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Probably at no time in this nation's history has the importance of aerial reconnaissance been demonstrated more dramatically than during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. In September and October of that year, Soviet officials had persistently denied their intent to install offensive weapons in Cuba, only 90 miles from U.S. shores, despite intelligence reports to the contrary. On Oct. 14, two USAF high-flying U-2 reconnaissance aircraft photographed portions of Cuba and analysis of these photos confirmed that bases were being constructed for intermediate-range missiles within striking distance of the United States.

President John F. Kennedy placed the US armed forces on alert for whatever action might be necessary as USAF U-2 and RF-101 flights over Cuba continued, the latter aircraft sometimes flying at tree-top level. On Oct. 22, President Kennedy publicly announced details of the critical situation and declared that

"...a strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba is being initiated."

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Meanwhile, USAF aircraft kept the island of Cuba as well as the Caribbean and Atlantic ocean areas under constant surveillance, providing the US Navy with data on scores of ships at sea apparently reroute to Cuba. On Oct. 28th, Soviet Premier Khrushchev agreed to remove the offensive missiles as well as the medium range twin-jet Il-28 "Beagle" bombers being assembled in Cuba. USAF reconnaissance aircraft then monitored Communist compliance with the agreement to remove this threat to our security.

 This photo was President Kennedy's favorite of all those taken during the Cuban crisis. It was taken with the camera displayed here on November 10, 1962 (from less than 500 ft. altitude at a speed of 713 mph). Clearly shown are Soviet-built SA-2 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) in place at launch sites. These defensive missiles protected offensive weapons sites and posed a serious threat to US reconnaissance aircraft. A copy of this portion of the strip photo was mounted in the President's office. Viewed with a stereoscopic projector, the features have a three-dimensional effect. The pattern of dots surrounding several launch sites are actually camouflage nets which were intended to conceal the equipment positioned beneath them, but which the strip camera rendered ineffective.

 

KA-18A Stereo Strip Camera

KA-18A Stereo Strip Camera

This camera is one which was used during the series of reconnaissance flights over Cuba. Its design is unique in that it does not have a shutter which opens and closes, but instead operates on the principle of moving a strip of unexposed film past an open slit at a speed consistent with the apparent movement of the subject being photographed. This in reality, is the product of the camera being moved at a corresponding speed (such as in an airplane). The result is a camera which produces a continuous strip photo with sharp details generally unobtainable with shutter cameras mounted in aircraft flying at high speed at low altitude because of image blur caused by the aircraft's forward motion. Then-Colonel George W. Goddard had pioneered in the development of the strip camera just before WW II, basing his design on a newly-developed camera intended for use at race tracks to determine the winning horse in races which ended in a "Neck and Neck" finish.

This 9 1/2" x 200' roll of film is the type used in the KA-18A Stereo Strip Camera

Difficulties in obtaining sharply-defined photos at low altitude during the Cuban Missile Crisis had prompted the USAF to consult with retired Brig. Gen. Goddard who immediately recommended the use of a strip camera, by then no longer regularly used by the USAF. Several KA-18A cameras were found in storage at Wright-Patterson AFB and on the night of Nov. 2-3, 1962, modifications were made to an RF-101C "Voodoo" and this camera was installed. On Nov. 10, photos were taken of Cuban missile installations with this camera and within 24 hours, they were being examined by President Kennedy.

 

 

U-2 shot Down

 

Maj. Anderson

On 27 October 1962, a U-2A (S/N 56-7611) flown by USAF Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr. was shot down while flying high over Cuba conducting a reconnaissance mission during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The U-2A piloted by Maj. Anderson was assigned to the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. USAF U-2A, RB-47 & RF-101 reconnaissance aircraft had been flying frequent surveillance missions over Cuba since the discovery of the missile sites, capable of launching offensive nuclear missiles, being built in Cuba.

As the plane flew over the Cuban naval facilities at Banes, a Soviet-built SA-2 "Guideline" surface-to-air missile (SAM) was fired at the U-2A in violation of specific instructions from Soviet Premier Krushchev not to fire on US reconnaissance planes. The SAM warhead detonated in close proximity to the U-2A and a small piece of shrapnel from it penetrated the cockpit and punctured Anderson's pressure suit causing him to become unconscious. Anderson was killed in the crash of his plane and was the only man killed during the crisis.

President Kennedy personally ordered the USAF to posthumously award the Air Force Cross to Maj. Anderson because the photographs provided by Anderson (and other recon pilots) were pivotal in resolving the crisis without invading Cuba or going to war with the Soviet Union. The Air Force Cross was a new award created on 6 July 1960 and Anderson was the first man to receive one.

 

 

The SA-2 Guide Line Surface-To-Air Missile

 

A SA-2 Guide Line missile on a transport trailer

The most imposing and effective radar controlled threat in North Vietnam was the SA-2 Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM). The missile associated with this system is called the Guide Line. Four to six Guide Line missile launchers are normally placed in a 400 foot circle surrounding several missile support vans.

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Reconnaissance photo of a North Vietnamese SA-2 SAM site

The SPOON REST A is the acquisition radar most commonly associated with the SA-2 site. It is normally located just outside the ring of missile launchers. The SPOON REST A is a very elementary radar. The antenna looks very much like a large rotating television antenna and is mounted on a truck or trailer. Its maximum range is about 70 miles on a target at 15,000 feet.

 

 

 

Close up of SA-2 missiles in launch Position

An S-Band FAN SONG radar is installed in one of the centrally located vans and provides target position data to a computer. It also has the added task of providing individual target position data on as many as three missiles. It must do this at the same time as it is providing target information to a system computer. The requirement for a single radar to track and lock on to as many as four targets simultaneously necessitates that the radar continually look at several points in space. This requirement implies that the FAN SONG searches, or scans, at the same time that it locks on to, or tracks, several targets. This was in fact the case. The FAN SONG technique of locking on while searching is called Track-While-Scan (TWS).

The target tracking data that the FAN SONG radar must provide to the missile computer is azimuth, elevation and range. To provide this information, the FAN SONG has two transmitters operating at different frequencies, each feeding an antenna. One antenna produces a sectoring azimuth beam and the other a sectoring elevation beam. The dimensions of each of the beams are 2 degrees by 10 degrees. The 2 degree wide, 10 degree high azimuth beam is scanned right to left for 20 degrees. The 2 by 10 degree elevation beam is scanned up and down 20 degrees. The two sweeping beams intersect to cover a 10 by 10 degree sector.

Source: 388th TFW official history - tactics manual written in part by 469th TFS pilots: Maj. John M. Rowan & Maj. Ralph L. Kuster, Jr.
Photos: Rolling Thunder Digest (CINCPAC) - Edition 6

COURTESY OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

 

 

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