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
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
