RBS Express
{{Short description|Portable railway-based radar stations}}
{{Distinguish|LGM-30_Minuteman#Mobile Minuteman program{{!}}SAC's "Mobile Minuteman" train in 1960 (Operation Big Star test)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Quote box |width=23em
|title=RBS Express sites
|quote=1961 Mar 1 (1st): Milan, Tennessee
1961 (11th RBS): Rhame, North Dakota
tbd: Bowman, North Dakota{{cite web |last=Roush |first=Dick |date=5 May 2001 |title=3903rd Radar Bomb Scoring Group |url=http://www.koreanwar.org/html/units/usaf/3903rbs.htm |format=Web Bulletin Board |publisher=KoreanWar.org |access-date=2012-05-20 |quote=Served…from October 1957 to June 1962. …Keesler AFB for tech school, then…at Los Angeles RBS site}}
1961: McAlester, Oklahoma{{Cite news |date=12 July 1961 |title=One Altus Crew To Fly State Radar Mission |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gYlDAAAAIBAJ&sjid=da4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1295,694738&dq=mcalester+radar-bomb&hl=en |newspaper=The Altus Times-Democrat |access-date=2012-07-08}}
1961 December (#2): Hawthorne, Nevada{{Cite news |date=14 December 1961 |title=Hawthorne "Bombed" Daily |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/nevada-state-journal/1961-12-14/page-14 |newspaper=Nevada State Journal |access-date=2012-06-20}}
1962 January: Greenville, Texas
1962 April: Athens, Georgia {{Cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OlRDAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oa0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1371,2794902&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en |title = The Newberry Observer - Google News Archive Search}}
1962 May: Jalapa, South Carolina{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OlRDAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oa0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1371,2794902&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en | title=The Newberry Observer - Google News Archive Search }}{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PVRDAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oa0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=2765,3033845&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en | title=The Newberry Observer - Google News Archive Search }}
1962 June: Barksdale AFB, Louisiana http://www.crenshawlocomotiveworks.com/rrvrhs/RRNewsletterNovember2010.pdf{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
1963 Jan: Worthington, Minnesota {{Cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WNI8AAAAIBAJ&sjid=AvcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1741,8324030&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en |title = Hendricks Pioneer - Google News Archive Search}}
1963 Mar-May: Deeth, Nevadahttp://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/2012/02/those-places-thursday-rbs-express-62-63.html see also [https://newspaperarchive.com/nevada-state-journal/1963-05-12/page-6 Nevada State Journal, May 12, 1963]
1963 (# "III"): Jalapa, South Carolina{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P1RDAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oa0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1195,3207164&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en | title=The Newberry Observer - Google News Archive Search }}{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RVRDAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oa0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=3708,3634789&dq=bomb-scoring-unit&hl=en | title=The Newberry Observer - Google News Archive Search }}
1963 May-Jun (1st): depot{{Cite news |last=Livingood |first=Jay |title=Rail Bomb 'Scorer' Gets Overhaul At Hill Air Base |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kqpSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1n8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3280,6378078&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en |newspaper=The Deseret News |access-date=2012-07-08}}
1963 June (1st): Minnesota {{Cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kqpSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1n8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3280,6378078&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en |title = The Deseret News - Google News Archive Search}}
tbd: Corsicana, Texas[https://www.google.com/#q=%22When+we+were+stationed+at+Joplin%22&hl=en&prmd=imvns&filter=0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=fafb6579f44e3080&biw=1600&bih=737 Google]. Google. Retrieved on 2013-09-18.
1964 Jan: Emhouse, Texas {{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pos9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=8jUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2347,7890&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en |title=SAC Bomber Missions Planned Over This Area |newspaper=Wood County Democrat |date=2 January 1964 |via=Google News}}
1964 Jan-Mar: Thoreau, New Mexico
tbd: Crane, Indiana
1964 Sep: Moulton, Iowa {{Cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tn1FAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tLwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1623,9317&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en |title = The Telegraph-Herald - Google News Archive Search}}
1965: Scott City, Kansas
1965 Apr-Sep: Newport, Arkansas (3rd time){{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EGMvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=My4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1447,852687&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en | title=Southeast Weekly Bulletin - Google News Archive Search }}{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JvpXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oPYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4651,2717497&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en | title=Spokane Daily Chronicle - Google News Archive Search }}
1966 Oct: Wendell, Idaho {{Cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WLJfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AzMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6003,3400534&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en |title = Lewiston Morning Tribune - Google News Archive Search}}
1966-67:{{Cite web |url=http://www.scrm.org/Newsletter18-Apr2012.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-09-27 |archive-date=2013-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418065820/http://www.scrm.org/Newsletter18-Apr2012.pdf |url-status=dead }} Rion, South Carolina
1968 February (w/ MSQ-39): Wellsville, Missouri
1968 May: Naicom, Saskatchewan{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BC5gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m28NAAAAIBAJ&pg=7240,880975&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en | title=The Phoenix - Google News Archive Search }}{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JzFgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tW8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=7118,19127&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en | title=The Phoenix - Google News Archive Search }}
1968-9: Ritzville, Washington{{Cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=As8zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KvgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3973,1113583&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en |title = Spokane Daily Chronicle - Google News Archive Search}}
1969: Lawen, Oregon{{cite web |last=Burke |first=Charles |title=Charlie's Military Memories |url=http://home.rmci.net/cbburke/charlie's/Charliesmilitarymemories.html |publisher=MCI.net |access-date=2012-07-08}}
1970 May: Saskatoon, Canada{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TS5gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n28NAAAAIBAJ&pg=881,299628&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en | title=The Phoenix - Google News Archive Search }}{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3ulUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kDwNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1713,305900&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en | title=The Leader-Post - Google News Archive Search }}
}}
RBS Express railroad trains were 3 mobile United States Air Force radar stations for 1CEVG Radar Bomb Scoring (RBS) of Strategic Air Command bomber crews beginning in March 1961.{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0XsvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jkgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4071,2676530&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en | title=The Deseret News - Google News Archive Search }}{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UPscAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HpoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5728,2205319&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en | title=The Tuscaloosa News - Google News Archive Search }} Electronic equipment included the "MSQ-39, TLQ-11, MPS-9, and the IFF/SIF for the MSQ-39"{{cite web |last=Kalie |first=C. |title=The RBS Express… |url=http://www.reocities.com/Pentagon/quarters/3996/RBSxpr.html |access-date=2012-07-16 |quote=one of the…trains was parked near Hawthorne, Nevada in June {{sic|1960.}} Here you see the support cars on the left. Moving to the right, there is the MSQ-39, TLQ-11, MPS-9, and the IFF/SIF for the MSQ-39 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618124639/http://www.reocities.com/Pentagon/quarters/3996/RBSxpr.html |archive-date=2015-06-18 |url-status=dead }} along with support railcars ("work train"), and the trains were temporarily used at various rail sites (e.g., sidings) with the radar antennas emplaced using hoists built onto flatcars. Pulled by a "contracted locomotive" that left the train at the site{{who|date=September 2012}}{{cite web |url= http://www.mobileradar.org/Documents/radar_bomb_scoring.pdf |title= In regards to the SAC radar bomb scoring squadron mounted on railroad cars. |access-date=30 Aug 2010 |date= 22 Feb 2007 |publisher=MobileRadar.org}} (e.g., for 45 days), and a North American B-25 Mitchell was used for calibration of the radar station.[http://aviationtrivia.blogspot.com/2009_12_01_archive.html Tails Through Time: December 2009]. Aviationtrivia.blogspot.com. Retrieved on 2013-09-18.
Each train used "existing U.S. Army stock" from Ogden General Depot,{{Cite news |date=28 December 1961 |title=Bombers To Descend Near Alto Series of Mock Air Attacks |url=http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth150424/m1/7/zoom/ |newspaper=The Cherokeean |location=Rusk, Texas |access-date=2012-07-09 |quote=At the target area near Greenville, radar bomb scoring equipment mounted on an Air Force train}} and each train's 21 cars (17 support and 4 radar cars) included "a generator car, two box cars (one for radar equipment maintenance, and one for support maintenance) [a] dining car, two day-room cars, supply cars, admin car, and 4 [crew sleeping cars]."{{r|MobileRadar}} Depot maintenance for the trains was at the Tooele Army Depot{{cite web |date=5 August 2011 |title=The Tooele Army Depot |url=http://utahrails.net/utahrails/tooele-army-depot.php |publisher=UtahRails.net |access-date=2012-07-08}} southwest of Salt Lake City ("Army Rail Shops"). Major Eugene R. Butler was the 1st commander of the "First RBS Express",{{Cite news|last=Kershaw |first=Marcia |date=8 December 1961 |title=Bomb Scoring Squadron To Be Moved To Mississippi Base in February |archive-date=30 November 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121130110908/http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:c4tx12H-GKkJ:newspaperarchive.com/joplin-globe/1961-12-08/+%22Joplin+Bomb+Plot%22&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/joplin-globe/1961-12-08/ |newspaper=Joplin Globe |access-date=2012-07-07 |quote=Detachment 2 was moved here from Oklahoma City under command of Major Eugene R. Butler with 35 men and officers and has grown to a strength of 72 Personnel … have manned the First a train carrying complete radar bomb scoring equipment for the purpose of scoring SAC bomber at remote locations … Major Butler was the first commander of the First RBS Express |url-status=dead }} and each 1CEVG squadron's detachments manned a train (after the 1965 discontinuation of RBS squadrons,{{r|VolumeI}} RBS detachments continued operating trains.) Butler's command had 60 11th RBS airmen: 15 from the Joplin Bomb Plot and others from the bomb plots at La Junta CO, Bismarck ND, Minneapolis MN, Salt Lake City UT, St Louis MO, and Little Rock AR.{{Cite news |date=19 February 1961 |title=U.S. To Use Trains For Radar 'Targets' |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jz9QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=M1cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4191,3312331&dq=bomb-scoring&hl=en |newspaper=The Evening Independent |access-date=2012-09-24}}
{{External media|
|image1=[http://forums.railfan.net/image.cgi?concourse/a529ef88.jpg acquisition radar on railcar]
}}
References
{{Reflist |refs=
- {{cite news |author=johnd584 |date=26 November 2004 |title=Message 11827 |quote=11th RBS express set up in Rhame ND and Capt Reeves from Bismarck was the commander in summer of 1961 or 62}}
- {{cite news |last=Reyburn |first=David W |date=29 November 2004|title=Re: Re: [Combat Evaluation Group] Re: RBS Express |quote=train in Deeth, Nevada in April 1, 1963…train in Igloo, S.D. the middle of August 1963 and was there until we moved the train to Vaughn, N.M. the first of Oct. 1963…Train at Creston, WY the first of April…left for the Train Nov 12, 1964 for Moulton, Iowa…train and moved it to Scott City, KS…Left the train About February 25, 1965… train in Oberlin, LA in the middle of August 1965}}
- {{cite news |last=McAfee |first=Emerson R |title=tbd |quote=train. … Several of us…volunteered to go to Lake City in 1964… And we had all kinds of volunteers for Mayfield, KY}}
- {{cite news |last=Withers |first=Daniel A |date=17 February 2005 |title=Message 13073 |quote=Closing Deeth (literally), we relocated to the New Mexico garden spot of Vaughn.}}
- {{cite news |last=McAfee |first=Emerson R |date=6 August 2005 |title=Re: Greetings! |quote=I was at Det. 8 Richmond from Jun 63-Apr 72. I also made trips to Browns IL but we were the ones who moved it from Mauk GA to Browns so I was only at Browns for about a week}}
- {{cite news |last=Hirsch |first=Ken |date=6 August 2005 |title=Message tbd |quote=I was stationed at Detachment 3, Statesboro, GA from Oct. 1963 - Sept. 1966. Tours on the RBS Express were at…Browns, IL; Jonesboro, AR; Train on display in Philadelphia, PA; Mount Pleasant, TN and Port Henry, NY (2 tours - I liked it up there!).}}
- {{cite news |last=Avery |first=Jim |date=8 August 2005 |title=Message 15844 |quote=We actually moved the train from Lake City, SC to Browns, IL. (The train moved from Mauk, GA to Thoreau, NM).}}
- {{Cite news |last=Ross |first=Don |date=30 August 2007 |title=Sqdns, Det 4 and Germany |url=https://groups.yahoo.com/group/combatevaluationgroup/message/38535 |format=Yahoo newsgroup |access-date=2012-07-09 |quote=three RBS Express trains. One per sqdn }}
- {{cite web |last=Skinner |first=Don |date=31 July 2010 |title=Memories/1CEG |url=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/combatevaluationgroup/message/86756+reeves |access-date=2012-09-24 |quote=I spent the first 3 months of 1964 on RBS Express at Thoreau, NM as maintenance man }}
}}
Category:Cold War military history of the United States