"7 High" Chapter 6 "Crisis!"

“7 High”

Recollections of a Combat Defense Squadron “Ramp Rat”

Chapter 6

“CRISIS!”

Chain of Command

1 September 1962 my own personal crisis had begun a few weeks ago, and the condoms still continued to decorate my doorknob in the barracks. It was starting to get old and certain parties had turned to making them nasty.

2 September 1962 began Operation Skyshield III. All U.S. civil air traffic was grounded during the tests which involved 6,000 sorties flown by air forces from the U.S., UK and Canada simulating Soviet fighter / bomber attacks against New York, Chicago and Washington. This made it the largest military aviation exercise ever held.

http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/this-is-only-a-test.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Skyshield

We went on alert, of course. Bunker Hill AFB launched everything we had on the ramp. The story we heard was that the B-58s had showed the F-106s their afterburners shortly after takeoff, not to be seen again. The sixes came back first, with little incident.

The B-58s didn’t show up until the next day. I had the misfortune to be on the Reserve Strike Team and we were called out repeatedly for in-bound emergencies. At one point we just stayed out on the end of the taxiway waiting for the next emergency, rather than try to go back to the barracks. There is nothing groggier than a Reserve Strike Team, putting in an additional 12 hour shift back to back.

There were various B-58 mechanical problems, most landed ok, but there was one aircraft that reported unable to contact the Defense Systems Operator (DSO). After landing, the DSO’s hatch didn’t open, and it turned out that he had been killed by a piece of the inboard engine that flew off and penetrated the aircraft.

5 September 1962, the Doctor in Warsaw confirmed that we did indeed have a pregnant Tiger on our hands.

10 September 1962, I received the required permission from our Jeep Commander to get married. The Tiger and I went to the Base Exchange, we picked out a very nice wedding ring set for $119.63

10 September 1962, KC-135 crashes on approach to Fairchild, 44 killed. Inbound from Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, it was carrying TDY personnel, as Ellsworth was closing it’s runway for repairs. Here is a 2012 Spokesman Review article: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/sep/09/ten-minutes-from-home/

Who knows how long that will work?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellsworth_Air_Force_Base

12 September 1962, The Tiger and I were married by a Justice of the Peace in Warsaw, Indiana. The bride wore a very pretty blue dress. Sorry, no pictures are available. I drove back to the base and went to work on swing shift. This was the second anniversary of my entry into the Air Force.

I did get a five-day leave to combine with a three-day break for a honeymoon. We drove the Ford to Nashville, and back up to Chicago. I don’t have any pictures, but this is the identical car, sans the fliptop. We were cruising in style.

Thanks to Tony, South Hampshire, UK

http://www.58skyliner.com/index.htm

14 September, 1962, while in Nashville, we heard the news of another B-58 crash.

18 September 1962, returning to Bunker Hill, I heard the bad news that the 14 September crash had taken the life of Lt Col Travasani and his crew. Members of our squadron were still out there, guarding the crash site.

B-58A 61-205793, assigned to 305th BW; was destroyed 9/14/62, 2 n. miles NE of Butlerville, Jennings County, Indiana. The cause was structural failure caused by control system failure during normal flight; pilot Lt. Col. John J. Trevisani, Nav/bombardier Capt. Arthur Freed, DSO Capt. Reinardo Moure.

I also found that I had orders for both Spain (Zaragoza AB) and England (Upper Heyford AB), and could take my choice.

20 September 1962 I extended my enlistment to 11 December 1965 to complete the overseas assignment to Zaragoza AB, Zaragoza, Spain. Oh, yes, and I was officially FIGMO again.

http://www.stripes.com/photoday/121208photoday.html

27 September 1962 it was on the news about a flash flood in Barcelona, Spain that killed more than 440 people.

30 September 1962 CBS Radio broadcasts the final episode of “Suspense” and “Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar”, truly marking the end of the Golden Age of Radio

1 October 1962, the United States confirms the existence of Soviet Surface to Air Missiles (SAM) sites in Cuba.

I started clearing base at Bunker Hill for the last time. The Tiger and I were going to drive the Ford home to Spokane and we were both looking forward to the trip.

I still owed Harv money for wrecking the Studebaker, and had given him my movie equipment in exchange, promising to bring him the projector from Spokane on my way back.

4 October 1962.

Washington, October 4, 1962.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Cuba, General, 10/1-10/14/62. Top Secret.

SUBJECT

Presidential Interest in SA-2 Missile System and Contingency Planning for Cuba

1. In your memorandum of 21 September 1962,/1/ you noted an apparent lack of unanimity between General LeMay and Admiral Anderson with respect to aircraft losses that might occur in attacking an SA-2 site. You further requested assurance as to the currency of contingency planning for Cuba.

/1/See vol. X, Document 434.

2. I have discussed with General LeMay and Admiral Anderson their estimate of aircraft losses in attacking SA-2 missile sites. Admiral Anderson agrees with General LeMay's point that no losses would be suffered from the SA-2 missile since the attacking aircraft would fly below the effective minimum altitude of the SA-2. General LeMay shares Admiral Anderson's estimate that attacking aircraft might suffer some loss to antiaircraft artillery defenses of the SA-2 site. The National Intelligence Estimate/2/ credits the SA-2 missile system with a minimum effective altitude of 3000 feet due to inherent radar limitations.

/2/Reference is to SNIE 85-3-62; ibid., Document 433.

3. If antiaircraft artillery is employed in direct support of the missile site, losses may be expected. World War II and Korean experience, updated to reflect current antiaircraft artillery capabilities against modern aircraft, indicates that low level attack forces would incur some combat losses from antiaircraft artillery fire; however, numbers cannot be predicted accurately. There are currently no known antiaircraft artillery defenses of SA-2 sites in Cuba. Attack plans can be amended to take the antiaircraft weapons under fire during the attack if reconnaissance shows such defenses and if analysis shows such fire suppression necessary. Korean experience proved that such fire suppression was unnecessary when surprise could be achieved.

4. In my opinion and that of the Joint Chiefs, it is not necessary to build a model of an SA-2 site for training purposes. However, the aircraft revetment of the type found at Santa Clara and Camaguey is a more difficult target than the SA-2 site. Therefore, the Air Force has found it desirable to reproduce that type aircraft revetment to aid in the selection of weapons, method of delivery and to assist in training crews. The target was completed at Nellis AFB, Nevada, on 30 September 1962, at an approximate cost of $28,000. Initial tests indicate that the GAM 83, 20 mm cannon, and napalm is the most effective weapons mix against aircraft in such revetments.

5. I have taken steps to insure that our contingency plans for Cuba are kept up to date.

6. The Navy plans to attack SA-2 targets at low level using 4 divisions of A-4D's (4 aircraft per division) armed with 250#, 500#, and 2000# low drag bombs and napalm. All crews are proficient in the delivery techniques planned. Similarly, the Air Force plans primary use of napalm and 20 mm cannon delivered at low level, and crews are proficient. Both have made detailed target studies; target folders are in the hands of crews; and crews are familiar with their assigned targets. As new missile sites are located, they are picked up in the target and attack plans within a few hours of receipt of photographs./3/

/3/On October 5 General C.V. Clifton, the President's military aide, sent a memorandum to Secretary McNamara in which he indicated that the President had "read with interest" McNamara's October 4 memorandum dealing with the SA-2 missile system in Cuba. Clifton noted: "He commented that he was sure you had had an opportunity to tell General Taylor of the contents of the memorandum." (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Cuba, General, 10/1-10/14/62)

Robert S. McNamara/4/

/4/Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature

5 October 1962, Linda and I set out for Spokane in the Ford. There were few interstates, just real US Highways back then. It was an adventure for both of us. I had been looking forward to driving across the country.

Gas stations back then gave away road maps, in addition to washing the windshield and checking the oil. At the Clark Station in Peru premium gas was $.22 per gallon, and they gave S&H Green stamps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S&H_Green_Stamps

We drove west on US24 from Peru, picking up US34 in Peoria, IL. It was here that we noticed that the transmission was making a funny noise, kind of like banging spoons together. We added a can of STP to the transmission, and that seemed to help.

It was raining as we drove west through Iowa on US34. Passing through heartland USA, after Ottumwa, we saw many small towns, all with different motels and eateries. The scenery was unlike today’s homogenized scenery of Mickey D’s and Holiday Inn Express, and the like. Each town had more of a personality of it’s own.

Picking up US30 in Grand Island, Nebraska, we added another can of STP to the automatic transmission in the Ford.

It was snowing as we crossed the pass between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming. The Ford was surprisingly gutless at the high altitude. At first I thought something more was wrong.

At Pocatello, Idaho, we headed north on US91 to Butte, Montana.

At Butte, we again turned west again, this time on US10.

9 October 1962 We made it to Spokane fairly late in the evening and woke up my parents by racking off the pipes on the Ford. They thought it was one of my brother’s friends and came out to yell at us.

***Things we did in Spokane…

We took the Tiger to Priest Lake for the first time.

Added yet another can of STP to the automatic transmission in the Ford, and detailed it for sale.

Watched the first episodes of “McHale’s Navy”.

Just missed the Seattle World’s Fair.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century_21_Exposition
http://www.seattlepi.com/specials/worldsfair/
http://www.alamedainfo.com/seattle_worlds_fair_1962.htm
http://www.62worldsfair.com/

11 October 1962, Linda my brother and I drove out to Fairchild AFB, to stock up on beer at the BX annex. It was most annoying to me that I was not allowed to buy beer in Washington, after having that freedom in Indiana. I also took my pay records to personnel and got paid.

During my High School days, when they were flying B-36s at Fairchild, they used to drop leaflets on Spokane that declared, “This could have been an atomic bomb.”

Those B-36 aircraft were so noisy that the North Central High School building would shake and the windows would rattle, and all classes would stop, until they were past. There had been a number of crashes at Fairchild B-36s and B-52s during my High School years.

26 February 1954 a B-36 crashed on end of runway as it ran up its 6 piston and 4 jet engines for takeoff. The main gear collapsed, though no injuries resulted. The aircraft, equipped with eight gun turrets, two 20mm cannons per turret, was fully loaded with 20mm ammunition. The ammunition was exploding as firefighters battled the blaze.

29 March 1954 a B-36 crashed on takeoff, barely missing an O-11A on line standby at taxiway 10). Building 3 (present fire station 1) had just been completed and was scheduled to be occupied soon. Unfortunately, the aircraft, after clipping several aircraft on the flightline, demolished the kitchen as it crashed toward the west. Seven crewmembers were killed on the aircraft, three survived. One firefighter suffered a broken arm after being struck by a flying wheel strut that had exploded. The aircraft flipped upside down and came to rest in an area occupied by the 99th SRW, now utilized by the 141st Air National Guard.

A B-36 was also involved in two "Broken Arrow" incidents. On 13 February 1950, a B-36, serial number 44-92075, crashed in an unpopulated region of British Columbia reputedly after ditching its bomb over the ocean (See 1950 British Columbia B-36 crash). Recovery teams also searched the crash site for its remains and accompanying "bird-cage", resulting in the first loss of an American nuclear weapon.^[44]

Great video of B-36 from film “Strategic Air Command”, 1955, starring Col James Stewart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRxkYmfcX28

B-36 References

http://www.b-36peacemakermuseum.org/index.htm

http://www.zianet.com/tmorris/b36.html

http://www.cowtown.net/proweb/b36net/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-36_Peacemaker

08 September 1959, two B-52's (tail numbers 6661 and 6681) collided over Airway Heights at 1822 hrs. Thirteen crew members were killed; only the tail gunner and EWO of one aircraft survived. No one on the ground was injured. The accident occurred while both aircraft were circling the base going opposite directions.

We could see the crash smoke from my Grandfather’s house on Summit Blvd.

Schroeder, the A1C that taught me the Alternate Comm/Plotter job at Bunker Hill had been stationed at Fairchild at the time. Schroeder used to have a lot of “war stories”, and was like an old timer, old man to us. He must have been 26 or 28, an old guy, he’d been in during Korea.

11 October 1962, by now, Fairchild had B-52s (Buffs), KC-135’s and Atlas E, like I had worked at Forbes.

Atlas launch sites were located at Deer Park, Newman Lake, Sprague, Davenport, Wilbur, Egypt, Reardon, Lamona, and Rockford, Idaho.

http://www.siloworld.com/567thSMS/FAIRCHIL.HTM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Air_Force_Base

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/fairchild.htm

Fighter cover was provided by F-106s from nearby Geiger Field, where my Grandfather had retired as Base Commander. They had been flying F-102’s during my High School days and my Grandfather, Father and I had been out there a few times to watch the deuces.

http://www.f-106deltadart.com/498fis.htm

This link has history of 498th FIS.

The Fairchild AFB complex was also protected by a ring of four surface to air missile sites. Originally Nike Ajax, by this time, two of the sites had been upgraded to Nike Hercules, and the other two were to be converted for other purposes.

Nike Site F-07C near Spokane, Washington (Airway Heights) was acquired by the United States Air Force during 1963 to be used as one of the command readout stations for the DMSP mission. It was operated by Detachment 1, 4000 Aerospace Applications Group, which was later designated as Detachment 1, 1000th Satellite Operations Group, and later the 5th Satellite Control Squadron part of the 50th Space Wing. It was later converted to the Fairchild Satellite Operations Center to support MILSTAR/GPS and other programs under Air Force Space Command.^[1]

F-37 Cheney (Four Lakes), fitted with three magazines and 12 launchers, Cheney was operational under B/10th (12/56-9/58) and B/1/43rd (9/58-6/60). In November 1961 the Army transferred the installation to the Washington Air National Guard, which moved in the 252nd Communications Group (Mobile) and the 242nd Mobile Communications Squadron.

F-45 Medical Lake (Booth Hill Radar Site and Medical Lake Launch Site), southwest of Fairchild AFB in Medical Lake , Washington, opened in 1957 as a Nike Ajax installation. In 1961, Nike Site F-45 was converted to house Nike Hercules missiles.

F-87 Deep Creek, this was the second of two Nike Hercules sites manned by D/1/43rd (9/58-3/66). The layout was three magazines/11 launchers

For everything Nike:

http://ed-thelen.org/index.html#loc

History of Fairchild Nike Sites

http://www.airforcebrac2005.org/Four%20Lakes/Nike%20Site%20Historical%20Context.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nike_missile_locations

12 October 1962 was the Columbus Day Storm. This was a big event in the Pacific Northwest. It was windy in Spokane, but nothing like what they got on “the coast”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Day_Storm

14 October 1962, the Cuban missile crisis broke in the US media.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis

http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/frusXI/index.html

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/chron.htm

On the morning of October 14, 1962, a U-2 aircraft, piloted by Air Force Major Richard D. Heyser, flew a reconnaissance mission over the western part of Cuba, flying from south to north. The 928 photographs obtained during the 6-minute flight over the island produced the first verified evidence of the existence of Soviet offensive missile sites in Cuba. Analysis and interpretation of the photographs at the National Photographic Intelligence Center revealed that three medium-range ballistic missile sites were being developed near San Cristobal, in Pinar del Rio province. Photo analysts counted eight large MRBM transporters at the three locations and four erector launchers in tentative firing positions. Two further U-2 missions, flown on October 15 by pilots of the Strategic Air Command, revealed a fourth MRBM site near San Cristobal, and two intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) sites were discovered at Guanajay. Photos also revealed 21 crates for Soviet IL-28 Beagle medium-range bomber aircraft at San Julian airfield. (Chronology of Air Force Actions During the Cuban Crisis, 14 October-30 October 1962; USAF Historical Division Liaison Office, pages 11-12)

On October 15, 1962, a major amphibious exercise was initiated in the southeastern United States and the Caribbean. The training exercise, which was code named PHIBRIGLEX-62, was scheduled for October 15-30. On October 15 more than 40 ships involved in the exercise were underway. The objective of the exercise was to conduct an amphibious assault on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. The stated intent of the assault was to overthrow the imaginary tyrant "Ortsac"--Castro spelled backwards. Approximately 20,000 naval personnel and 4,000 marines were involved in PHIBRIGLEX-62. The exercise was not suspended until October 20. The CINCLANT history of the missile crisis notes that "as early as about 10 October the National Military Command Center began inquiring informally of CINCLANT as to the nature and scope of PHIBRIGLEX-62. Without ever relating the exercise to the Cuban situation, there were indications of high-level interest in it." (CINCLANT Historical Account of Cuban Crisis--1963, pages 2-3)

On October 18, 1962, the Central Intelligence Agency released a "Joint Evaluation of the Soviet Mission Threat in Cuba," based on intelligence obtained as of 9 p.m. that day. The evaluation, prepared by the Guided Missile and Astronautics Committee, the Joint Atomic Energy Intelligence Committee, and the National Photographic Interpretation Center, was codenamed Iron Bark because it drew upon intelligence material provided by the Central Intelligence Agency's important Soviet source, Colonel Oleg Penkovsky. It was based on "relatively complete photo interpretation of U-2 photography" made on missions of October 14, and two on October 15 and "very preliminary and incomplete readout" of coverage of six U-2 missions on October 17.

The evaluation concluded that there was "at least one Soviet regiment consisting of eight launchers and sixteen 1020-nm (SS-4) medium-range ballistic missiles now deployed in western Cuba at two launch sites." These mobile missiles had to be considered operational and could be launched within 18 hours after the decision to launch was made. The evaluation concluded that "Fixed, soft sites, which could achieve initial operational capacity during December 1962, are now being deployed near Havana." These sites were probably intended for 2200-nm (SS-5) intermediate-range ballistic missiles and could be operational by December 1962. All missiles were manned by Soviet personnel and were under Soviet control. Although there was no positive evidence of nuclear warheads in Cuba, the evaluation suggested that "one must assume that nuclear warheads could now be available in Cuba to support the offensive missile capacity as it becomes operational." The expected warheads for these missiles would weigh 3,000 pounds and have yield in the low megaton range.

The significance of these developments, according to the evaluation, was that the Soviet Union "intends to develop Cuba into a prime strategic base, rather than as a token show of force. The mixed force of 1020-and 2200-nm missiles posed a common threat to the United States and a large portion of Latin America. (Central Intelligence Agency, Job 80-R01386R, O/D/NFAC, Cuba, 5 Sept-19 Oct 1962) See the Supplement. An extract of this evaluation is reproduced in CIA Documents on the Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962, pages 187-191.

22 October 1962, I was home for my 19th birthday. Mom made angel food cake with orange frosting, my favorite.

23 October 1962 the Joint Chiefs of Staff instructed the Strategic Air Command to go to DEFCON 2, for the only confirmed time in history. The message, and the response, were deliberately transmitted uncoded, unencrypted, in order to allow Soviet intelligence to capture them. All Air Force personnel were recalled.

I telephoned Bunker Hill AFB, but was told to proceed as ordered.

27 October 1962.

October 27, the CIA delivered a memo reporting that three of the four missile sites at San Cristobal and the two sites at Sagua la Grande appeared to be fully operational. They also noted that the Cuban military continued to organize for action, although they were under order not to initiate action unless attacked.

That morning, a U-2 piloted by USAF Major Rudolf Anderson, departed its forward operating location at McCoy AFB, Florida, and at approximately 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, was shot down by an S-75 Dvina (NATO designation SA-2 Guideline) SAM launched from an emplacement in Cuba. The stress in negotiations between the USSR and the U.S. intensified, and only later was it learned that the decision to fire was made locally by an undetermined Soviet commander on his own authority. Later that day, at about 3:41 p.m., several U.S. Navy RF-8A Crusader reconnaissance aircraft on low-level photo reconnaissance missions were fired upon, and one was hit by a 37 mm shell but managed to return to base.

On October 27th, the US Navy dropped a series of "signaling depth charges" (explosives designed to signal submarines) on a Soviet submarine (B-59) at the quarantine line, unaware that it was armed with a nuclear-tipped torpedo with orders that allowed it to be used if the submarine was "hulled" (hole in the hull from depth charges or surface fire).^[25]

Arguably the most dangerous moment in the crisis was unrecognized until the Cuban Missile Crisis Havana conference in October 2002, attended by many of the veterans of the crisis, at which it was learned that on October 26, 1962 the USS Beale had tracked and dropped signalling depth charges on the B-39, a Soviet Foxtrot-class submarine which was armed with a nuclear torpedo. Running out of air, the Soviet submarine was surrounded by American warships and desperately needed to surface. An argument broke out among three officers on the B-39, including submarine captain Valentin Savitsky, political officer Ivan Semonovich Maslennikov, and chief of staff of the submarine flotilla, Commander Vasiliy Arkhipov. An exhausted Savitsky became furious and ordered that the nuclear torpedo on board be made combat ready. Accounts differ about whether Commander Arkhipov convinced Savitsky not to make the attack, or whether Savitsky himself finally concluded that the only reasonable choice left open to him was to come to the surface.^[32]

At the Cuban Missile Crisis Havana conference, Robert McNamara admitted that nuclear war had come much closer than people had thought. Thomas Blanton, director of the National Security Archive, said that "a guy called Vasili Arkhipov saved the world."

27 October 1962, a U-2 from a SAC base in Alaska strayed into Soviet airspace over the Chukotski Peninsula on what was reported to be a “routine air sampling mission.” The U-2 pilot apparently enters Soviet airspace as a result of a navigational error. The pilot radioed for assistance and U.S. F-102 fighter aircraft in Alaska scrambled heading toward the Bering Sea.

At the same time, Soviet MIGs take off from a base near Wrangel Island to intercept the U-2, which eventually manages to fly out of Soviet territory with no shots being fired. Alaskan Air Command records suggest that the U.S. fighter planes were armed with nuclear air to air missiles.

When Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara heard that a U-2 was in Soviet airspace, he turned absolutely white, and yelled hysterically, “This means war with the Soviet Union.” President Kennedy’s reaction was simply to laugh and remark. “There is always some son of a bitch who doesn’t get the word.”

29 October 1962, we applied for the Tiger's passport. It was to be mailed to her parent’s home in Warsaw, Indiana, where she would wait until I had arranged for quarters at Zaragoza.

1 November 1962, The Tiger began having pregnancy complications, I took her to the USAF Hospital at Fairchild, and went to the Red Cross to see if I could get an extension on my leave. It had been suggested that that we drive my grandfather’s car, since he had a current retired officer’s sticker, but I insisted to drive my Ford that had a SAC sticker, but the base decal had been removed. There hadn’t ever been any problem before.

One could often drive through a main gate with just the SAC sticker and no decal. In fact, with the Studebaker we had made a study of just what would work. There was a certain technique, approach the gate fast, and douse the headlights, down to parking lights and don’t slow down too much, drive right through and flip the guard a casual salute. You would usually get a stunned salute in return.

None of this was going to work at Fairchild AFB, with the Cuban Crisis unfolding. This time I had to pull over to the Air Police Building, park and go in to get a visitors permit. The APs were even humping the POL tanks and I felt for them.

While we were at the base I stopped at personnel to get paid again. My reception was not nearly as cordial as before, but they did give me my pay.

Washington, November 1, 1962.

//Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Executive Committee, Vol. II, Meetings, 11-16. Top Secret; Sensitive.

1. Director McCone presented the intelligence summary covering developments in Cuba, as well as brief reports on situations in other areas. In response to a question, he said the admittedly confused evidence pointed to the conclusion that SAM sites in Cuba are under Russian control.

2. There followed a discussion of whether aerial reconnaissance should be carried out over Cuba today. The President authorized low-level flights of six planes over the airbase where the IL-28 planes are stationed and over certain MRBM sites. Weather conditions ruled out U-2 flights today. The major reason for overflying the IL-28 base is to make clear that we consider these planes "offensive weapons" to be removed by the Russians, and, therefore, we must know whether they are being dismantled.

With reference to low-level flights, Secretary McNamara said that he favored ten or twelve sorties, General Taylor favored eighteen, and General LeMay recommended thirty.

3. The President asked that Mr. McCloy make clear to Mikoyan during a conversation later today that we must carry out aerial reconnaissance over Cuba because the Cubans are preventing the implementation of the Soviet agreement to UN inspection of the removal of the missiles. A message to McCloy was to be drafted./1/

4. Following a discussion of reprisals to be taken if a U.S. reconnaissance plane is shot down over Cuba, the President decided that no retaliation would take place today.

5. General Taylor was assured that the full photographic coverage of Cuba planned for a later time--after the reported date of the removal of Soviet missiles from existing sites--would be authorized.

5 November 1962, I received a telegram granting a 17-day extension on my leave, more than I had asked for. I was to report to Charleston AFB SC ATCO NLT 0800 Hours 28 Nov 62 for Departure on Flight RO 19.

This was a real bonus. Linda’s troubles seemed to pass and we had plenty of time in Spokane. “Spokane Flyers” Hockey games at the Coliseum were one of our favorite diversions.

15 November 1962 I went back out to Fairchild again to be paid, they refused, and suggested that I was AWOL. I showed my telegram, but they still refused to pay me.

16 November 1962, the largest amphibious landing since World War II began as part of an exercise at Onslow Beach , North Carolina. The two day exercise was a full scale rehearsal for an invasion of Cuba, including six marine battalion landing teams, four by assault boats and two by helicopter assault carriers.

The JCS met with President Kennedy to report on the readiness status of forces that would be involved in any military action against Cuba. US. Forces massed for a Cuban invasion have reached their peak strength, the JCS reports some 100,000 Army troops, 40,000 Marines and 14,500 paratroopers stand ready, with 550 combat aircraft and over 180 ships available to support an invasion. Kennedy is advised that this advanced state of readiness can be maintained for about thirty days.

22 November 1962, we had Thanksgiving dinner, that would have been supper back in Indiana, at my parent’s home, 13020 DeSmet Ave, in Opportunity, Washington.

23 November 1962. When it came time to leave, we left the Ford with my folks to sell, hopefully to fund Linda’s airfare to Spain.

We flew to Chicago on “Northwest Orient… Air-lines, (Bong).” The aircraft was a Lockheed Electra

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_L-188_Electra

This was the Tiger's first flight, and she had been nervous for days. They served lunch as soon as we were off the ground and she had an accident with the French salad dressing and a new blouse that took the edge off the whole deal.

Then as we got further east, the weather became increasing bad, it was bumpy and snowing. We lost first one engine, and then a second. It really was getting interesting. We set down in Minneapolis/St Paul and waited while they found another aircraft to take us on to Chicago. Linda wasn’t very thrilled about this flying business.

Her parents had driven up to O’Hare to pick us up, and we were very late, with no way of contacting them. It had also been snowing in Chicago, and they had been having an adventure of their own, slipping and sliding on the roads.

Finally, we found them and her Dad drove us back to Warsaw. While we had been gone, he had purchased a new Rambler American. It was crowded with the four of us. He was tired, and unhappy about driving his new car in the snow and slush.

25 November 1962, we borrowed Ray’s new red Rambler American, and The Tiger, her sister, Sue, and I drove down to Peru to deliver the movie projector to Harv.

Thanks to Ray Costello for the photo.

http://www.raymondcostello.com/html/personal.html

Ray Fifer’s car wasn’t a convertible, but it was a red two door. Still looking for a photo of a hard top in red.

At the Bunker Hill AFB main gate, we got a visitors pass and went to the Combat Defense Squadron barracks, but couldn’t find Harv. Finally, we found out that he was on reserve strike team, and while on alert, they were now being held at Central Security Control (CSC), rather than returning to the barracks.

In the orderly room and barracks, everyone had been working 12 on and 12 off, almost since I left, and they were cranky as hell and certainly surprised to see me walking around acting like a civilian.

So, I drove to the parking lot outside the flight line, parked and walked up to Gate 5, carrying a rather hefty Bell and Howell movie projector and talked my way in, and walked over to CSC.

What used to be the Operations Officer’s Office was now six guys sleeping in a room with poor ventilation. Harv almost woke up, and I gave him the projector. There was not much to say. He, like everybody else, was wondering how I was wandering around free in the middle of this damn crisis. They had been on alert, working 12 hours on, 12 hours off, for weeks now.

We didn’t get much time to talk, and I got out of there before somebody spotted me without a SAC Form 138 and called a “7 High” on my ass. I bumped into the Operations NCOIC on the way out, and he gave me a real funny look. I kept on going.

27 November 1962, Linda and her sister Sue dropped me at the airport in Indianapolis and I caught a flight for Charleston SC. Another great puddle jumper flight. It was evening when I reported to the ATCO counter at Charleston AFB, as instructed, and they had no idea who I was, or what I was doing there.

So, I sat around the transient barracks, watching the MATS Super Constellations come and go. These seemed very old and quaint. Somehow like the clipper ships. The roar of their engines was reminiscent of the old days, after working around jet aircraft. They sounded like a big hydroplane, almost.

I thought that this is the way that I would be flying to Spain, aboard one of these three tailed birds. Word around the transient barracks was that the passenger seating faced backward, and contributed to airsickness.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Constellation

There was a WAF barracks next door to the transient barracks. Suddenly, I realized that I was married. And, broke anyway, so it really didn’t make any difference.

28 November 1962, I was given a voucher for an airline ticket to fly to Philadelphia on National Air Lines, and a bus ticket from there to McGuire, leaving in the morning.

29 November 1962, I caught the flight to Philadelphia. During the bus ride to McGuire, we went through Fort Dix, where I saw MPs with sedans and radar working a speed trap on the highway. They were wearing white helmet liners and had quite a line of cars stopped. This was very surprising to me, as AP’s didn’t have the equipment and we were to avoid confrontation with civilians.

The confusion at the McGuire ATCO counter was very similar to the reception I had received in Charleston. Like, “Who the hell are you, and what do you want?” While they were trying to figure it all out, I attempted to grab a snooze in the terminal. A young A3C AP with a nightstick came up and smacked me on the sole of my shoe. I flew up so fast; into his face, that it scared the hell out of both of us.

McGuire AFB was another transient barracks for me. Totally broke, at least I could eat in the mess hall for free.

30 November 1962, I boarded a chartered Pan American 707 for Madrid. How did I ever get so lucky? This was my second 707 ride and I was delighted. Pan American service was famous, and was excellent, even on charter flights.

Once off the ground, and the meal service finished, the lights were dimmed, such a smooth ride, it was very pleasant, and while most had drifted off to sleep, I was wired up thinking about the adventure ahead.

Everything since August was a blur in my mind. It felt like it could have been only a dream. But, here I was, married, with one in the hangar, on the plane, bound for Torrejon AB, Spain. I really had no idea what was ahead.

While the gang at Bunker Hill had still been on alert, the Cuban Crisis was officially over and I had somehow managed to miss the whole thing.

Landing at Torrejón AB, It was again the transient barracks. I was supposed to fly out on the 16^th AF courier flight to Zaragoza, but I was bumped, and there were to be no seats available for an A2C in the foreseeable future.

31 November 1962, the transportation people at Torrejón decided to put me on the night train to Zaragoza. Riding downtown to Madrid on a USAF bluebird bus, within a few minutes, I was involved in my first Spanish traffic accident.

It was a dark, cold, rainy night, and on the slick cobblestones, a motor scooter carrying two people slammed into the side of the bus.

There were no flashing lights and police response. The injured were placed in the nearest vehicle and hauled away. The smashed motor scooter was left at the curb. In no more than twenty minutes, we were on our way again.

The railroad station in Madrid seemed old world. The waiting rooms were large and cold. There were announcements that I couldn’t understand, and a funny acrid smell everywhere.

Out on the platform steam engines with funny bumpers on the front populated the station. They had those funny screeching whistles that I had heard in the movies.

Standing around on the platform were uniformed fellows, wearing funny patent leather hats and carrying Thompson .45 automatics, grease guns. These guys were very interested in me, but I didn’t figure out why.

From a photo by W. Eugene Smith

http://www.masters-of-photography.com/S/smith/smith_guardia_civil.html

It took all night for the train to bump, bang and screech its way to Zaragoza. It was dark and very rural was all I could tell by looking out the window. We must have stopped at every siding and village. I had a compartment and didn’t see anyone until the conductor knocked on my door as we arrived in Zaragoza.

“7 High”

Recollections of a Combat Defense Squadron “Ramp Rat”

Chapter 6

References

http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/frusXI/index.html

61-2057 93 B-58A n/a
Assigned to 305th BW; destroyed 9/14/62 -- 2 n. miles NE of Butlerville, Jennings County, IN; accident cause was structural failure caused by control system failure during normal flight; AF pilot Lt. Col. John J. Trevisani (fatal), AF Nav/bombardier Capt. Arthur Freed (fatal), AF DSO Capt. Reinardo Moure (fatal).

“Strategic Air Command” with Jimmy Stewart, 1955

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Air_Command_%28film%29

Shot in the new VistaVision process, the film was the sixth-highest grossing film of 1955. Critics were lukewarm about the performances of all except Stewart, who was called "capable," "charming," and "competent." Public reaction centered on the spectacular aerial footage, so that the B-36 and B-47 aircraft were arguably the real "stars" of the film. The film's release led to a 25% increase in Air Force enlistments^.

From today's perspective, the film's appeal lies in its homage to the personnel of the Strategic Air Command, whose competence in and dedication to their appointed task, strategic bombing, enabled the SAC maintain a credible nuclear deterrent and thereby ensure peace. These optimistic premises contrast starkly with those of Dr. Strangelove, released in 1964.

Spanish title: Nido de águilas ("Eagle's nest").

The B-47 cockpit used in the film is now on display at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, CA.

B-47 clip from “Strategic Air Command”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs0kQ4FYSQs&feature=related

B-47 History clip from Military Channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFZxfE6yAcw

SAC propaganda film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWiMGbnhUMo

Strategic Air Command on “Modern Marvels”

These are 10 minute clips.

clip 1 of 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDS1IriFkNo