Strategic Air Command (SAC) was once the largest organization of the United States Air Force. SAC controlled hundreds of nuclear weapons. In June 1992, an Air Force reorganization eliminated the command and transferred control of its weapons and aircraft elsewhere in the Air Force. See Air Force, United States (Combat commands) .
SAC’s main purpose was to deter nuclear war. It could launch its forces within minutes of a warning and strike anywhere in the world. It had more than 120,000 military and civilian personnel, about 300 bombers, and approximately 1,000 nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM’s). The bombers could deliver either nuclear or conventional weapons.
The Army Air Forces set up SAC in 1946, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. In 1948, the headquarters were moved to Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska. Also in 1948, SAC introduced in-flight refueling, giving its bombers intercontinental range. SAC added ICBM’s to its forces in 1958.
