SAC Global Shield 1983 - MITO 

I was SAC late '70s - early '80s. I remember many MITO launches, including one in particular for an exercise or an ORI, just after dawn on a Sunday morning circa 1980. We launched almost every non-alert B-52D and KC-135A we had, and awakened the good citizens of the valley with the unearthly, window rattling howl of one J57 water wagon after another. We figured if we had to be awake at 6 am on a Sunday, everyone in the valley should have to be awake, too. 😄

As a SAC crew chief, These were the very bravest of the bravest. They were sworn to give every last ounce of fuel to the bombers and fighters in the event of War. The KC-135 crews get very little of the recognition they deserve. For them and they knew this going in that it was a suicide mission in the event of a nuclear war..

I didn't know this was even recorded. I was there in 1983. This is the 410th Bombardment Wing. It's funny how many people have no idea about the Cold War.

The sound of freedom. You have to love it!

I was an in-flight refueling operator (Boomer) on KC-135 stationed @ Griffiss AFB New York in late seventies. Best job in the Air Force!!! Participated in several Or I'd and deployments.

Grade A posting. There are very few videos of things like this from back in the day. 40+ Buff and 28 135 (A/R) hard stands, my 1st assignment Castle, Ca. It is a tourist place and local airport now :( :(. We had 2 KLAXAN and one MITO during my time there. All 3 elephant walks were a bone chilling experience. For those who were part of this, you'll understand what I mean by bone chilling.. not knowing. To be on a bomber base and see 90+% of the ramp empty is a surreal experience. My gratitude to my brothers and sister of the military and ALSO to their families for their dedication and support.

Thank you for posting Ted. Awesome video. Ahh, yes, back in the day when men were men, and sheep were nervous. I participated in those old fashioned MITO's from 1984-1990 as a B-52 AC at Carswell. Hats off to all you SAC Trained Killers!

The first airplane I ever touched was a "new" KC135 at Columbus AFB (on an elementary school field trip in 1959). I was amazed to see a crew member climb up the crew hatch with no ladder installed. I separated at Castle as a tanker training IP knowing these planes will outlive me. These MITO launches were examples of the precision that SAC was known for. When you can smell previous aircraft exhaust on departure, and you know more aircraft are right on your butt, precision builds PRIDE.

I was at Carswell during Global Shield '83. Our 52's & 135's did the same thing. It was an awesome & humbling sight, because at any time this could have been the "real" thing and not just an exercise! Something that'll live in this ole country boys memory until I die.

B-52H AC, Carswell AFB 1985-90. Another video that shows the professionalism and dedication of the SAC Warrior during the Cold War. Man those crews were on it! Great video, thanks so much for posting.

I was the crew chief of 62-3515 at KI during that Global Shield MITTO I served from 1981 to 1985 I will never forget my time there.

Best MITO video I've ever seen.

I was maintenance and riding the launch truck that day. Great sight to see. Freedom in the raw...

nothing like the sound of a screaming J-57 doing a wet take off

When I was stationed at Castle AFB, CA in the late 70s, I saw one of these launches for real. All the B-52s and KC-135s on the base launched -- it was amazing.

All of KISawyer rocked when these things took place. And we choked on fumes for hours afterward. As an SP, we’d be coated in it for the rest of the night. And we’d have to get off our duffs, get out of our trucks and actually WALK the ramp.

I miss the good old days. I saw the same thing at March AFB in the early 1980s. Loud. Loved it.

Awe inspiring. I love how the cinematographer caught the in-flight phase as the aircraft broke left and right to avoid wake turbulence.

My dad was a SAC pilot , he went from the B36 to B52 i was born at Loring AFB Base in 1957 then we moved to Turner AFB base until he retired in 1967 as kids we would watch that stuff at the fence around the runway next to my elementary school.

Having served @ Castle AFB, I remember these events personally & UP CLOSE. It wasn't until I had separated & lived up the road in Merced (some 15 miles away) that the 1st time I HEARD the launching aircraft approaching & then to SEE them fly overhead, was when I saw HOW MAJESTIC this is!

I was in the Air Force. Living in a tin can trailer at 3600 East Texas Street just across the fence from the base. I remember this like yesterday. Those air craft flew literally over top of us. It was amazing.

I grew up in this. My family’s tour was: Blytheville, Kadena, Pease, then finally KI. Wrapped it up in ‘83.

I'm glad this never had to be done except in training. Bad enough for the flight crews who knew it was more than likely a one way trip, perhaps worse for those left at the base who knew their remaining lifespan was measured in minutes because a Soviet missile was on its way.

The wail of B-52 engines is something engrained in me, even though I was pretty young while living there from 85 to 88. I have mixed feelings about the closing of K.I. Sawyer. It was a wonderful community and a great place to live, and it got me loving the north woods and Lake Superior. But it also was a de-escalation from the scary days of the Cold War.

I served at Abilene, Tx Dyess AFB.I was in the 96 BW,96 OMS,tanker branch. I was assigned to acft 62-3528 KC -135 A. A great time in my life,and 22 months of alert duty. Out of 3.5 years there!! SAC was awesome, and I loved it!✌️🤝🎯💪

Thanks Ted. I caught the end of the cold war. Barksdale 88-93, 71st AREFS KC-135A Boom Operator. Got to participate in one or two of those MITO's.

Never gets old, saw a couple at Barksdale AFB in JAN/March 1968 when TDY their from Dover AFB on an 24/7 airlift of Cobra gunships and munitions in support of response to TET Offensive in NAM. Was an avionics tech so always out on the flight line. The sound, fuel smell and ground shaking as they all take off MITO is an awesome event. SAC air men liked our new C-141 Starlifter technologies, but look who is still flying in 2020.🇺🇸🗽

I served the nation as an aircraft maintenance professional at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota 1977 to 82.

Like it was yesterday! Thanks for the memories!!!

Stationed at Loring from '76 - '80. I was in charge of 2nd shift maintenance on a KC-135 flight simulator. The simulator was inside of a mobile railcar parked just outside the flightline. Whenever the klaxon would scream, the crew in the simulator would come racing out of the cockpit. We would hold all the doors wide open to ensure their speedy exit. They hopped in their blue trucks and went flying down the road. Then we would watch all the controlled chaos on the flightline. We had a great view. It was awe inspiring to watch all those bombers and tankers line up at the runway. We would hold our breath while waiting to see if the planes actually launched. Thankfully, they never did.

I used to see this daily while stationed in Guam during the early 80's. SAC was serious and at war 24/7.

My dad Jerry Farish was there in ‘81-‘86 was on the Flight Commanders Crew as a Co-pilot on the B52 in this video

Remember this well. Being in the last couple birds of a mass mito was always good for an adrenaline rush.

The -135s look more like proper Tankers with the Milky Way stripe going through the fuselage.

While I was still stationed at Grand Forks AFB. One Year.we had a Full On Alert Pad Scramble of ALL ALERT PAD A/C. Due to at Least 5 Tornadoes that were in the area. YEAH. That was an interesting Night.

Thank you for this video. I served at Castle AFB 79-83. I worked on the B-52g &H models as well.

Love the sound of those classic turbojets what a beautiful roar the awesome trails of smoke from water injection is so cool love our wonderful military hats off to SAC they rock

More impressive to see in person, sight and sound of airpower

I was involved in that excersice. While stationed at Grand Forks AFB.

I remember standing at the gap when the B-52's would taxi to the runway. It was amazing.

I remember taking the active at Loring on a Global Shield... The BUFFS had gone and I sat in the jump seat in one of the last tankers. Heck of a sight to look down the runway and see nothing but BLACK yet saw everything as normal off to the sides. We were launching into a black hole. Goal was 12 second interval on tankers, 15 for the BUFF. Nothing today compares to SAC. Nothing. Crewed 623501. Loring Led!

This happened at Fairchild AFB on a regular basis, I was usually in the alarm tower in the bomber alert area so I had a commanding view of the 23 end of the runway as the aircraft headed down to the 05 end. Thankfully the reason for this kind of launch was not macho, it was to get all aircraft off the base before it was attacked by nuclear weapons, insuring the SAC force was ready to strike back. We had the B-52G with water injection as well as the KC-135A, got pretty black at the 05 end!

Lived by Barksdale AFB for forty years and when we saw a MITO we know it was training or the end of everything.

Nuckleer combat toe to toe with the Rooskies...awesome love the BUFF

Probably some smoke still remainds there XD Love th B-52 and the Kc-135!

crew chief here 135,s Castle 80, to 90 93BMW brings back a lot of memories. I came back here to Atwater Merced area after being gone 25 years. Base is closed of course but I did go out to the flight line and old headquarters bldg. It is like a ghost town feeling....... but if I closed my eyes I could here them rolling down the runway. I still haven't gone into headquarters, its all locked up. But I will. Just an empty bldg. not far from runway and right across from B52 grounds. It kind of hurts going out there now, place is a shell of what it was. I don't think I agree with a federal prison on those grounds but it is employment and this place has been devastated. I rented a house in Merced and once in a while we will get someone flying into castle. Ya run outside and look up and I know its not a bomber or tanker but hard to not look. I had the best years of my life on that base......... best men I ever met........ I loved it all..........

Ted, thanks for sharing. Doesn't look like 'safety was paramount.' I was still at KI when the base closed and was allowed to retire then (1995). Mark Jersin, the navigator you tried to train. Thanks for that too.

Dang the old engines were LOUD and just RIP the environment behind them.

Brings back memories when I was at Carswell from 87-91

Anyone who was in SAC in the 50s,60s,70s,80s and worked on the flightline this was not uncommon. Every ORI MITOs meant the inspection was almost over. And I bet anyone who worked those 12-15 plus hour shifts getting the birds ready and bitched and moaned, would get good money to have one more shot at doing it again. Control Red one we have a Buff in the fluff

I was in UP AT 80 S kI SAWYER WAS THE BASE.Remember swimming in the lake superior and just watching these big birds FLY----

I was part of this in 1985 at Andersen AFB. The horn blaring across the base.

Amazing. That first -135 after that B-52. Feet off his tail!

Yep remember those alerts well at K I Sawyer, I was there 78-84. I love the UP😊

Now that's a MITO, not some you have seen on here, little gap between the birds.

I missed that one. I got there in Oct 83. Stayed until Sep 90., POL.

That 3rd bomber was my crew R26

That my friends....is the sound.....of freedom.

can you imagine seeing this today on Flightradar24?

Crazy shit from back in the day! SAC/ACC ‘86-‘92

I was on the launch truck for the launch that morning... I was a electrician and was stationed there from 82-95 when it closed...

Man do I remember these at KI. I left in `80. Was a fuelie on `em...

GREAT video Ted!!! For those not familiar with MITOs, - Note how the planes "fan out" after takeoff. A MITO "..... is aimed to efficiently send aircraft off as quickly as possible, it does not come without risks. Sending aircraft into the slipstream of another aircraft at such close intervals could cause the plane to jump up and down, possibly causing it to flip over. More than once, aircraft have crashed on takeoff after encountering such turbulence. " SEE: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_Interval_Takeoff

Gotta love the J57's even though they were underpowered.

Stationed at KI Sawyer '81-'82; 410th SPS. Six B-52s, six KC-135s, on alert - 24/7/365. LE secured both ends of the runway during alerts. Go SAC !!!!

As we said back in the day, jet noise, the sound of freedom.

There was one six-month period back in the mid-60s when every SAC bomb wing launched all their bombers and tankers in a gigantic MITO to begin the annual Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) mission. At Turner AFB, GA we launched all fifteen of our KC-135s first, followed by all fifteen of our B-52Ds. Our crew was #23 in the stream, and the turbulence just after liftoff was incredible, to say the least. Most of the families of the crewdogs got to watch the launch from just outside the perimeter fence. Unfortunately, SAC lost a B-58 from Grissom AFB, IN that was blown off the runway (in the snow/ice) from the blast of the aircraft ahead of him as he turned onto the runway heading. We also lost a KC-97 tanker that crashed on the golf course at Pease AFB, NH and SAC decided to discontinue the ORI MITO launches forever after that six-month period.

Thank you, Ted. Making CNY denizens proud.

this is a crazy MITO - glad there is an explanation on that G model. As a kid I would see this when fishing the Au Sable by Sawyer's sister base Wurtsmith in Oscoda. Seem to recall two 52's then a 135 and repeat. great memories, loudest thing i have ever heard. SAC was instrumental in keeping the peace 1950's to when the Wall fell. I am sure the m a r x i s t s running everything now will cancel it too.

This is what you show your family when you describe being stationed on a SAC base. In my case, it was Westover AFB, 1966-69.

19th OMS. Robins AFB. 1980-83. I miss those days.

Amazing footage dude ❤

1983 would have been my first global shield

SAC owned the skies with TAC!

Ahhh. Those were the days when everything made sense.

Unless my ears are deceiving me, the last two Buffs in the flight to launch (#5 and #6) were G models. The characteristic whine of the TF-33 was absent with those two aircraft. Was the 410th in a transition period in 1983 where they had both G and H models in service at the same time? Or were the G models just visiting from another unit? I know they were an all H model wing at the time the wing was inactivated.

Global Strike Command has slipped quite a bit from SAC standards. There are some videos of "MITO" takeoffs of the 5th BW at Minot and they are doing anywhere from 30 to 50 second intervals. Little consistency. I did have a question about the above, meant in total respect - I was trying to count the intervals to see how on they were, and they were pretty solid, but it seemed like one H might have been pretty late - around 22 seconds? The camera is moving, you really can't see the moment of liftoff, but it seemed a bit off. Then, I would swear the KC-135s were also at 15 seconds. I sure did see how the first KC-135 almost caught up to that B-52G. That seemed like about an 8-10 second interval! So if someone blew an interval, what then? Thank you for the post. Great.

The Guardians of The North!

I remember participating in Mid Winter Global Sheild...42d Bomb Wing LAFB 1980.....quite cold.

Bring back SAC!

Tanks for the gas b52 crew chief

I remember an exercise at Minot AFB where we "deployed" to the corrosion dock across the street and pretended we were in Texas.

I was there in 1972. Sad that the base closed down.

The most brutal concept of

I was there for this one.

Wasn't an assignment to Sawyer the KKIS of Death for an Airman's career?

I ended up at Thule in Global Shield 83. Out of Wurtsmith.

I was there n seen this in person.

I can smell it!!!!

The screaming B52 sounds nice.

That is a really really nasty takeoff to do... I guess this is one of those moments where you will just have to chuck the aviation rulebook out of the window and never abandon the takeoff for whatever reason. If you stop, the guy behind you may not see anything, and risk plowing into your plane or is unable to stop in time.

I miss the old day at Takhli air bast 105

I was there from 1980-81 in the weather unit.

Just an fyi and slightly off subject. All of the evergreens(which are behind the camera from what it looks like) from just north of the alert pad thru the entire flight line/runways have been logged as of Spring 2015. It is now a killing zone(in my opinion. You can see the hangars etc from the old base road on the west end. Shame.

4:05 Wait a minute... Is this a B-52G in a B-52H Bombing Wing?

Well, there goes the weekend....

wouldn't you like to be on one of those last birds lol

I was there. Only good thing was it was summer.

Launching from the alert pad as a crew chief

Great video of great crews, thanks all! Anyone also serve at Kincheloe AFB? Or involved with the CIM-10 BOMARC SAM base W/NW of there as well? I've noticed US Forest Service roads near where they were based, would like to visit sometime if possible.