This week in Beale history: Beale becomes operational

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Allen Pollard
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  On Feb. 8, 1959, Strategic Air Command established Beale as an operational Air Force Base and activated the 4126th Strategic Wing. Prior to its activation Beale Bombing and Gunnery Range was used to conduct bombardier, aviation engineer and navigator training.

In May 1959, then Col. Paul Carlton assumed command of the 4126th SW. The 4126th SW was activated to disburse the B-52 Stratofortress throughout many bases, making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to destroy the fleet with a surprise attack.

The B-52 is a long-range bomber that was built to carry nuclear weapons for Cold War-era deterrence missions.

The B-52 entered military service in 1954, and is still active today making it the longest serving bomber in U.S. military history.

With the arrival of the B-52s, the 31st Bombardment Squadron became part of the wing. It was followed by the 14th Air Division, which moved from Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

The 14th AD maintained radar surveillance to detect sea-launched ballistic missiles from the Pacific Ocean. The division supervised all of SAC's initial combat crew training for the KC-135 Stratotanker, B-52G and B-52H, SR-71 Blackbird and the U-2 Dragonlady.