Restoring ‘Doomsday' Plane Ensures US Response to Adversary’s Nuclear Attack is Annihilation: Congressman

Rep. Don Bacon’s often-solitary campaign to restore Air Force’s Cold War nuclear deterrent gains traction.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a retired U.S. Air Force general, is calling on the Pentagon to restore the Cold War Era “Looking Glass” program where command-and-control aircraft, such as the RC-135 Stratolifter above, could augment surveillance by being on-station 24/7 to ensure no adversary can launch a surprise nuclear strike. Master Sgt. Patrick Nugent via Wikimedia Commons

As the lone U.S. Air Force flag officer on “doomsday” flights, Brig. Gen. Don Bacon knew the loneliness of having Armageddon at his fingertips.

Years later, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) again knows the sentinel’s loneliness, his repeated calls to restore the Air Force’s Cold War Era “Looking Glass” program unheeded.