SWA members who are gaming the Korean War will find Hot Shots: An Oral History of the Air Force Combat Pilots edited by Jenny Ethell Chancey and William R. Forstchen, thoughtful and well rounded. (New York: W. Morrow, 2000). This is an adventure story using first-hand reports, but it goes beyond that. There is a description of the bare ground and pup tents of a 1950 airstrip. There is some shrewd commentary on tactics and Cold War strategy on both sides. The last selection is the story of a pilot held prisoner. All contributions are from U.S. Air Force pilots. The Strategic Air Command was a major part of the Cold War and has since been abolished. The Strategic Air Command Museum is located on Interstate 80 at exit 426, a few miles west of Omaha, Nebraska. Aside from a few missiles standing in front, all the exhibits are inside air conditioned comfort. When entering, a visitor looks up to see an SR-71 Blackbird flying right at him. The SR-71 was a supersonic intelligence aircraft. It is held in place by a network of cables, and can be viewed from a variety of angles. Visitors can see it and other planes from the balcony or walk under it. Two hangars are crammed full of every bomber SAC ever used plus some other types. There are a number of mini theaters and displays around the edges of the hangars. There is even a children’s gallery with a replica of a fallout shelter. Children are encouraged to climb into the cockpit of a B-52. Adults brave enough to chase away the kids can try it out too. Nearby, a “flight simulator” takes the visitor on a Desert Storm mission. The simulator is shoe box shaped and perched on hydraulic pistons. Six passengers at a time experience computer generated images and sound effects while the simulator tilts and turns. It is real enough that I found myself bracing for the carrier landing. One of the more interesting exhibits has a story behind it. Some years ago the museum director received a phone call in the night, “Expect a package tomorrow.” The next day an unmarked truck arrived and unloaded a large crate. Without saying a word, the driver and crew drove away. When the crate was opened, it was a Mig-21. The museum guides enjoy telling tall tales about where it came from. There are some rare types like the XF-85, a fighter designed to ride under a B-36 and be dropped off to provide fighter cover. Only two of these were built. The RAF is represented by a Vulcan bomber. Then there is the B-58, once the fastest bomber in the world. The old workhorses of World War II and the Cold War are there too: B-17, B-25, B-47, B-36, and B-52. The place seems to be a magnet for veterans. When I was there a group from Patton’s Third Army in World War II was taking a guided tour. Two ex-bomber crewmen watched a film on bombers in one of the mini theaters. All except the wives seemed to have a good time. Back to Table of Contents -- Lone Warrior #135 Back to Lone Warrior List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2001 by Solo Wargamers Association. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com