Strategic Air Command The Strategic Air Command, or SAC
(1946-1992), was the air command in the United States Air Force
that was chiefly responsible for the deployment and maintenance
of nuclear-armed bombers and missiles during the Cold War. This
command finally stood down in 1992 with the recognition that the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United States' chief
nuclear-armed adversary, had itself disbanded. The Strategic Air
Command traces its roots to the Continental Air Forces,
consisting of the First, Second, Third, and Fourth numbered Air
Forces during World War II and the days of the United States
Army Air Forces. The mission of the Continental Air Forces was
homeland defense, and at the time of its creation in December of
1944, this mission was largely a reactive one, not the pro-
active mission that SAC would have. Foundation of SAC The
surrender of Germany in May 1945, and that of Japan in August of
1945, precipitated a tremendous reduction in forces in all the
branches of the service. In th