Cuba Crisis 1962
My bit of 18 Group was operating its first planned "Surveillance" sorties, e.g. October 24th., 16 hours plus' on Shack. Mk.3 XF700". Can't recall where, probably the Iceland-Fareos-Shetland Gaps'.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Britain on the Brink by Jim Wilson. Interesting insight into how Bomber Command was involved in the tensions brewing in the Caribbean. Actually Harold Macmillan kept thing suprising close to his chest during the crisis and whilst american forces were at Defcon 2 operating from british soil . . .British crews were at one stage in the cockpit engines running ready to launch 3 minutes notice.
PN, did I read correctly, that the the Vulcan had a gang starter to crank all 4 at once? If so, then presumably that was to cut the go time to the bone without compromising fuel states?
CG
CG
Two interesting books on the subject:
Launch Pad UK - Britain and the Cuban Missile Crisis (Jim Wilson OBE)
and
Project Emily - Thor IRBM and the RAF (John Boyes)
I lived as a 'brat' in North Hykeham near Lincoln. I used to go fishing at Bardney
and went to the base quite a few times, if only for a quick lunch, and saw the Thor
lying on it's side in the Sliding Hangar. Our families next posting was Gutersloh
which included the Cuban Crisis. The base was well and truly locked down for that weekend and we had family orders on which Magirus Deutz truck or 32 seater
bus we would be assigned to for a trip to the Hook of Holland. Wishfull Thinking.
There was a gate near the Parseval Strasse /Gasthof Zum Flughafen which stayed open however and it was interesting to see all the Hunters lined up and crewed ready to go.
I did discuss it with my father mnay years later and his thoughts were that just one more squeak from the Soviets would have been enough to launch the Hunters.
Knowing what little I knew about Bardney, I'm sure they were also full of Lox and Parafinn with the targets in and both keys ready to send us all to oblivion.
Re these books, your library may already have them. I thought they were a good read and to the point especially the Macmillan years. He knew a damm sight more than
the rest of the UK put together.
Launch Pad UK - Britain and the Cuban Missile Crisis (Jim Wilson OBE)
and
Project Emily - Thor IRBM and the RAF (John Boyes)
I lived as a 'brat' in North Hykeham near Lincoln. I used to go fishing at Bardney
and went to the base quite a few times, if only for a quick lunch, and saw the Thor
lying on it's side in the Sliding Hangar. Our families next posting was Gutersloh
which included the Cuban Crisis. The base was well and truly locked down for that weekend and we had family orders on which Magirus Deutz truck or 32 seater
bus we would be assigned to for a trip to the Hook of Holland. Wishfull Thinking.
There was a gate near the Parseval Strasse /Gasthof Zum Flughafen which stayed open however and it was interesting to see all the Hunters lined up and crewed ready to go.
I did discuss it with my father mnay years later and his thoughts were that just one more squeak from the Soviets would have been enough to launch the Hunters.
Knowing what little I knew about Bardney, I'm sure they were also full of Lox and Parafinn with the targets in and both keys ready to send us all to oblivion.
Re these books, your library may already have them. I thought they were a good read and to the point especially the Macmillan years. He knew a damm sight more than
the rest of the UK put together.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
CG the Mk 1s used a Sim Start trolley which would indeed start all 4 at once. All switches were set in the cockpit and the engines woulk start immediately.
On one occasion, as the QRA crew approached, the crew chief started the engines, unfortunately they were then unable to open the door.
On the Mk 2 we had high pressure air that could give us five singlet engine starts or one mass rapid with all 4 at once. From 15 to scramble or only 28v for lighting and intercom this was exciting. From cold the Captain coulkcould start all engines before taking his seat. The engines would run up before we were in our seats. As soon as he was strapped in we would start rolling. The snag was all the kit was still running up and the engine instruments were still coming on line. From the ORP, cold RS05 to airborne was in the order of 90 seconds.
On one occasion, as the QRA crew approached, the crew chief started the engines, unfortunately they were then unable to open the door.
On the Mk 2 we had high pressure air that could give us five singlet engine starts or one mass rapid with all 4 at once. From 15 to scramble or only 28v for lighting and intercom this was exciting. From cold the Captain coulkcould start all engines before taking his seat. The engines would run up before we were in our seats. As soon as he was strapped in we would start rolling. The snag was all the kit was still running up and the engine instruments were still coming on line. From the ORP, cold RS05 to airborne was in the order of 90 seconds.
Just a small contribution, a biology teacher (and my form teacher) at my excellent South Yorkshire comprehensive in the 1980s had been a Vulcan and Javelin navigator. I think he was on Vulcans at the time of Cuba. He told me that they were convinced it would be the end of the world and that they would be bombing targets from which there would be no return.
My dad was in civil defence, auxiliary fire service, and also recalled it as a time when they thought it would happen.
BTW my teacher gave me a couple of souvenirs, clear plastic quadrants of a circle with moving arms on them. Something to do with plotting is all I can recall. I have tried typing the part numbers from their wallets into Google, no success. They aren't Dalton computers (Whiz Wheels to modern PPLs).
My dad was in civil defence, auxiliary fire service, and also recalled it as a time when they thought it would happen.
BTW my teacher gave me a couple of souvenirs, clear plastic quadrants of a circle with moving arms on them. Something to do with plotting is all I can recall. I have tried typing the part numbers from their wallets into Google, no success. They aren't Dalton computers (Whiz Wheels to modern PPLs).
Around the time of the 2012 V Force reunion the BBC were looking for people who were around at the time of the Cuba Missile Crisis. I have a large email address list built up over the reunions I was involved with, and I put out a request for help by email. I believe they had a good response and were able to interview a number of people for their programme.
If your friend wishes, I could do the same again. If you would like to contact me by PM with his contact details, i could circulate these to former V Force members, and he may get some responses.
If your friend wishes, I could do the same again. If you would like to contact me by PM with his contact details, i could circulate these to former V Force members, and he may get some responses.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
PS, mass rapid went out of fashion as there was a risk of an engine fire but no fire tec warning
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Joe-FBS, sounds as if they were bombing protractors. About 4 inches in radius, marked in degrees and the moving arm graduated in miles.
Used in basic and marker-less (LP4?) limited procedure attacks.
Were they two of the same or different. We only used one but I think there was a larger one.
Used in basic and marker-less (LP4?) limited procedure attacks.
Were they two of the same or different. We only used one but I think there was a larger one.
Interesting to hear the stories.
My now departed dad was in port aboard a US Navy Seaplane tender and he reported that all fun was cancelled, and they headed to sea for a few tense days, steaming towards the Panama canal with a few Marlins and some special cargo. He was amazed at how quickly his ship and the fleet had gotten underway, and the endless rumors...
My now departed dad was in port aboard a US Navy Seaplane tender and he reported that all fun was cancelled, and they headed to sea for a few tense days, steaming towards the Panama canal with a few Marlins and some special cargo. He was amazed at how quickly his ship and the fleet had gotten underway, and the endless rumors...
October '62, I was just 18, fresh out of training and got introduced to that big green flat nosed YS2. After a spell loading them to Mk1b Vulcans I was sent to the bomb dump, which I almost blew up. We were loading 7 store carriers with 1000lb ers. Prior to fitting detonators the det cavity had to be gauged. The cpl gave me the brass gauge and pointed me to a clutch of seven - go gauge them. The gauge didn't seem to go in properly so I pushed harder. Guess what? The dets were already fitted and I had been shoving a brass rod against a percussion detonator. Remembering still makes me shudder.
On one occasion, as the QRA crew approached, the crew chief started the engines, unfortunately they were then unable to open the door.
We won't talk about the six crew in one and four in the other.
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I already had school classmates who had become part-time ROC members and trained in watching and plotting. They disappeared into their hole in the ground for a number of days until the "heat" of the issue cooled down somewhat.
A very sobering time of looking down our beautiful Yorkshire valley to the distant city which I was certain would be early on the target list.
I recollect that for a few days it became necessary to "live and enjoy the moment" and singing with the local church choir took on a new relevance.
Imagegear
A very sobering time of looking down our beautiful Yorkshire valley to the distant city which I was certain would be early on the target list.
I recollect that for a few days it became necessary to "live and enjoy the moment" and singing with the local church choir took on a new relevance.
Imagegear
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FED, or the crew chief dragged on board to replace the AEO. I can't remember the details, not our Sqn. Most likely he had gone to the toilet which was on the far corner of the hangar and something over a 100 yards from the wagon.
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Little bit of thread drift...but
So far.
The end game and thus the full history of mankind's dalliance with nukes, has yet to be written.
Given there were 4 countries with nukes in 1962 (USA, Russia [back then USSR] UK & France) and since then we have added 5 more (China, Israel, India, Pakistan & North Korea) there is still a reasonable possibility, there won't be anyone around to write it.
He said that although there had been a few rumbles from various countries in the 50's and 60's about 'Armageddon' he felt this was the only time when it could really have happened.............
The end game and thus the full history of mankind's dalliance with nukes, has yet to be written.
Given there were 4 countries with nukes in 1962 (USA, Russia [back then USSR] UK & France) and since then we have added 5 more (China, Israel, India, Pakistan & North Korea) there is still a reasonable possibility, there won't be anyone around to write it.
Pontius Navigator
Thank you, and oops I should have looked in the wallets, which I have now done for the first time in probably for 30 years, as well as on the outside. It's inscribed on them, bombing protractor and marked as you describe. One is a segment of a circle, 5 inches by 6 and a half and is Type B. The other is a slightly distorted circle, 9 inches across and is Type A.
Thanks again
Joe
So, Mr Siviter if you are still out there, I still have them 34 years on.
Thank you, and oops I should have looked in the wallets, which I have now done for the first time in probably for 30 years, as well as on the outside. It's inscribed on them, bombing protractor and marked as you describe. One is a segment of a circle, 5 inches by 6 and a half and is Type B. The other is a slightly distorted circle, 9 inches across and is Type A.
Thanks again
Joe
So, Mr Siviter if you are still out there, I still have them 34 years on.
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I was at St. Mawgan at the time and 201 Sqn were all kitted up to head off, exact destination long forgotten. Rumour had it their task was to prevent our US "allies" interfering with UK shipping.
Rumours eh?
Rumours eh?
I was on an ATC gliding course at Swanton Morley - lot of excitement but not much action ISTR. I had done my solos on Day 1 (I had a PPL from a FS) and spent the rest of the week pushing and pulling for the other students. Couple of years ago I did a gliding course at a UK club, was about to send for a new A&B for £30 or £40, and then e-mailed BGA to ask if they had records of my previous certificate. Came good for a fiver. Well done the BGA
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Joe-FBS, any chance of photographs? I would like to see the larger one as I only ever remember using the smaller.
The smaller one could be used when the computer was u/s but we still had the radar display. We would place the protractor on the electronic centre of the screen, align the protractor with the planned track to target and lay off for drift. We would mark the calculated forward throw, say 6.7 miles, and talk the pilot on so that we flew down the planned track.
The smaller one could be used when the computer was u/s but we still had the radar display. We would place the protractor on the electronic centre of the screen, align the protractor with the planned track to target and lay off for drift. We would mark the calculated forward throw, say 6.7 miles, and talk the pilot on so that we flew down the planned track.