This will be the most difficult post I will make. Therefore, it will be longer and more detailed than all others. The events are as I remember them. A very traumatic time for all of us. The Cuban Missile Crisis has gone into history as the one that could end the future.
Sidi Slimane AB was a USAF installation operated by the Strategic Air Command. The base's flying mission was primarily to provide a nuclear deterrent through fifteen B47 medium bombers that rotated from the US periodically. Each aircraft was loaded with one MRK 39 special weapon. I was assigned to the 5th Munitions Maintenance Squadron. The 5th MMS was responsible for all weapons aboard each aircraft. The aircraft was positioned in a Christmas tree fashion to allow for rapid takeoff.
Sidi Slimane operated on a daily basis under a USAF security system known as DEFENSE CONDITION 1-5 or DEFCON. A DEFCON 5 was pretty much normal day to day operating conditions with no pending threat from a potential adversary, DEFCON 1 was launching the aircraft and delivering the weapons to predetermined targets.
The crisis began Oct. '62 with the installation of Soviet built medium range missiles in Cuba. Only ninety miles from the USA mainland. They were capable of reaching many major cities and military bases.
Cuban dictator Fidel Castro had embraced communism and the Soviet leadership thereby allowing the buildup of nuclear weapons on the island. This Soviet threat was met with a stern warning from President Kennedy. He demanded the Soviets stop delivery and remove all offensive weapons and return them to the USSR. To backup his demand he ordered a Naval Quarantine (blockade) of Cuba. Threatening an invasion of Cuba if the Soviets attempted to sail thru the Quarantined waters. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev was adamant about the legality of arming Cuba. The tension mounted while we waited for the Soviets to reach the quarantined area.
As a result of this standoff, Sidi Slimane AB and all USAF assets escalated to DEFCON 2. This meant all personnel and aircraft rotations were halted. Taxiing of the aircraft was suspended and we held our breath. We began concentrating on our EWO (Emergency War Order) assignment. I was assigned to a JATO rack recovery team. During an expedited takeoff the bombers used a jet assist takeoff system for a faster takeoff. These racks were jettisoned in the desert and needed to be recovered I guess.
The following days were spent praying the Soviets would not cross the blockade and they would began dismantling the installed missiles. As the clock ticked, the mood of our aircrews and bomb loaders was very intense. Some would hide their face, not wanting to show the fear. All of us was stressed with the idea of a nuclear war and our families back home. I was extremely proud of all the folks at Sidi. They did what had to be done.
As the deadline for compliance approached Soviet Premier Khrushchev ordered Soviet forces to return to the Soviet Union and also removal of all nuclear weapons from Cuban soil. A sigh of relief could be heard in the Moroccan desert. Slowly things returned to normal. Aircrews began thinking of what to take back to the states in their empty bomb bays, the rest of us could again start focusing on our DEROS and having a bowl of Moroccan Cous Cous.
I was a sophomore in HS during that period and remember the fear that gripped everyone. Thank you for being the tip of the spear.
ReplyDeleteThank you...
ReplyDeleteI was an A1C Weather Observer assigned to Det. 13, 26th Weather Sqdn, Little Rock AFB. , home of SAC's 834th AD. and 304th Titian MW. All 3 squadrons of B-47's (except 1 that had been cannibalized for parts and could not move!) and one squadron of KC-97 refulers we gone - dispersed to places like Sidi. It was and eerie feeling with an empty flight line. I spent 12 days in the command post plotting en route weather to targets in Russia. Titian sites were on a pre-launch status for days.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this. I had only heard about Sidi from a song by Oscar Brand. I enlisted in April 63 so all of this was over before I joined so this history is most interesting to me.
ReplyDeleteWe were ordered, in the air, leaving Dover, AFB, DL with KC 97's to Goose Bay, Labrador for this crisis.
ReplyDeleteI left Sidi in August 62 ... just prior to Cuban Crisis, when I had a front seat view of from Homestead AFB, a Strategic Air Command base in south Florida.
ReplyDeleteI was a B52G defensive fire control technician assigned to the 97th BW at Blytheville Arkansas. I was on leave in CA and was directed to return to my duty station immediately. When I reported back it was a somber environment. All of our aircraft were on alert. I don’t recall if we were flying Chrome Dome missions at that time but we flew them continually for several years after that. When the Russian ships turned and headed back there was a definite feeling that we had just experienced a historical event and avoided another war.
ReplyDeleteWestover AFB, MA during Cuban Missile Crisis, 18th Comm Sq, Comm Center Operations providing all communications for the 8th AF Command Post who had overall command. Defcon 2.
ReplyDeleteI was on Alert as a Alert Crew Chief on B47s at Noursseur AB near Sidi Slimane..Casablanca during the Crisis.!!!
ReplyDeleteI was in the K-9 squadron 61- 63 extended us and our dogs instead of a 1 year isolated tour to almost a 2 year tour of duty, because phasing out the Base. We pulled security there till it closed.
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