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Post-Attack Command and Control System
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>The <a href="/facts/Strategic_Air_Command/Qp0Y5xpB">Strategic Air Command</a> headquarters staff, under the direction of General <a href="/facts/Thomas_S._Power/sPoKPqhy">Thomas S. Power</a> assessed the feasibility of placing a continuous command and control element in an airborne mode. The purpose of such a system would be to use the aircraft as a platform for specially installed communications equipment to ensure delivery of command directives to <a href="/facts/Strategic_Air_Command/Qp0Y5xpB">SAC</a> strike forces in the event ground-based headquarters were destroyed. </p><p>The original plan envisioned an aircraft, crew, and command and control team on 15-minute ground alert. This was later changed to a continuous airborne alert posture. The functions of this PACCS Airborne Command Post kept expanding until it became a true alternate command and control system, complete with force status monitoring, initiation or relay of launch/execution directives, a battle staff, communications to support an alternate CINCSAC, and limited capabilities to reconstitute and replan residual resources. </p><p>PACCS, in later variants, included an <a href="/facts/Airborne_Launch_Control_System/NN8Vwdle">Airborne Launch Control System</a> (ALCS) capability, which provided an alternate means for execution message delivery to <a href="/facts/Missile_combat_crew/j7aFkjmn">missile combat crews</a> and a back-up <a href="/facts/Launch_control_center_(ICBM)/VyU3hQ70">launch control center</a>, forcing the <a href="/facts/Soviet_Union/m7wWsPto">Soviet Union</a> to target each missile silo, rather than just the <a href="/facts/Missile_launch_control_center/VyU3hQ70">launch control centers</a>, to incapacitate the <a href="/facts/LGM-30_Minuteman/sG0t20v1">Minuteman</a> force.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="components">Components</h2> <h3>Airborne</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/E-4B/VGTyJJnV">E-4B</a> National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP) <ul><li><a href="/facts/1st_Airborne_Command_and_Control_Squadron/0r1UVUqs">1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron</a> - <a href="/facts/Offutt_Air_Force_Base/gDJx1Mly">Offutt Air Force Base</a>, Nebraska</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/facts/Boeing_EC-135/u68qsnXu">EC-135</a> Airborne Command Post (ABNCP) "Looking Glass" <ul><li><a href="/facts/2d_Airborne_Command_and_Control_Squadron/Vq2G6NAH">2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron</a> - Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska</li> <li><a href="/facts/4th_Airborne_Command_and_Control_Squadron/qJK8aLwt">4th Airborne Command and Control Squadron</a> - <a href="/facts/Ellsworth_Air_Force_Base/zyF9J5mf">Ellsworth Air Force Base</a>, South Dakota</li> <li><a href="/facts/22d_Air_Refueling_Squadron/6nWUQ2Gt">22d Air Refueling Squadron</a> - <a href="/facts/March_Air_Force_Base/SqpeNJYB">March Air Force Base</a>, California; West Auxiliary Command Post (West AUXCP) <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> <ul><li>Ground Entry Point - Lamar, Colorado<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/facts/99th_Air_Refueling_Squadron/ES6VQEjX">99th Air Refueling Squadron</a> - <a href="/facts/Westover_Air_Force_Base/Tw15vG53">Westover Air Force Base</a>, Massachusetts; East Auxiliary Command Post (East AUXCP) <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> <ul><li>Ground Entry Point - Plano, Illinois<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/facts/913th_Air_Refueling_Squadron/Yv9qcDnH">913th Air Refueling Squadron</a> - <a href="/facts/Barksdale_Air_Force_Base/ohcpAha4">Barksdale Air Force Base</a>, Louisiana; Central Auxiliary Command Post (Central AUX) <ul><li>Ground Entry Point - Lyons, Nebraska<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a></li></ul></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/facts/B-47_Stratojet/0yIq9SWy">EB-47L</a> <ul><li>4362d Post Attack Command and Control Squadron - <a href="/facts/Lincoln_Air_Force_Base/6NTs15v7">Lincoln Air Force Base</a>, Nebraska<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a></li> <li>4363d Post Attack Command and Control Squadron - <a href="/facts/Lockbourne_Air_Force_Base/Nxh8wtke">Lockbourne Air Force Base</a>, Ohio<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></li> <li>4364th Post Attack Command and Control Squadron - <a href="/facts/Mountain_Home_Air_Force_Base/W6ppfRzS">Mountain Home Air Force Base</a>, Idaho<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a></li> <li>4365th Post Attack Command and Control Squadron - <a href="/facts/Plattsburgh_Air_Force_Base/eaz8qKIB">Plattsburgh Air Force Base</a>, New York<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></li></ul></li></ul> <h3>Ground</h3> <ul><li>Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana (<a href="/facts/Second_Air_Force/N5xstsc7">Second Air Force</a> (later Eighth Air Force) Command Post)</li> <li>Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts (<a href="/facts/Eighth_Air_Force/6zQIXMFk">Eighth Air Force</a> Combat Operations Center, aka <a href="/facts/Post_Attack_Command_and_Control_System_Facility%2c_Hadley/7Ye41jKz">"The Notch"</a>)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a></li> <li>March Air Force Base, California (<a href="/facts/Fifteenth_Air_Force/RYIFTH3C">Fifteenth Air Force</a> Command Post)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Grissom_Air_Force_Base/huql8eNv">Grissom Air Force Base</a>, Indiana</li> <li>Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska (<a href="/facts/Strategic_Air_Command/Qp0Y5xpB">Strategic Air Command</a> Headquarters) <ul><li><a href="/facts/Headquarters_Emergency_Relocation_Team/8hec8fsH">Headquarters Emergency Relocation Team</a> (HERT) - <a href="/facts/Cornhusker_Army_Ammunition_Plant/hwBm4Uno">Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant</a>, <a href="/facts/Grand_Island%2c_Nebraska/l0fzSPtl">Grand Island, Nebraska</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a></li></ul></li></ul> <h3>Communications</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Survivable_Low_Frequency_Communications_System/ek4tE0NA">Survivable Low Frequency Communications System</a> - VLF/LF</li> <li>Alpha and Bravo Nets - High Frequency<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Green_Pine_(communications)/SbjQw5JJ">Green Pine</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Emergency_Rocket_Communications_System/yU0jkXmo">Emergency Rocket Communications System</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="gallery">Gallery</h2> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Airborne_Launch_Control_Center/LKbYhx0w">Airborne Launch Control Center</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Survivable_Low_Frequency_Communications_System/ek4tE0NA">Survivable Low Frequency Communications System</a> (SLFCS)</li> <li><a href="/facts/AN%2fURC-117_Ground_Wave_Emergency_Network/a0Vcl0Eq">AN/URC-117 Ground Wave Emergency Network</a> (GWEN)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Minimum_Essential_Emergency_Communications_Network/PQzznEsH">Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network</a> (MEECN)</li> <li><a href="/facts/AN%2fDRC-8_Emergency_Rocket_Communications_System/yU0jkXmo">AN/DRC-8 Emergency Rocket Communications System</a> (ERCS)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Alternate_Reconstitution_Base/2gnGEwt2">Alternate Reconstitution Base</a> (ARB)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Cold_War/spJdJQ3q">Cold War</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Game_theory/zkEIj1ya">Game theory</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Continuity_of_government/0we4bj8a">Continuity of government</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/disp_old_pdf.cfm?ARC_ID=286">WWABNCP/PACCS patches</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Ogletree, Greg (n.d.). "A History of the Post Attack Command and Control System (PACCS)". Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2014. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120910090836/http://www.sac-acca.org/paccs.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120910090836/http://www.sac-acca.org/paccs.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Strategic Air Command: "Weapon Systems Acquisition 1964-1979", 28 Apr 1980 <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron history <a href="http://2accs.com/history.html" target="_blank">http://2accs.com/history.html</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>IRIS #010808041 - Post Attack Command and Control System overview <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/115566349/Post-Attack-Command-and-Control-System-overview" target="_blank">https://www.scribd.com/doc/115566349/Post-Attack-Command-and-Control-System-overview</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Strategic Air Command Regulation 100-24 Vol III: SAC Communications System Operations/EWO Support Requirements, 6 Jul 1979 <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>IRIS #010808041 - Post Attack Command and Control System overview <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/115566349/Post-Attack-Command-and-Control-System-overview" target="_blank">https://www.scribd.com/doc/115566349/Post-Attack-Command-and-Control-System-overview</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>IRIS #010808041 - Post Attack Command and Control System overview <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/115566349/Post-Attack-Command-and-Control-System-overview" target="_blank">https://www.scribd.com/doc/115566349/Post-Attack-Command-and-Control-System-overview</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Lloyd, Alwyn T. (January 15, 2000). A Cold War Legacy: A Tribute to Strategic Air Command 1946-1992. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing. ISBN 1-57510-052-5. OCLC 44672618. <a href="1-57510-052-5" target="_blank">1-57510-052-5</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Lloyd, Alwyn T. (January 15, 2000). A Cold War Legacy: A Tribute to Strategic Air Command 1946-1992. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing. ISBN 1-57510-052-5. OCLC 44672618. <a href="1-57510-052-5" target="_blank">1-57510-052-5</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Lloyd, Alwyn T. (January 15, 2000). A Cold War Legacy: A Tribute to Strategic Air Command 1946-1992. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing. ISBN 1-57510-052-5. OCLC 44672618. <a href="1-57510-052-5" target="_blank">1-57510-052-5</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Lloyd, Alwyn T. (January 15, 2000). A Cold War Legacy: A Tribute to Strategic Air Command 1946-1992. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing. ISBN 1-57510-052-5. OCLC 44672618. <a href="1-57510-052-5" target="_blank">1-57510-052-5</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"Westover Yesterday: "The Notch and Grayson: Eighth Air Force's alternative command posts", no date". Archived from the original on 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2010-03-06. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171115201511/http://www.westoveryesterday.com/TheNotch.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20171115201511/http://www.westoveryesterday.com/TheNotch.html</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Yahoo! Groups: Cold War Comms Msg 17285, dated Jun 24, 2010 <a href="https://archive.today/20130211082114/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/coldwarcomms/message/17285?source=1&var=1" target="_blank">https://archive.today/20130211082114/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/coldwarcomms/message/17285?source=1&var=1</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>IRIS #010808041 - Post Attack Command and Control System overview <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/115566349/Post-Attack-Command-and-Control-System-overview" target="_blank">https://www.scribd.com/doc/115566349/Post-Attack-Command-and-Control-System-overview</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>IRIS #010808041 - Post Attack Command and Control System overview <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/115566349/Post-Attack-Command-and-Control-System-overview" target="_blank">https://www.scribd.com/doc/115566349/Post-Attack-Command-and-Control-System-overview</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>IRIS #010808041 - Post Attack Command and Control System overview <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/115566349/Post-Attack-Command-and-Control-System-overview" target="_blank">https://www.scribd.com/doc/115566349/Post-Attack-Command-and-Control-System-overview</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>