EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif -- The Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at the Center published Operations Plan Serial Number 18-59 which stated Headquarters, United States Air Force had directed the Tactical Air Command to attempt to recapture the world air record for maximum speed-closed course (100 KM, unrestricted altitude) at Edwards Air Force Base by 15 December 1959. Tactical Air Command would provide the aircrew and aircraft. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale would provide timing and record authentication services. The Air Force Flight Test Center would support Tactical Air Command by providing technical advisory assistance, instrumentation (as required), mission planning, specialized support and staging facilities.
Tactical Air Command was a United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on March 21, 1946 and headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. It was inactivated on June 1, 1992 and its personnel and equipment absorbed by Air Combat Command. Tactical Air Command was established to provide a balance between strategic, air defense, and tactical forces of the post–World War II U.S. Army Air Forces followed by, in 1947, the U.S. Air Force. In 1948, the Continental Air Command assumed control over air defense, tactical air, and air reserve forces. After two years in a subordinate role, Tactical Air Command was established as a major command. In 1992, after assessing the mission of TAC and to accommodate a decision made regarding Strategic Air Command, Headquarters United States Air Force inactivated TAC and incorporated its resources into the newly created Air Combat Command..