About this Unit
The 1st Combat Evaluation Group (1CEVG) was a United States Air Force unit established in 1961 under Strategic Air Command (SAC). Its primary mission was to assess and improve the effectiveness of SAC's bomber and missile forces through operational evaluations, radar bomb scoring, and electronic warfare training. The group managed several detachments and mobile teams equipped with sophisticated radar and scoring equipment, often simulating enemy defenses to sharpen aircrew skills. 1CEVG played a crucial role during the Cold War, ensuring SAC’s strategic forces maintained high readiness and accuracy until its inactivation in 1992 following the end of the Cold War and the restructuring of Air Force operations.
Historical Facts
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Founding and Mission: The 1st Combat Evaluation Group (1CEVG) was activated by the Strategic Air Command (SAC) in August 1961, tasked with evaluating electronic warfare, radar bomb scoring, and post-strike assessments to improve bomber crew effectiveness.
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Radar Bomb Scoring (RBS): 1CEVG’s roots trace to World War II-era radar bomb scoring units that graded bomber crews' accuracy by electronically simulating bomb drops over U.S. territory, crucial for training during the Cold War.
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Operation Combat Skyspot: During the Vietnam War, 1CEVG personnel operated ground-directed bombing (GDB) sites under the “Skyspot” program, guiding B-52 and tactical aircraft through heavy weather and at night to enemy targets using radar.
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Mobile Operations: The group operated numerous mobile radar scoring units, nicknamed “RBS trains,” which moved throughout the U.S. via railroad to test bomber crews’ ability to find and strike targets over varied terrain.
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Electronic Countermeasures: 1CEVG evaluated and tested bomber crews’ abilities to penetrate sophisticated enemy air defenses, including electronic jamming, decoy operations, and radar evasion tactics.
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Worldwide Deployments: While based primarily at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, 1CEVG detachments and teams deployed worldwide, including Europe, the Pacific, and Southeast Asia, to support both training and combat operations.
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Special Units and Nicknames: The group included units like the 10th Radar Bomb Scoring Squadron and the 99th Strategic Weapons Wing, with members often referring to themselves as “Scorers” or “Skyspotters.”
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Operational Security: 1CEVG was involved in classified operations, sometimes evaluating the effectiveness of new electronic warfare techniques or simulating hostile air defense networks to test U.S. strike doctrines.
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Legacy and Recognition: The group’s work was instrumental in improving U.S. aircrew training, tactics, and survivability during the Cold War and Vietnam War, earning multiple Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards.
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Deactivation: With the end of the Cold War and advances in technology, 1CEVG was inactivated in 1992, but its legacy endures in modern Air Force evaluation and electronic warfare testing units.
