Alternate Reconstitution Base

An Alternate Reconstitutional Base (ARB) is a concept used during the Cold War by the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command (SAC) for the rearming of nuclear bombers. The idea was, after a nuclear exchange, primary SAC airfields would be destroyed and returning bombers would have no location to rearm their stores and reattack additional targets. ARB allowed trained teams to depart their home installation and create landing locations for returning bombers.[1][2][3][4][5]

Civilian airfields

A few civilian airfields, such as Clinton-Sherman Airport, were originally SAC bases. The long-length runways were maintained, as well as the Christmas tree alert structure for possible reuse by SAC forces in the event of nuclear war.

Training

Various SAC communications squadrons would conduct ARB training by installing a mobile high frequency radio set at a pre-planned site and establish a communications net.

See also

References
  1. Air Force Historical Research Agency IRIS Document 01047464
  2. Air Force Historical Research Agency IRIS Document 01041159
  3. Air Force Historical Research Agency IRIS Document 01033516
  4. Air Force Historical Research Agency IRIS Document 01031378
  5. Air Force Historical Research Agency IRIS Document 00456970


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