“This plane was built for the Cold War. It serves as the link between the national decision makers and the nuclear triad.”-Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey Penington, Task Force 124, July 2007
U.S. Air Force photo by Greg L. Davis, 23AUG2019.
U.S. Navy E-6B from Tinker Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, flies over Colorado, 23AUG2019.
U.S. Air Force photo by Greg L. Davis, 23AUG2019.
The E-6B has a greatly strengthened airframe/wings/landing gear compared to its E-6A incarnation, due to greater weight caused by lots of electronic gear and extra fuel capacity. By 2003, the entire E-6A fleet was converted to B standard.
U.S. Air Force photo by Greg L. Davis, 23AUG2019.
E-6B Mercury refuels from a KC-135. The KC-135 and E-6B are not the same type of aircraft. The E-6B is based on the Boeing 707, the KC-135 is not. While the KC-135 is based on the same prototype-predecessor it was developed independently from the 707, and airframe parts are not interchangeable.
USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob Skovo.
E-6B Mercury, assigned to Strategic Communications Wing 1 at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, taxis on the flightline of Offutt AFB, Nebraska, 15JUL2019.
USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob Skovo.
Notice what looks like a drogue type refueling system at the tail-end of the plane, it is reportedly a type of VLF antenna that’s five miles (8km) long when fully reeled out!
U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger, 03OCT2017.
Panel removal from E-6B Mercury engine nacelle, 03OCT2017, Offutt AFB. The U.S. Navy (USN) has its own maintenance unit on Offutt AFB, for the purpose of maintaining aircraft used in Airborne Command Post (AbnCP, aka Looking Glass), and Take Charge and Move Out (TaCaMO) missions.
U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger, 02OCT2017.
A worn out E-6B Mercury training aircraft on Offutt AFB, under USN guard, while waiting for turn-around inspection, 02OCT2017.
USAF photo by Josh Plueger.
USN E-6B Mercury takes flight from the USAF base of Offutt, Nebraska, 28AUG2015.
USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob Skovo.
In 2007, E-6Bs with Task Force 124 were also serving as airborne radio relay stations over Iraq: “Our role here is basically as a convoy relay. When the convoys are moving and they can’t get a hold of someone to report something or even perform a radio check, they can contact us. Because we’re so high in the air we have a greater line of sight and therefore can communicate with all convoys and reporting authorities.”-Lieutenant Junior Grade Amy Simek, TF-124 battle staff mission commander
USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob Skovo.
USN photo, November 1984.
Take Charge and Move Out (TaCaMO) operations began in early 1960s, using EC-130s, for the purpose of directing nuclear ballistic missile launches from submarines.
E-6A, Boeing photo, June 1987.
E-6As took over from EC-130s starting at the end of 1989. The USN E-6B is capable of launching U.S. land based intercontinental ballistic missiles, and was actually developed to replace the USAF’s EC-135 Airborne Command Post (AbnCP, aka Looking Glass) aircraft.
E-6Bs launched into their new job, replacing EC-135s, in Autumn 1998.
Official video explainer, E-6B crew controls missile launch from Vandenberg AFB, April 2017:
E-6B cockpit simulator.
EC-135E: 10329 COMES BACK TO LIFE, AGAIN!
KC-135: The Last ISO for the 916TH
BATS & BEARS, OH MY!
ANOTHER B-1B ‘BONE’ SENT TO THE BONEYARD! IS THE END NEAR?
