When the Cold War turned white-hot in the minds of military planners, the E-4B had to prove it could do more than just survive — it had to run the nation from the sky.

In this episode of Command in the Sky, we step inside the heart of the “Doomsday Plane” as it evolves from concept to an airborne command post capable of managing nuclear war in real time.
We explore the cutting-edge (and classified) communications systems, the crew who would operate them under unimaginable pressure, and the Cold War crises that tested its readiness.

From simulated apocalypses to shadowy midair refueling operations, these sections reveal how the E-4B became more than a plane — it became the last line of command.