Black Saturday, October 27, 1962
U2 PILOT SHOT DOWN OVER CUBA
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Kennedy was informed this afternoon during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council that Rudolf Anderson's U-2 was shot down by Soviet SAM (surface-to-air) missiles this morning as he was returning from a mission over Cuba.*
Major Rudolf Anderson**
According to sources, Major Anderson was shot down on the north side of the island after flying north to south then east.
The President was informed of the loss of the U2 by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara.
*2 surface-to-air missiles were fired at the U2 at 11:19 a.m. Washington time. Major Anderson was killed instantly & his aircraft broke apart.
**Major Rudolf Anderson (1927-1962), was born in Greenville, SC & graduated from Clemson University. In 1962, he was in the 4080 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. He was honored after death with the 1st Air Force Cross & the Distinguished Service Medal.
US DESTROYER DROPS DEPTH CHARGE ON SOVIET SUB OFF CUBAN COAST
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The USS Cony, a destroyer, dropped depth charges this afternoon on a Soviet submarine which was near the quarantine or blockade line off the coast of Cuba.***
***The Soviet submarine was armed with nuclear torpedoes & commanders were considering using them.
KHRUSHCHEV SENDS SECOND LETTER TO JFK DEMANDING US MISSILES IN TURKEY BE REMOVED
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Radio Moscow read Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev's 2nd letter to President Kennedy on the air.
The original letter arrived at the White House this morning.
This letter added another requirement for a settlement of the crisis. Mr. Khrushchev wants, in addition to a pledge that there will be no armed invasion of Cuba, the U.S. to remove its nuclear missiles located in Turkey.
The White House has issued no comment on this letter.
U2 STRAYS INTO RUSSIAN AIR SPACE, SOVIETS SCRAMBLE FIGHTERS
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) A US U2 aircraft, on a mission unrelated to Cuba flying over the North Pole, accidentally flew over 300 miles into Soviet air space this afternoon.
Sources say that Soviet fighters were scrambled in response.****
****The U2 flew at an altitude which was not attainable by the Soviet fighters & was able to fly back & land safely in Alaska.
Source: TWE Remembers: Black Saturday--Near Calamities Abound as JFK Offers Khrushchev a Deal, by J.M. Lindsay, Oct 27, 2012, www.blogs.cfr.org
Major Rudolf Anderson**
According to sources, Major Anderson was shot down on the north side of the island after flying north to south then east.
The President was informed of the loss of the U2 by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara.
*2 surface-to-air missiles were fired at the U2 at 11:19 a.m. Washington time. Major Anderson was killed instantly & his aircraft broke apart.
**Major Rudolf Anderson (1927-1962), was born in Greenville, SC & graduated from Clemson University. In 1962, he was in the 4080 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. He was honored after death with the 1st Air Force Cross & the Distinguished Service Medal.
US DESTROYER DROPS DEPTH CHARGE ON SOVIET SUB OFF CUBAN COAST
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The USS Cony, a destroyer, dropped depth charges this afternoon on a Soviet submarine which was near the quarantine or blockade line off the coast of Cuba.***
***The Soviet submarine was armed with nuclear torpedoes & commanders were considering using them.
KHRUSHCHEV SENDS SECOND LETTER TO JFK DEMANDING US MISSILES IN TURKEY BE REMOVED
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Radio Moscow read Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev's 2nd letter to President Kennedy on the air.
The original letter arrived at the White House this morning.
This letter added another requirement for a settlement of the crisis. Mr. Khrushchev wants, in addition to a pledge that there will be no armed invasion of Cuba, the U.S. to remove its nuclear missiles located in Turkey.
The White House has issued no comment on this letter.
U2 STRAYS INTO RUSSIAN AIR SPACE, SOVIETS SCRAMBLE FIGHTERS
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) A US U2 aircraft, on a mission unrelated to Cuba flying over the North Pole, accidentally flew over 300 miles into Soviet air space this afternoon.
Sources say that Soviet fighters were scrambled in response.****
****The U2 flew at an altitude which was not attainable by the Soviet fighters & was able to fly back & land safely in Alaska.
Source: TWE Remembers: Black Saturday--Near Calamities Abound as JFK Offers Khrushchev a Deal, by J.M. Lindsay, Oct 27, 2012, www.blogs.cfr.org
