History

1946

The Strategic Air Command (SAC), Tactical Air Command (TAC), and Air Defense Command (ADC) became the three major combat commands of the United States Air Force on March 21, 1946. SAC began with 37,092 personnel and 279 aircraft strategically placed among 18 active bases within the continental United States.

1948-1957

General Curtis LeMay took over as the second Commander-in-Chief of SAC and moved SAC headquarters from Andrews AFB in Maryland to Offutt AFB in Nebraska. When he became Commander-in-Chief, he assumed control of 51,985 personnel and 837 aircraft spread over 21 active bases. Charged with the need to build a deterrent against aggression, LeMay saw the need to make SAC stronger. LeMay left SAC having built a force of 224,014 personnel and 2,711 aircraft.

1953

President Dwight D. Eisenhower makes the Strategic Air Command the United States’ primary nuclear deterrent force.

1959

Colonel. A.A. Arnhym, under the direction of SAC Commander-in-Chief General Thomas S. Power, fulfills LeMay’s vision of creating a Museum for the preservation of historic aircraft by opening the Strategic Aerospace Museum at Offutt AFB in Nebraska. The first artifact to be placed in the Museum was a B-36 Peacemaker, which arrived on April 22, 1959. The Museum was located at the end of an old runway at Offutt AFB.

1962

At the peak of SAC, it provided 283,000 personnel, 3,400 aircraft, and 224 land based missiles for the security of the nation. SAC had developed the SNARK, the Atlas, and the Minuteman missiles for national defense.

1966

The Strategic Aerospace Museum was officially dedicated in May during Armed Forces Day. Later that year, the State of Nebraska was approached with the idea of making the Museum a state historical park.

1969

The United Sates Air Force and the State of Nebraska made a fifty-year agreement on the Museum’s land at the outskirts of Offutt AFB, giving lease of the land to the State.

1971

On June, 1 the State of Nebraska assumed responsibility for the Strategic Aerospace Museum, under the control of the Department of Economic Development.

1972

In November, a newly completed Artifacts and Exhibits building was dedicated, allowing more of the Museum’s pieces to be moved indoors.

1990-1991

SAC participated in the Gulf War with KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-10 Extenders, flying over 300 missions a day during the peak of the build up of Desert Shield. The B-52 was also used in the initial air assault at the start of Desert Storm.

1991-1992

In November, President George Bush ordered the stand down of SAC. General Colin Powell summed up the career of SAC at the stand down ceremony in June of 1992 when he said, “…You never let us down, you were always prepared, you did your job well.”

1992

On August 1, the Strategic Air Command Museum separated from the State of Nebraska and became the responsibility of the SAC Memorial Society, making the Museum a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

1996

After a 33 million-dollar grass roots capital campaign, the groundbreaking of a new facility, more accessible to the public, began near Ashland, Nebraska. With the rapid growth of the Museum, discussion began regarding reconsideration of the Museum’s Aerospace heritage. The groundbreaking took place on March 22, 1996, exactly 50 years after the Strategic Air Command was formed.

1997

In June, the SR-71 becomes the first airplane to be moved the 36 miles from Bellevue to the new facility in Ashland.

1998

The Strategic Air Command Museum dedicates the new facility on May 16, 1998, Armed Forces Day, and the 39th Anniversary of the SAC Museum.

2001

The name of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) Museum was changed to the Strategic Air & Space Museum, incorporating the Museum’s rich past while reaching out to a growing audience through dynamic programming and exciting educational programs that captivate the interests and imaginations of everyone.

2008

To date, visitors from all 50 states and 20 foreign countries have visited the Museum. The future of the Museum will offer its ever-increasing number of visitors who seek to learn about math, science, engineering, aviation, and space, a number of traveling and permanent exhibits and educational programs.

2009

50th Anniversary of Strategic Air & Space Museum