Operation Head Start facts for kids

Operation Head Start was a special test program by the United States Air Force. It happened during the Cold War, a time of tension between countries. In this program, large bombers took off from Loring Air Force Base. They flew and stayed in the air near Greenland and Canada. This test ran from September to December 1958. It helped show that planes could stay in the air constantly, ready for anything. This program later led to similar operations like Operation Chrome Dome.

About Operation Head Start

Operation Head Start was tested at Loring Air Force Base in 1958. The main goal was to see if the Air Force could keep planes flying in the air all the time. This was called a "continuous airborne alert." The brave crews showed that it was possible.

Preparing for Flight

Before each flight, the crew had a meeting. They learned about world news and important safety rules. About 15 hours before takeoff, the crew carefully checked their aircraft. This made sure everything was working right. It also helped the maintenance teams work better.

After checking the plane, the crew rested for 12 hours. Then, they had three hours to get ready for takeoff. First, they went to the cafeteria. They ate a meal with lots of protein for energy. After a final briefing, two crew members picked up special meals. These meals would be cooked in an oven during their long flight.

The Long Flights

Every six hours, a bomber took off. These planes carried live warheads, meaning they were ready for action. They followed a planned route over Greenland and eastern Canada. Each flight lasted about 20 hours.

During the flight, the bombers often received messages. These messages from Strategic Air Command headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base would say, "Foxtrot: No message required." The idea was to keep the crews alert. They never knew if the next message would tell them to go to war.

Many boom operators joined the Million Pound Club. This meant they had transferred a million or more pounds of fuel in ten flights or less. These training flights helped them get better at refueling. Bomber crews could join the One Gulp Club. This was for those who took on 100,000 pounds of fuel without disconnecting.

Landing and After

When a bomber was ready to land, the control tower would call crash trucks. The trucks would go to the runway and wait. This was a normal safety step for all Head Start landings.

After landing, the crew was asked questions. They shared what they noticed about the plane. This helped maintenance and intelligence teams. After their debriefing, the crew often went to a special room. They could enjoy a steam bath and a rub down to relax.

After six flights, each bomber got a big check-up. This allowed the plane to be taken out of the flying schedule for a short time.

Phases of the Program

Operation Head Start was planned in three parts:

• Phase I: This was the practice stage. Crews followed all the procedures mentioned above.
• Phase II: During this phase, one squadron (a group of planes) moved to Bergstrom Air Force Base in Texas.
• Phase III: This phase continued the flying procedures. But now, both Loring and Bergstrom Air Force Bases were used for the operations.