A Navy aircraft designed to keep U.S. leaders connected during a nuclear war was damaged while being towed out of a hangar at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma earlier this month, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The E-6B Mercury’s vertical stabilizer struck the hangar during the routine movement on Feb. 7, according to the Naval Safety Center.
The safety center charted the accident as a “Class A” mishap, which involves damage of $2 million or more.
The mishap caused no injuries to crew members and the only person on board the aircraft was a brake rider, according to Naval Air Forces spokesman Lt. Travis Callaghan.
An ongoing investigation will estimate the extent of damages to both the aircraft and hanger, he said.
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The Mercury plays a key role in the Navy’s “Take Charge and Move Out,” or TACAMO, mission.
As an airborne command post and communication relay plane, it helps to keep the nuclear triad — stealthy “boomer” submarines armed with UGM-133A Trident II/D5 Fleet Ballistic Missiles, plus the Air Force’s strategic bombers and LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile crews in hardened silos — constantly linked to the president and defense secretary.
Geoff is the managing editor of Military Times, but he still loves writing stories. He covered Iraq and Afghanistan extensively and was a reporter at the Chicago Tribune. He welcomes any and all kinds of tips at geoffz@militarytimes.com.
