Atomic Dysfunction

Abstract

Following World War II the US believed its atomic monopoly was the primary tool to offset large, standing communist ground forces within the Soviet orbit. However, both the newly established and civilian-run Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) along with the nascent US Air Forces’ Strategic Air Command (SAC) were models of dysfunction. In the late 1940s neither the civilians nor the military were capable of fulfilling the requirements outlined in the envisioned atomic air offensives of the time. Apart from their internal problems, both the AEC and SAC failed to properly coordinate with each other for effective transfer of bomb material, requisite training, and standing up the required number of atomic ordnance assembly teams. As a result, the American atomic monopoly from 1945–1950 was largely a bluff with few men, materials, and resources to serve as the nation’s primary strategic offense.