The SAC(K)

The early collection of the KC Matchgirl centered solely on the local places she had been.  All that changed when an uncle gave her The Sack.  This plain brown paper grocery sack, which was found in the trash pile, had wondrous items inside- matchbooks from other places!  From hotels, motels, restaurants, bowling alleys, to lounges & coffee shops.  All used, from a man who obviously smoked everywhere he went, from city to city, especially in Denver.

Sorting through the contents was like an archaeological dig, discovering the unknown smoker's life through matchbooks: where he ate, had a few beers, cashed his paycheck, even where he worked- United States Air Force.

After a visit to the SAC Museum in Ashland, NE, it finally dawned on the KC Matchgirl there was a matchbook from that sack with the same logo displayed there...

The Strategic Air Command shield logo features an armored fist gripping lightening bolts, which represent speed and power, and olive branches to symbolize peace.  The shield was designed by Airman 2nd Class Robert T. Barnes during a contest in 1951, which netted him a $100 savings bond for the winning design.

Using the personnel and facilities developed during World War II, it was first established as the Continental Air Force in 1944.  2 years later the unit was re-designated as the Strategic Air Command.  Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, CO was home to the 703rd Strategic Missile Wing and the 451st Strategic Missile Wing Titan 1 units from 1958 to 1965, when the Titan ICBMs were removed.

In 1992, a united command was renamed US Strategic Command and the shield logo was retired.

This 40- count matchbook dates to the late 1950's to early 1960's.