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Home Front: Politix
Air Force missile launch crew fell asleep on duty
2008-07-25

Three ballistic missile crew members in North Dakota fell asleep while holding classified launch code devices this month, triggering an investigation by military and National Security Agency experts, the Air Force said Thursday.

The probe found that the missile launch codes were outdated and remained secure at all times. But the July 12 incident comes on the heels of a series of missteps by the Air Force that had already put the service under intense scrutiny.

Is the USAF strategic side of things falling apart due to crap leadership? This on top of failed nuclear security earlier, and their stupidity and intransigence in the UAV area spells big trouble - no wonder they sacked a lot of AF leadersip a while back. Bring Back SAC! (and SAC standards). Or maybe its time to put the USAF back under the Army again.
Posted by:Ash

#13  FTM
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2008-07-25 20:29  

#12  All this stuff about LeMay reminds me of a serious ass-chewing Ned Almond gave an Army tank group captain during a Chicom offensive in Korea. The Army guys had been retreating in the face of overwhelming force when Almond, in a jeep, drove up and stopped them. He proceeded to rip the guy in charge a new one and told him in no uncertain terms to get his tanks turned around and go kick some enemy ass RIGHT NOW. Almond then jumped back in the jeep and headed parallel to the line to go "inspire" some other retreating soldiers.

When Almond had gone, the second-in-command of the tank force asked the OIC what he was going to do since heading back to the fight was almost certain death. The OIC said, "Didn't you hear the man? Hell, we've got no choice but to go back. At least we can use our guns against those guys!"

The retreat stopped.
Posted by: Jomock Platypus9662   2008-07-25 20:23  

#11  Hard to imagine how low fucked you'd feel if Curtis Lemay waz about the rip you a new one.


I go back JUST far enough to have served with men who served in LeMay's SAC and who had been on the recieving end of his ire. One thing I remember about their stories is that however funny they may have been, no one EVER laughed about it. SAC's attitude - right up to the end - was that failure to meet standards was total, complete, and utter failure in everything. It is a sad commentary on the modern USAF that they simply threw away the most demanding and successful standards in US military history (IMHO the USN's nuclear power standards coming in a VERY close second)solely because of an attitude problem.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2008-07-25 20:00  

#10  My first guess would be young people, post-Cold War complacency, 'Net Generation, and too many coffee refills - in certain individuals, once the caffeine levels are high enuff, can make one feel suddenly sleepy as opposed to staying awake. I DO AGREE, HOWEVER, YOUNG OR OLD, COLD WAR OR NO COLD WAR, LEMAY WOULD SKIN THEIR BUTTS.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2008-07-25 19:39  

#9  Lemay would have these guys for dinner.
In the early sixties, when LeMay was head of the Air Force, there were a couple back-to-back incidences where USAF planes strayed across the German border into Communist territory. LeMay flew to Germany to inform the USAFE commander that if another such violation occured that he had better be on the plane. That put a stop to that.
Posted by: GK   2008-07-25 19:18  

#8  I guess it's comforting to know that the chances of nuclear war are so slim that the guys charged with being prepared for it are bored out of their skulls.
Posted by: Richard Aubrey   2008-07-25 15:37  

#7  He'd leave you nothing but mineral water, a pistol, and a closet.
Posted by: .5MT   2008-07-25 13:58  

#6  Didn't SAC used to be in charge of the missile silos? Lemay would have these guys for dinner. And not as guests...

Hard to imagine how low fucked you'd feel if Curtis Lemay waz about the rip you a new one.

I'm against suicide, BUT it might be better than facing Curtis Lemay after you were caught asleep in a Strategic Missile Silo.
Posted by: Red Dawg   2008-07-25 13:56  

#5   for one, am happy to see the white scarf crowd rendered obsolete by UAVs

Obviously a hater. :)
Posted by: .5MT   2008-07-25 13:56  

#4  The AF hasn't accorded the nuclear mission much respect since the creation of Air Combat Command by Merrill McPeak in 1992. Fighter pilots never really understood nukes, treating bomber pilots with condescension and missile guys with contempt. Things have gone steadily downhill since. I, for one, am happy to see the white scarf crowd rendered obsolete by UAVs. Given the current AF leadership, the only way to get control of the nuke situation is to take it away from ACC and, possibly, from the AF.
Posted by: RWV   2008-07-25 13:19  

#3  Didn't SAC used to be in charge of the missile silos? Lemay would have these guys for dinner. And not as guests...
Posted by: tu3031   2008-07-25 12:54  

#2  According to my dad, who served in the 68th Strategic Missile Squadron back in the 70's, falling asleep was a court martial offense, an extremely serious one. I'm curious if standards have fallen so much that this won't merit that?
Posted by: Silentbrick   2008-07-25 12:44  

#1  Flight Suit Mafia strikes again?

Maybe they ought to forbit flag rank promotions to any combat aircraft pilot (except A-10s) for the next 6 years, and fill the flag ranks from the intelligence, support, missile and transport people.
Posted by: OldSpook   2008-07-25 12:43  

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