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$\begingroup$ Your answer is good, but it's also possible that it's wrong. In some circumstances, it might have guaranteed the MAD outcome instead. Bombers that don't need to land are more difficult to recall... because for traditional bombers they end up auto-recalled when on patrol just by the needle nearing the big E. See the documentary Failsafe for additional details. $\endgroup$

John O
– John O

2021-08-24 15:26:19 +00:00
Commented Aug 24, 2021 at 15:26
3

$\begingroup$ @JohnO Hmm, I don't see how that would make much difference. Sure, a conventionally-fueled bomber has to return to base pretty quickly compared to a nuclear-powered bomber. But it's not like they were patrolling the border just waiting for a moment when nobody at the Pentagon was paying attention so they could race in and drop their bombs. The chance that they would be "auto-recalled" at just the moment when some mistake led them to penetrate the other side's air space seems pretty small. $\endgroup$

Jay
– Jay

2021-08-24 20:04:27 +00:00
Commented Aug 24, 2021 at 20:04
5

$\begingroup$ The practical limit on bombers (once refueling aircraft were developed) was the endurance of the crews, not the fuel in the planes. These would be worse - instead of a tiny, uncomfortable, cold deathtrap, you have a tiny, uncomfortable, cold and potentially radioactive deathtrap. $\endgroup$

DWKraus
– DWKraus

2021-08-24 22:01:38 +00:00
Commented Aug 24, 2021 at 22:01
2

$\begingroup$ @JohnO "Nuclear armaggedon paranoia" is putting the answer in the question. The mission would be to loiter until further notice, with nuclear weapons on board. I don't know if that scenario has been tested, but I think saying it would automatically lead to a disaster is a fairly high claim. We have examples of people living for months in tiny metal caskets without going totally insane. That's also assuming the technical ability to keep a plane in the sky for months means you will keep them in the sky for months. $\endgroup$

AmiralPatate
– AmiralPatate

2021-08-25 09:29:28 +00:00
Commented Aug 25, 2021 at 9:29
1

$\begingroup$ @John O : I prefer the other documentary produced the same year from the same book... $\endgroup$

user_1818839
– user_1818839

2021-08-25 11:33:31 +00:00
Commented Aug 25, 2021 at 11:33

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