★ FAMOUSGovernment

TACAMO (E-6B Mercury)

The nuclear messenger — talks to missile submarines from the sky

Tail number 164387

Boeing E-6 Mercury, the type TACAMO (E-6B Mercury) is built on
Type photo · Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The story

TACAMO — 'Take Charge And Move Out.' The Navy's E-6B Mercury exists to relay launch orders to ballistic-missile submarines if everything on the ground is gone. Built on the last 707 airframes ever made, at least one is airborne or on strip alert at all times, and has been for decades.

Fun fact

To talk to submerged submarines, the E-6B trails a 26,000-foot wire antenna and flies in tight circles so it hangs almost vertically.

Quick answers

What is the tail number of TACAMO (E-6B Mercury)?

164387 (Boeing E-6B Mercury).

What kind of aircraft is TACAMO (E-6B Mercury)?

Boeing E-6B Mercury.

Is it still flying?

Yes, it is still active.

The type

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