The Cold War: True or False?

Question

Is it true that in America during the Cold War the US Airforce routinely patrolled the skies over the major cities as a security measure?

I

After 9/11 Richard Clark stated that the Cold War tradtion of patrolling the skies over major US cities was a reason why the response to the hijackings was so slow.

This is why I'm asking the question.

Answer 1

What the Air Force did, was have fighters on "Alert" status. What that meant was just like after 9/11, they had jets in various locations that when the alert went out would be in the air within minutes to intercept any potential enemy aircraft. These ready jets were supplemented with a whole system, including ready tankers and command and control systems for support. During the Clinton years, this system was significantly reduced to a few reserve and guard units.

Answer 2

The US Air force did not keep an on going patrol of aircraft over major cites during the cold war. It would have been pointless because if an attack had come Russian ICBMs would have been in their final flight times before exploding above the cites.. Any air craft in the Sky's would have been obliterated instantly..

However The US did have something called SAC!. strategic air command) which did keep some B52 bombers in the air at all times and others on high alert to retaliate should any attack arise..

See a movie called Dr Stranglove, will give general impression of what went on..

Answer 3

That's a very interesting observation. When I was in grade school (many eons ago) the cold war was at its peak. Along with practice fire drills, we would also have an air raid signal and we would all crouch under our desks until the "all clear" was sounded. It was a scary time. Many people built fall out shelters and most cities had public fall out shelters. The ominous "radioactive" emblem appeared on several buildings indicating a fall out shelter - usually the basement. "Communism" or "Socialism" were the evil buzzwords of the day. Kruschev was pounding his shoe on the U.N. table and threatening the United States, "WE WILL BURY YOU!" I don't believe the word "propaganda" is applicable - in reality, the world came very close to nuclear war - most notably during the Cuban Crisis. Your parents probably label these terms as evil because, simply put, they really look great and equitable on paper - but they don't work in reality. Consider, in the old Soviet Union, for instance, 10% of the farms were owned by the farmers - the other farms were government controlled. The 10% privately owned farms produced almost 40% of the total agricultureal output of the country. Now consider America - capitalist and private enterprise - and arguable the greatest country on earth, and in only a little more than 200 years. In my opinion, we don't need more government meddling - we need better accountability and implimentation of the programs now in place. Yes, our health care is expensive - but it's worth it - and we have laws that mandate care for anyone who seeks treatment in any hospital with an emergency facility - even illegal aliens. In conclusion, the apparent Utopia of socialized medical care is what I like to refer to as "pie in the sky" - it sure looks and sounds appealing, but I suspect it would fall prey to the typical red tape and beaurocracy that plagues the IRS, the Social Security System, the Social Welfare System, The Immigration and Naturalization System and so forth - and that's a scary thought when ones health and well being is at stake.

Answer 4

Why would they patrol the skies over Major cities, common sense would dictate that the enemy planes should be turned back or shot down before entering US / NATO airspace.

Patrolling planes would be no use against incoming missiles set to detonate as air burst nukes, against which there would be no defence.

Answer 5

Ever hear of radar? Planes don't just appear over large American cities. If a unidentified plane approached American air space, fighters where scrambled to intercept from the nearest airbase.

Now that said we did have bombers in the air at all times as part of nuclear deterrence, but not over American cities.

Answer 6

I believe it is true, I live close to a Nuclear Plant and I can always tell when there are issues with security, because there are Air force planes flying in the no fly zone all around the Nuclear Plant. They fly very low and are very noisy. I don't mind because I know they are doing a good job taking care of us.

Answer 7

That would be false. They did have much more resources before the end of the cold war that were capable of patrolling American airspace. They wouldn't normally have planes over cities waiting for an attack without some sort of evidence.

Answer 8

The cold war was a joke,it was an uneasy peace,between mother russia(ussr)and the west(a capitalist/communist thing).when i was in germany they would send migs into our airspace and we sent hunters and swifts into their airspace.It was a carefully played game.The berlin wall ,the vopo,ogpu,which became the kgb,all had a wonderful time dying for the politicians.I was in the riots in the S bahns,i was caught in the russian sector and managed to get out,it was all a game.

Answer 9

they certainly had aircraft in the skies 24 hours a day. Where they patrolled, though, I don't know.

Answer 10

it did happen, but not on any regular timetable. Nobody knew when there would be a patrol, unless you were part of the patrol.