Operation Big Switch - What is Past might be Prologue Published Feb. 20, 2014 By Mr. Jim O'Connell 92nd Air Refueling Wing historian FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- "The more things change, the more they stay the same," stated Alphose Karr, a French journalist. As we look toward the changes in our Wing's operations supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and the potential of acquiring the new KC-46 tanker, we can look to the past to learn from the experiences of those who came before us in our long, blue line. In essence, what is past is prologue. The first of October 1956 signaled the beginning of an official conversion period for the 92nd Bombardment Wing. From October 1956 to February 1958, the wing transitioned from the Boeing B-36 Peacemaker to the upstart Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. Transitioning from one airframe to another was not a simple matter of just flying in another aircraft. This transition, called Operation Big Switch, involved so much more and impacted all aspects of the base from infrastructure, operational procedures, manning and material procurement to training. Months before the first of the 45 B-52 bombers arrived on March 26, 1957, the wing began its expansive preparations for the new aircraft. Colonel M. W. Heney, 92nd Bombardment Wing director of materials, and big switch project officer, oversaw the over $6 million that was allocated for the base to undergo considerable "face-lifting" of its infrastructure. Even before the official kick-off of Operation Big Switch, the runways were extended from 10,500 feet to 13,800 feet and were widened to 300 feet to accommodate the new bomber. Other facility projects included modifications and additions to the ammunition storage area, upgrades to the flight line and fuel hydrant system, construction of several large fuel storage tanks and a calibration hard stand used to test aircraft instruments. Additionally, the project programmed for the construction of five aircraft shelters, six blast fences and modification to six Luria Hangers. Finally, the project added four dormitories capable of housing 200 Airmen each, an 800-man mess hall, one bachelor officer quarters building and extensive additions to the elementary school. During this transition, training of nearly 600 aircrew and 2,100 maintenance and support personnel was critical. Each aircrew spent three months at Castle Air Force Base, learning to fly the B-52 and then several more months undergoing mission qualification training at Fairchild. More than 600 maintenance personnel attended a specialized training school to learn the systems and components of the aircraft. To alleviate TDY costs and time away from home station, the Air Force established a Mobile Training Detachment at Fairchild during Operation Big Switch. The MTD allowed the maintenance personnel to participate in base maintenance activities while attending the B-52 conversion training classes. Other base agencies such as the fire department, munitions and fuels also required to be trained on the specific nuances with the B-52. Operation Big Switch was originally planned to end on Oct. 15, 1957. However, as in any major conversion, the wing faced several hurdles before reaching combat ready status. One of the issues faced was the lack of training aids. One of the training aids was the MD-9 Gunnery Trainer and was not available until late September 1957. The second one was the B-52 flight simulator which was not delivered until January 1958. This lack of simulator forced the wing to send crews back to Castle AFB to get their required emergency procedure training causing a shortage of personnel to support the conversion program working through the various new operational procedures and accomplishing ground training required for mission certification. The second major delay the wing faced was the aircraft delivery. Deliveries of the B-52s were suspended pending a correction of a condition causing cracks in the main gear. The wing received only one aircraft and was only able to fly one training mission prior to the deliveries being halted and that aircraft was grounded as well. This significantly impacted the flight training for the aircrew. The lack of aircraft also hindered the maintenance personnel training programs because the aircraft could only be worked on by a limited number of people at one time. Other maintenance issues hindered the crews' ability to accomplish air refueling training. The pilots were required to accomplish heavy air refueling where they would on-load 40,000 pounds of fuel. For several months, a fuel clamp problem prevented crews from on-loading fuel. This inability to on-load fuel limited sortie durations limiting the amount of training the crews could accomplish on flight. During that same period, the KC-97 tankers were limited to the amount of fuel they could carry. Previously, one KC-97 could accomplish a heavy weight air refueling with a B-52. Now it took two KC-97s but they were in short supply. Despite all the challenges faced by the wing and even before being certified as combat ready, in November 1957, crews from the 92nd Wing placed first among the B-52 units and second place overall for the heavy bomber units at the Ninth Annual Strategic Air Command Bombing Navigation Competition at Carswell AFB, Texas. There were five other B-52 units and five B-36 units who completed. Finally despite several delays, on February 12, 1958, with the flying of Operation Green Arrow, the 92nd Bombardment Wing graduated into combat ready status. Over the course of two days, the wing launched 35 of 35 tasked B-52s and hit all 52 assigned targets as part of a unit simulated combat mission. The 15th Air Force observer called the results, "Excellent." As wing personnel plan for the potential arrival of the KC-46, it can look to the past to shed some light on what might come. Many of the issues encountered by the Airmen in Operation Big Switch will be similar in terms of adapting our infrastructure, adjusting operational procedures, supply and logistic processes and training for the new airframe. Truly, what is past can be prologue.