SAC Dallas: Fort Worth

• Strategic Air Command (SAC) Presence: The Dallas/Fort Worth area was home to Carswell Air Force Base, a key SAC base during the Cold War, playing a critical role in America's nuclear deterrence strategy. • B-52 and B-36 Operations: Carswell AFB hosted both the B-36 Peacemaker and later the B-52 Stratofortress, two of the most iconic bombers in U.S. Air Force history. • Home of the Peacemaker: The B-36, known as the "Peacemaker," was manufactured just a few miles away at the Consolidated Vultee (Convair) plant in Fort Worth, making the base a hub for strategic bomber activity. • Presidential Visit: President John F. Kennedy landed at Carswell AFB on November 21, 1963, just one day before his assassination in Dallas. • Secret Alert Missions: During the height of the Cold War, SAC aircraft and crews at Carswell were on constant alert, ready to launch within minutes if ordered. • Refueling Missions: In addition to bombers, the base was home to KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft, supporting global SAC operations. • Operation Chrome Dome: Bombers from Carswell participated in Operation Chrome Dome, where nuclear-armed aircraft were kept airborne 24/7 as a deterrent to the Soviet Union. • Base Closure and Transition: After the Cold War, Carswell AFB was closed in 1994 as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process but later reopened as Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. • Famous Personnel: Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Bruce G. Settle and other distinguished airmen served at Carswell during its SAC years. • Legacy and Museums: The B-36 Peacemaker Museum and Fort Worth Aviation Museum preserve the legacy of SAC and the critical role played by Dallas/Fort Worth in America's strategic defense.