50 years ago today

[NutmegCT]

On 14 October 1962, a U-2 from the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, based at Laughlin Air Force Base near Del Rio, Texas, and piloted by Major Richard S. Heyser, flew over Cuba.

Among the photos from that flight was the one below, showing the Soviet military installing nuclear warhead missiles in Cuba, precipitating the Cuban Missile Crisis.

In the 30 days which followed, I remember my dad bringing home Civil Defense plans for building a bomb shelter in the back yard. I was 14 years old; this was not a good time.

Tom

 

[DART]

And followup low level pics by the Navy confirmed. Good piece on the whole series of events on CBS's Sunday Morning today.

 

[Shinsen774]

We lived in Jacksonville, Florida at the time...too close for comfort.

 

[bgbassplyr]

BIL was living at the Cape, working for NASA, and tells about the low level photo shots over Cuba flown by fast movers from nearby base.

I was in Atlanta at the time, and best friend there was was in the National Guard. He was called up to stand guard at the AFB in Marietta....for 5 or 6 days. They had the base loaded with HOT (nuclear) B47's, manned at all times for immediate departure if needed.

It was a very worrisome time.