"JFK DISTURBED BY DEATH OF MAJ. ANDERSON"

U.S. PILOT SHOT DOWN BY SOVIET MISSILES AS HE RETURNED FROM MISSION OVER CUBA

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 27, 1962, President John F. Kennedy was informed in an afternoon meeting that a U2 spy plane piloted by Major Rudolf Anderson* was shot down by Soviet missiles as he returned from a mission over Cuba.

The 35 year old pilot was shot down at 11:39 a.m. on the 12th day of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy would later write...

"The President was more disturbed by the death of Major Anderson than he was worried about (Soviet premier) Khrushchev."*

JFK+50 NOTE

JFK wrote a letter of condolence to Mrs. Anderson in which he disclosed that her husband would be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

*Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr. (1927-1962) was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina.  His family relocated to Greenville, SC & he graduated from Greenville High School & Clemson University (1948) where he majored in textile engineering.  Upon joining the U.S. Air Force RA was assigned to the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron.

SOURCES

"Day 12 of 13 Day Cuban Missile Crisis 51 Years Ago Today," JFK+50, October 27, 2013, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

"Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr.," South Carolina Aviation Association, www.scaaonline.com/

"Upstate Air Force veteran killed during Cuban Missile Crisis honored on 63-year anniversary," Fox Carolina, October 27, 2025, www.foxcarolina.com/

U-2 Wreckage

Musco del Aire

Havana, Cuba (2002)

Photo by Vansara

"JFK MORE DISTURBED BY DEATH OF MAJOR ANDERSON"

U-2 PILOT SHOT DOWN AS HE RETURNS FROM MISSION OVER CUBA

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 27, 1962, President John F. Kennedy was informed that a U-2* piloted by Major Rudolf Anderson** had been shot down on return from a mission over Cuba.

Major Anderson died at 11:19 a.m. as a result of shrapnel from a Soviet missile puncturing his pressure suit.

Robert Kennedy would later say...

"The President...was more disturbed by the death of Major Anderson than he was worried about Khrushchev."

*U-2 is an American single engine high altitude reconnaissance aircraft introduced in 1955.

**Rudolf Anderson (1927-1962) was born in Greenville, South Carolina & graduated from Clemson University.  RA was honored in death with the First Air Force Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal.

 

 

Major Rudolf Anderson

USAF

 

"HE HAD A BOY ABOUT THE SAME AGE AS JOHN JOHN'

U-2 HIT BY SOVIET SAM OVER CUBA, PILOT IS KILLED

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 27, 1962, a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft piloted by Major Rudolf Anderson* was shot down by a Soviet SAM** (Surface to Air Missile).  The U-2 was returning from a mission over Cuba.

It was the 12th of the 13th day Cuban Missile Crisis.  President John F. Kennedy was given the bad news by Secretary of Defense Bob McNamara.  The 35 year old pilot lost his life when his pressure suit was punctured by shrapnel from the missile explosion.

Christopher Klein writes...

"For Kennedy and Khrushchev, Anderson's death crystallized the realization that the (Cuban Missile) crisis was...spiraling out of...control."

Klein argues that the death of Major Anderson thus "prevented a nuclear war."

When President Kennedy was told that Major Anderson was married and had two sons, ages 3 & 5, he said to aide Dave Powers...

"He had a boy about the same age as John."***

 

SOURCE

"How the Death of a U.S. Air Force Pilot Prevented a Nuclear War," by Christopher Klein, October 28, 2019, www.history.com/ 

 

*Major Rudolf "Rudy" Anderson (1927-1962) was born in Greenville, SC & graduated from Clemson University in 1948.  His was the only combat death during the Cuban Missile Crisis. RA was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Purple Heart & Cheney Award.

**SAM (Surface to Air Missile) is designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles.  It is either a radar or infrared guided missile. 

***JFK was referring to his own son, John F. Kennedy, Jr., who was sometimes called "John John." 

 

 

Major Anderson Memorial Marker

Laughlin AFB, Texas

Photo by Ccassler (2012)

 

 

 

 

MOST OF SE US WITHIN RANGE OF 1 MEGATON WARHEADS

SOVIET NUKES IN CUBA ARE FULLY OPERATIONAL

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On the morning of October 27, 1962, the White House Situation Room, located in the basement of the West Wing, was informed that five of six Soviet medium-range nuclear missile sites in Cuba were "fully operational."

The information, which meant most of the southeastern United States was within range of twenty 1 megaton nuclear warheads, was made available to President John F. Kennedy by the Central Intelligence Agency.

Later in an afternoon meeting in the Cabinet Room, General Maxwell Taylor, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, advised President Kennedy to authorize massive air strikes on Cuba by Monday morning.

The General qualified the advice of the Joint Chiefs by adding... 

"unless there in irrefutable evidence that offensive weapons are being dismantled."

News also came to the afternoon meeting of EXCOM that a U-2 piloted by Major Rudolf Anderson* was shot down by Soviet SAM (surface-to-air) missiles as he was returning from a mission over Cuba.

Anderson, who was 35 years old, died at 11:19 a.m. as a result of shrapnel from the exploding Soviet missile puncturing his pressure suit causing it to decompress at high altitude.

Robert Kennedy later wrote...

"The President....was more disturbed by the death of Major Anderson...than he was worried about Khrushchev.  He asked the Defense Department to find out if Anderson had a wife and family."  

When JFK received information that Major Anderson was married with 2 sons, ages 3 and 5, he said to Dave Powers...

"He had a boy about the same age as John, Jr."

*Major Rudolf  'Rudy' Anderson (1927-1962), was born in Greenville, SC and 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 and the Distinguished Service Medal. 

Range of Soviet

Medium Range Ballistic Missiles

CIA Map

HE HAD A BOY ABOUT THE SAME AGE AS JOHN, JR.

U2 SHOT DOWN BY SOVIET SA-2 MISSILE OVER CUBA

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-five years ago this morning, October 27, 1962, Major Rudolf Anderson, pilot of a U-2 flying a reconnaissance mission over Cuba, was shot down by a Soviet SA-2 surface-to-air missile.

President John F. Kennedy learned of Major Anderson's death at an afternoon meeting in the Cabinet Room at the White House.

Anderson, who was 35 years old, died at 11:19 a.m. as a result of shrapnel from the exploding missile puncturing his pressure suit causing it to decompress at high altitude.  Soviet Major Ivan Gerchenov gave the order to shoot down the U-2 after being unable to get a response from higher authorities.  

Robert Kennedy later wrote...

"The President....was more disturbed by the death of Major Anderson...than he was worried about Khrushchev.  He asked the Defense Department to find out if Anderson had a wife and family."  

When JFK received information that Major Anderson was married with 2 sons, ages 3 and 5, he said to Dave Powers...


"He had a boy about the same age as John, Jr."


*Major Rudolf  'Rudy' Anderson (1927-1962), was born in Greenville, SC and 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 and the Distinguished Service Medal. 

Major Rudolf Anderson
USAF Photo

JFK+50 NOTE:

We will be discussing & analyzing some of the "JFK assassination files" released yesterday in the coming days on our other blog, JFK ASSASSINATION.  The link is www.jfk50d.blogspot.com

MAJOR RUDOLF ANDERSON

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2111

AMERICAN U-2 SHOT DOWN OVER CUBA 54 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On the morning of October 27, 1962, fifty-four years ago, the White House Situation Room, located in the basement of the West Wing, was informed that five of six Soviet medium-range nuclear missile sites in Cuba were "fully operational."

The information, which meant most of the southeastern United States was within range of twenty 1 megaton nuclear warheads, was made available to President John F. Kennedy by the Central Intelligence Agency.

Later in an afternoon meeting in the Cabinet Room, General Maxwell Taylor, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, advised President Kennedy to authorize massive air strikes on Cuba by Monday morning.

Adding fuel to the fire for a military response, news came to the afternoon meeting of EXCOM that a U-2 piloted by Major Rudolf Anderson* was shot down by Soviet SAM (surface-to-air) missiles as he was returning from a mission over Cuba.

Anderson, who was 35 years old, died at 11:19 a.m. as a result of shrapnel from the exploding Soviet missile puncturing his pressure suit causing it to decompress at high altitude.  Soviet Major Ivan Gerchenov gave the order to shoot down the U-2 after being unable to get a response from higher authorities.  

Robert Kennedy later wrote...

"The President....was more disturbed by the death of Major Anderson...than he was worried about Khrushchev.  He asked the Defense Department to find out if Anderson had a wife and family."  

When JFK received information that Major Anderson was married with 2 sons, ages 3 and 5, he said to Dave Powers...

"He had a boy about the same age as John, Jr."


*Major Rudolf  'Rudy' Anderson (1927-1962), was born in Greenville, SC and 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 and the Distinguished Service Medal. 

Range of Soviet

Medium Range Ballistic Missiles

CIA Map

MISSILE CRISIS DAY 12

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1756

CIA REPORTS SOVIET MISSILES IN CUBA ARE FULLY OPERATIONAL

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On the morning of the twelfth day of the Cuban Missile Crisis, fifty-three years ago, October 27, 1962, the White House Situation Room, located in the basement of the West Wing, was informed that five of six Soviet medium-range nuclear missile sites in Cuba were "fully operational."

The information, which meant most of the southeastern United States was within range of twenty 1 megaton nuclear warheads, was made available to President John F. Kennedy by the Central Intelligence Agency.

Later in an afternoon meeting in the Cabinet Room, General Maxwell Taylor, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, advised President Kennedy to authorize massive air strikes on Cuba by Monday morning.

The General qualified the advice of the Joint Chiefs by adding: 

"unless there in irrefutable evidence that offensive weapons are being dismantled."

Adding fuel to the fire for a military response, news came to the afternoon meeting of EXCOM that a U-2 piloted by Major Rudolf Anderson* was shot down by Soviet SAM (surface-to-air) missiles as he was returning from a mission over Cuba.

Anderson, who was 35 years old, died at 11:19 a.m. as a result of shrapnel from the exploding Soviet missile puncturing his pressure suit causing it to decompress at high altitude.  Soviet Major Ivan Gerchenov gave the order to shoot down the U-2 after being unable to get a response from higher authorities.  

Robert Kennedy later wrote...

"The President....was more disturbed by the death of Major Anderson...than he was worried about Khrushchev.  He asked the Defense Department to find out if Anderson had a wife and family."  

When JFK received information that Major Anderson was married with 2 sons, ages 3 and 5, he said to Dave Powers...

"He had a boy about the same age as John, Jr."


*Major Rudolf  'Rudy' Anderson (1927-1962), was born in Greenville, SC and 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 and the Distinguished Service Medal. 

Range of Soviet

Medium Range Ballistic Missiles

CIA Map

MAJOR RUDOLF ANDERSON SHOT DOWN BY SOVIET MISSILE

SOVIET SAM MISSILE DOWNS MAJOR ANDERSON 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy was informed by Defense Secretary Robert McNamara during an afternoon meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council that a U-2 piloted by Major Rudolf Anderson* was shot down by Soviet SAM (surface-to-air) missiles as he was returning from a mission over Cuba.

U2 Wreckage 

Museo del Aire

Havana, Cuba

Photo by Vansara

Anderson, who was 35 years old, died at 11:19 a.m. as a result of shrapnel from the exploding Soviet missile puncturing his pressure suit causing it to decompress at high altitude.

Soviet Major Ivan Gerchenov gave the order to shoot down the U-2 after being unable to get a response from higher authorities.  

Robert Kennedy later wrote...

"The President....was more disturbed by the death of Major Anderson...than he was worried about Khrushchev.  He asked the Defense Department to find out if Anderson had a wife and family."  

When JFK received information that Major Anderson was married with 2 sons, ages 3 and 5, he said to Dave Powers...

"He had a boy about the same age as John, Jr."


*Major Rudolf  'Rudy' Anderson (1927-1962), was born in Greenville, SC and 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 and the Distinguished Service Medal. 

Major Rudolf Anderson

SOVIET MISSILES IN CUBA DEEMED FULLY OPERATIONAL

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The White House Situation Room, located in the basement of the West Wing, was informed 52 years ago this morning, October 27, 1962, that five of six Soviet medium-range nuclear missile sites in Cuba were "fully operational."

The information, which meant most of the SE United States was within range of twenty 1 megaton nuclear warheads, was made available to the White House by the CIA.

Range of Soviet

Medium Range Ballistic Missiles

CIA Map

JOINT CHIEFS CALL FOR MASSIVE AIR STRIKES

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) At a meeting in the cabinet room at the White House 52 years ago this afternoon, October 27, 1962, General Maxwell Taylor, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, advised President Kennedy to authorize massive air strikes on Cuba by Monday morning.

The General qualified the advice of the Joint Chiefs by adding: 

"unless there in irrefutable evidence that offensive weapons are being dismantled."

SOVIETS DEMAND MISSILES IN TURKEY BE REMOVED

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Radio Moscow read Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev's second letter to President Kennedy on the air 52 years ago today, October 27, 1962.

In the letter, Mr. Khrushchev demanded, in addition to a pledge that there would be no armed invasion of Cuba by US military forces, that our nuclear missiles located in Turkey be removed as conditions for Soviet removal of their missiles and sites in Cuba.

The White House issued no comment on this letter.

SOURCES

 "Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye" by Kenneth O'Donnell and David Powers, 1970.

" TWE Remembers:  Black Saturday--Near Calamities Abound as JFK Offers Khrushchev a Deal,"  by J.M. Lindsay, Oct 27, 2012, www.blogs.cfr.org 

U2 PILOT SHOT DOWN OVER CUBA

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