Originally Posted by
Haraka
One final 'phone story I was told . A Scampton Vulcan crew visited the war room in Cheyenne Mountain in the 60's and were shown the American system where the duty officer could be phoned on any Nuclear base and had to reply within three rings. They were invited to select a base in the USA and this was duly demonstrated. They were assured that this system also extended to appropriate RAF Bases.
At their request this was duly initiated as a demonstration for their home station.
After a couple of rings a female voice announced:
" All lines to Lincoln are currently engaged . Please call later "
More or less true. The Captain was the Scampton Stn Cdr, the war room was the SAC bunker at Offutt. Cheyenne Mountain was Air Defence. The procedure was the SAC Controller would send out a Comms Alert. Every SAC Unit CP would acknowledge and the acknowledge lamp would illuminate. When all acknowledge lights were lit he would pass the message. When lights went out the message was acknowledged. In this case the Stn Cdr asked for the Station Duty Officer - bad call.