http://www.tacamo.navy.mil/wing/index.asp


"Take Charge and Move Out!" In July 1963, Rear Adm. Bernard F. Roeder, Director of Naval Communications for the Chief of Naval Operations, used these words to task the development of a unique part of naval aviation. The nation needed a reliable strategic communications system between the President and other national command authorities with nuclear ballistic missile submarines. This system had to survive any hostile military action. The Navy created such a system, modifying a Marine Corps KC-130 Hercules transport aircraft with a Very Low Frequency radio transmitter capable of communicating with submerged missile submarines. This experiment was a success and TACAMO, with its "Take Charge and Move Out" mission, was born. Since then the three squadrons have flown over 28 years and 400,000 hours of safe missions. The period following the end of the Cold War in 1989 brought revolutionary changes to the world and to TACAMO as well. The E-6A Mercury aircraft replaced the EC-130 Hercules that had provided 30 years of faithful service. TACAMO commands moved from six different homeports to a central location: Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The result is a 25 percent reduction in operations and personnel expenses.

In years past, TACAMO provided communications capability only to submarines with ballistic missiles. Currently, TACAMO provides command and control capability for all three strategic platforms including submarines, bombers and land-based missile sites.

On Oct. 1, 1998, The U.S. Navy's fleet of E-6Bs replaced the EC-135 in performing the "Looking Glass" mission flown for over 29 years by the U.S. Air Force. This new mission allows the President and the Secretary of Defense direct command and control capability with America's strategic forces of ballistic nuclear missile submarines, intercontinental nuclear missiles and strategic bombers. With the assumption of this new mission, a battle staff now flies with the TACAMO crew.

Our Mission:
TACAMO is a Navy Air Wing fully integrated on an Air Force base, carrying out a Navy mission in joint operations. Commander, Strategic Communications Wing One provides operational control and administrative support for Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadrons Three, Four, Seven and various training units. The Navy's TACAMO community provides a survivable communications link between national decision-makers and the country's arsenal of strategic nuclear weapons. In other words, our 16 E-6B Mercury aircraft enable the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense to directly contact submarines, bombers and missile silos protecting our national security through nuclear deterrence.