The ''Basic Encyclopedia'' is an encyclopedia of the

US Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sig ...

that lists places that are targets for bombing. It was begun in 1946 during the

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because t ...

as the ''Bombing Encyclopedia'' and included over 80,000 potential targets around the world during the

. It included their B.E. number (which consisted of an eight digit identifier), a brief description, longitude and latitude, elevation, and category (military, industrial, or an airfield). The title was changed to ''Basic Encyclopedia'' in the 1960s or 1970s before its publication ended in 1973. The encyclopedia was computerized and used in the

Defense Intelligence Agency The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is an intelligence agency and combat support agency of the United States Department of Defense, specializing in defense and military intelligence. A component of the Department of Defense (DoD) and the ...

's Automated Installation File.

References

United States Air Force Encyclopedias of the military Nuclear warfare Strategic Air Command {{USAF-stub

See also

References