, former Korean President Roh Tae-Woo said that Kunsan was the only place in Korea where nuclear weapons were stored before the U.S. removed all its nuclear weapons from South Korea in the 1990s in keeping with Seoul's de-nuclearization policy. This contradicts information from the Nautilus Organization, a nuclear weapons watchgroup, that nuclear weapons were at Osan AB, Kwangju AB and various Army bases. But by 1995, the NRDC Nuclear Notebook showed that the 151 weapons in Korea in 1985 was "O" and the 458 weapons in Guam in 1985 was also "0".

Where did they go? Not important...but most likely disassembled for "inactive stockpile" -- a category size not limited under the SALTII treaty. The new reality was that nuclear weapons (besides tactical artillery) do not play a prominent role in modern U.S. warfare strategy -- but is reserved for use as a "deterent."

The subs of the 7th Fleet still shows 50 weapons in Hawaii on their subs. Eighteen Ohio-class submarines constitute the current ballistic missile fleet. All Trident I submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) are expected to be replaced with longer-range and more accurate Trident II D5s by 2006.

Louisiana now ranks second in the number of warheads deployed (1,010), and Barksdale Air Force Base is the single largest nuclear facility in the United States, storing bombs and cruise missiles to arm 56 B-52H bombers. Long-range tactical bombers could provide the coverage required versus permanently assigned overseas nuclear ordnance. The B-52H is scheduled to remain in operation until 2044. In addition to front-line air force personnel, in late 1997 the Pentagon approved certification of full-time personnel from the air force reserve for support of nuclear war plans. Air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) are equipped with the W80-1 warhead. Although only about 400 ALCMs are deployed, hundreds more are held in reserve. According to the air force, there are a total of 1,142 ALCMs in the inventory, a reduction of 251 since March 1997. This reduction is a result of the conversion of some ALCMs to conventional roles. (Two hundred ALCMs are also kept in long-term storage.) The advanced cruise missile (ACM) is also equipped with the W80-1 warhead. Originally, the Pentagon planned to produce 1,461 ACMs, but in January 1992 it announced that production would stop at 640 missiles. Programs are under way to extend the service lives of both the ACM and the ALCM until 2030.

As of 2000, B-52Hs can carry up to 20 ALCMs/ACMs (air-launched cruise missiles/advanced cruise missiles). Because the bomber force is shrinking, only about 400 ALCMs and 400 ACMs are deployed, with several hundred others in reserve. In 1999, the air force ordered the conversion of another 322 ALCMs to conventional cruise missiles. The last 50 will be outfitted with a deep penetration warhead to strike hardened targets. The missiles will be delivered from late 1999 through early 2001.

The B-2 bomber, the first of which was delivered to the 509th Bombardment Wing at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, on December 17, 1993, is scheduled to be replaced around 2040. A follow-on bomber program was begun in 1998. Currently there are 16 B-2 bombers and do not carry ACM or ALCM. The B-2 is configured to carry various combinations of nuclear and conventional munitions. The first 16 planes are "Block 10" versions, able to carry the B83 nuclear bomb (and the Mk 84 conventional bomb). These were followed by "Block 20" versions, able to carry the B61 bomb. The last two planes, "Block 30" versions, are able to carry both types of nuclear bombs and an assortment of conventional bombs, munitions, and missiles. Block 10 and 20 planes are being upgraded to Block 30 standards at the factory in Palmdale, California. Originally scheduled to be completed in 2000, the upgrade schedule will stretch to 2002 as a result of additional work.

As of 2000, the 500 Minuteman IIIs have been consolidated from four bases to three. Currently the 200 Minuteman missiles at Malmstrom are deployed in four missile squadrons of 50 missiles each as part of the 341st Space Wing. The 150 Minuteman missiles at Minot AFB, North Dakota, are in three missile squadrons belonging to the 91st Space Wing. The 90th Space Wing at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, is home to 150 Minuteman missiles divided in three squadrons and one missile squadron of 50 MX ICBMs.

In addition to the active stockpile, an "inactive stockpile" (or "hedge") was created in early 1990 to provide extra warheads for reconstitution of part of the force in case arms control expectations failed to materialize. Also stored in the inactive stockpile are warheads used for quality assurance and reliability testing. As arms control agreements have reduced the active stockpile, the inactive stockpile--which is not covered in the agreements--has grown significantly, with the total stockpile in the 10,000 range. Most weapons removed from active status under START I will be placed in the inactive stockpile to meet the "lead and hedge" requirements contained in the NPR. As a result, although only about 5 percent of the total stockpile was in the inactive category before START I, under START II the inactive stockpile could increase to 50 percent or more.

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1969

Neil Arms