Editing Beale Air Force Base (section)

===4126th Strategic Wing===
[[File:4126th Strategic Wing - SAC - Emblem.png|thumb|125px|left|Emblem of the [[4126th Strategic Wing]]]]

On 8 February 1959, [[Strategic Air Command]] established Beale as an operational USAF base. It activated the '''4126th Strategic Wing''' to disperse its [[B-52 Stratofortress]] heavy bombers over a larger number of bases, making it more difficult for the [[Soviet Union]] to destroy the entire fleet with a surprise first strike.

In May 1959, Colonel (later General) Paul K. Carlton assumed command of the recently activated 4126th Strategic Wing. The first two [[KC-135 Stratotanker]] aircraft arrived two months later on 7 July 1959 as part of the 903d Air Refueling Squadron. On 18 January 1960, the [[31st Bombardment Squadron]] with its B-52G Stratofortresses arrived at Beale to become part of the wing. The [[14th Air Division]] (14 AD) moved to Beale from [[Travis Air Force Base]] one week later.

One third of the aircraft were maintained on 15-minute alert, fully fueled, armed, and ready for combat. SAC Strategic Wings were considered a provisional unit by HQ, USAF and could not carry a permanent history or lineage.

====HGM-25A Titan I====
[[File:851_strategic_missile_sq.svg|thumb|125px|left|Emblem of the [[851st Strategic Missile Squadron]]]]

On 30 January 1959, the Air Force announced plans to conduct surveys in the vicinity of Beale to determine the feasibility for missile bases. On 17 September, Col. Paul Calton, Commander of Beale's 4126th Strategic Wing, announced that the base would be the fifth [[HGM-25A Titan I]] missile installation. Three complexes with three weapons each (3 x 3) were located 25 miles southwest, 37 miles west, and 71 miles northwest of Beale near the respective communities of Lincoln, Live Oak, and Chico.

The Air Force activated the [[851st Strategic Missile Squadron]] (Titan I) on 1 April 1961. The first missile was moved to the 4A complex at Lincoln on 28 February 1962, where workers had difficulty placing the missile in the silo. Follow-on missile installations went smoothly and the last missile was lowered into Chico complex 4C on 20 April 1962.

On 24 May 1962, during a contractor checkout, a blast rocked launcher 1 at complex 4C at Chico, destroying a Titan I and causing heavy damage to the silo. After the investigation, the Air Force concluded that the two separate explosions occurred because of a blocked vent and blocked valve. On 6 June, a flash fire at another silo killed a worker.

In September 1962, the 851st SMS became the last Titan I Squadron to achieve alert status. After damages were repaired, the Chico complex became operational on 9 March 1963. Two months after the squadron became fully operational, SAC subjected the unit to an Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI). The 851st SMS became the first Titan I unit to pass.

On 16 May 1964, Defense Secretary McNamara directed the accelerated phaseout of the Atlas and Titan I ICBMs. On 4 January 1965, the first Beale Titan I was taken off alert status. Within three months, the 851st Strategic Missile Squadron was inactivated.