The tornado struck a hard blow at half of the Pentagon’s fleet of four E-4B Nightwatch aircraft — popularly known as the “Doomsday” plane.
The Boeing E-4B Nightwatch is intended for national emergency situations or an attack.
It is specifically designated for the security of the US president, defense minister and other members of the US military leadership in the event of a nuclear war.
The first ‘Doomsday’ aircraft was built on the basis of the Boeing 747-200. It was called the Boeing E-4B.
There are four such aircraft with the US Air Force at present. The “Doomsday” aircraft can stay in the air for a whole week, subject to air refueling.
All the equipment onboard is protected from the damaging effects of a nuclear explosion. Furthermore, each jet can accommodate a hundred people.
However, it seems that the invincible jet is no match for Mother Nature. It was knocked off service during the recent tornado.
“The June 16 tornado also damaged eight of the 55th Wing’s fleet of 29 RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, which fly critical surveillance missions in the Middle East, the western Pacific and the Far East,” Drew Nystrom, a 55th Wing spokesman told media.
He added that according to a “very preliminary” estimate, the storm caused between $7 million and $10 million worth of damage to other Offutt facilities.
The mighty storm at Offutt Air Force Base also downed many large trees, damaging some facilities and knocking down power lines.
