Released October 9, 2024, this video is a remake from the original "Our Nation's Shield" video to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Air Force Global Strike Command. It was released in October to keep celebrations from AFGSC's anniversary ongoing, reflecting on historic U.S. Strategic Command milestones such as, Gen. Curtis E. LeMay becoming commander of Strategic Air Command in 1948, the 1951 flight of Colonel Michael McCoy delivering the first combat ready B-47B to SAC, the SM-65D Atlas going on alert at Vandenberg Space Force Base in 1959, and 1962 saw the first 10 Minuteman I ICBMs going on alert at Malmstrom Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force video edited by Staff Sgt. Shelby Thurman)
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- On Sept. 14, 1977, a Boeing EC-135K Stratotanker departing from Kirtland Air Force Base to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, crashed into the Manzano Mountains less than three minutes after a nighttime takeoff, killing all 20 service members aboard. Among them was U.S. Army Lt. Col. Paul T. Murphy, who was assigned to U.S. Readiness Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.Â
Nearly 49 years later, retired...
