96th SAC

The 96th Strategic Aerospace Command (SAC), originally activated as the 96th Bombardment Wing in 1953, was a key unit of the United States Air Force during the Cold War. Stationed primarily at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, the unit operated heavy bombers such as the B-47 Stratojet and later the B-52 Stratofortress, as well as KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft. Throughout its service, the 96th SAC played a vital role in maintaining America's strategic nuclear deterrence and participated in numerous training and alert missions. The unit's contributions were instrumental in supporting SAC’s global reach until it was inactivated in the early 1990s following the end of the Cold War.