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Articles, videos & Events Commemorating the 50th Anniversary

• (11/28/12) The Cold War Museum and George Mason University
  Cuban Missile Crisis 50th Anniversary Conference

  
  
  

• YouTube video (approx. 1hr 17 min long): Introductory Panel Discussion
  
  Sergei Khrushchev, son of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, U-2 pilot Colonel Buddy Brown (USAF, Ret) and VFP-62 F8U-1P Crusader pilot Lt. Commander Tad Riley (USN, Ret), who overflew Cuban SA-2 missile sites during the crisis will discuss their mission objectives and recollections.
  
  Photographic interpreter, Dino Brugioni, author of "Eyeball to Eyeball", who briefed President Kennedy on the photos taken over Cuba, will provide a dramatic first hand account of the behind the scene activities of the Kennedy administration during those tense thirteen days in October 1962.

• YouTube video (approx. 1hr 17 min long):Panel Discussion #2
  
  Sergei Khrushchev, son of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and author of "Nikita Khrushchev and the creation of a superpower" will provide the keynote address. Martin J. Sherwin, Pulitzer Prize winning author on Robert J. Oppenheimer and GMU History Professor, Michael Dobbs, Washington Post Reporter and author of "One Minute to Midnight," and Svetlana Savranskaya, editor of "The Soviet Cuban Missile Crisis" and National Security Archive's Director for Russian Archives and Institutes will conduct a roundtable discussion following Khrushchev's remarks.

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• Adobe (pdf format) 10 MB_ "VFP-62 -- Supersonic Hooligans" Article written for the National Naval Aviation Museum's FOUNDATION Fall 2011 issue by Kenneth Jack.
  

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• External Article: U.S. Naval Institute: The Forgotten Missiles of the Cuban Missile Crisis by Kenneth Jack
  
  VFP-62's photography finds Tactical Nuclear Missiles

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  Smithsonian Air & Space Museum receives Capt. William B. Ecker's Flight suit worn on first mission over Cuban missile sites. Dedicated to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, Washington, D.C. Oct. 23, 2012. Note: all patches and identification has been removed. A Geneva Convention card was found in the pocket. Presented by his son, David.




Documentary video "DEFCON 2" with Capt. Ecker on the Cuban Missile Crisis

• (11/7/12)EXTERNAL Link to YouTube video: Two short (7 minute) segments from documentary DEFCON 2 - Parts 5 & 6 (circa 2002)The entire program is broken up into 6 different videos. This one (parts 5 & 6) pays particular attention to VFP-62's photos. Contributed by David Ecker




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The Movie: "Thirteen Days" starring Kevin Costner




Painting, "Going Feet Wet" by the movie, "Thirteen Days", storyboard artist. It depicts VFP-62 photo Crusaders flown by Capt Ecker and Lt. Wilhelmy leaving Cuba, low over the water & a Cuban fishing boat. Contributed by Dave Johnson, former F8 pilot, a resource for the film, and webmaster of "Gunfighter's Site"

(4/3/15) Lt. Dave Johnson VF-13 received the original copy of the "Thirteen Days" storyboard for his help on the real and animated flight scenes. After many years, he gave the artwork to Ken Jack who contributed it to Battleship Memorial Park Mobile, AL for display alongside the restored VFP-62 RF-8A on display.




Scene from the movie depicting Capt. William B. Ecker and Lt. Bruce Wilhelmy
ready to make their first mission over Cuba
on Oct. 23, 1962




CLICK to see: YouTube video of: Real and animated scenes of VFP-62 low-level flight over Cuba ---from the movie "Thirteen Days". Turn your speakers up!

• CLICK TO READ: Captain Ecker comments on the movie and the flights over Cuba
  [Webmaster's Note: Some details on this interview have minor discrepancies with the history, however they have been corrected in the book and don't detract much from the general historical account.]

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VFP-62 Receives

Navy Unit Commendation

Distinguished Flying Cross awards

and Praise From President Kennedy



Overview

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the United States first learned that Russia was moving nuclear tipped missiles to Cuba by the U2 photo reconaissance plane. The U2 flew at very high altitudes and made the first discovery of the missiles. However, there was a need for closer to the ground photographs to determine with more detail the nature of this threat. This required the supersonic RF-8's capabilities.

VFP-62 flew missions over Cuba and provided the photographic evidence President Kennedy needed to confront and evenutally eliminate the threat. VFP-62 RF-8s also flew photo missions over Russian ships coming towards Cuba to determine the nature of their cargo. When Russia decided to pull out the missiles, RF-8s followed the ships back to Russia. The RF-8s flew low and fast and none were shot down.

Crusader overflights of Cuba began on 23 October 1962, under the code name "Blue Moon". Flights of RF-8As from Navy reconnaissance squadron VFP-62, operating in several pairs of aircraft with each pair assigned a different target, left Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West twice each day, to streak in over Cuba at low level, then return to NAS Jacksonville, where the film was offloaded and developed, to be rushed north to the Pentagon. Four Marine pilots were temporarily assigned to VFP-62 for the missions.[See VMCJ-2 story below]





Pilots & Officers holding DFCs & NAS Boca Chica, Key West
(L-R):W. Taylor, J. DeChant, W. Ecker, E. Feeks, R. Koch, J. Kauflin, W. Kortge, J. Pulley, Marine?
Click photo to enlarge
Photo: Capt. Wm Ecker

VFP-62 pilots received the Distinguished Flying Cross

• (3/15/13) Click to see: DFCs for Six VFP-62 Pilots Who Flew the First Cuban Missions (Oct. 23, 1962) (L-R)Lt Cdr J. Kauflin, Lt Cdr Tad Riley, Cdr. Ecker, Lt G. Coffee, Lt C. Wilhelmy,Lt j.g. J. Hewitt




The following pilots received their DFCs on Nov. 29, 1962

LCDR. A. R. Day

LCDR. W. N. Kelt

LT. E. M. Feeks

LT. W. L. Taylor

LT. R. W. Chance

LTJG. T. V. Hallcom

Four Marine pilots from VMCJ-2 received the Distinguished Flying Cross (see below):

Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon

Presented (November 26, 1962) to: Entire VFP-62 squadron (SEE ROSTER BELOW)



JFK's Letter to (then) Cmdr. Ecker
Click Photo to Enlarge

• Click to see: Enlisted & Officers Celebrating the NUC ceremony at NAS Boca Chica, Key West Florida on Nov. 26, 1962---(L-R)?,?,Cdr. Ecker, Cdr. Koch, ?,? Photo: W. Ecker

• (3/15/13) Click to see: JFK Presenting Navy Unit Commendation Color photo showing RF-8s, Squadron, Cdr. Ecker, JFK

• Click for roster of VFP-62 Recipients of the Navy Unit Commendation Medal

• President John F. Kennedy's letter to CDR Ecker

• Secretary of the Navy Fred Korth's commendation letter to VFP-62

• Skipper's message to squadron

• (.pdf file) Remarks JFK made on Nov 26th in 1962 when he presented the Navy Unit Commendation Medal to the VFP-62: President Kennedy's Remarks to squadron Provided by Pete Wallace

• (.pdf file 1.1 MB) Rare pictures of the Unit Commendation ceremony. Originals available at the JFK Library. One chilling photo shows Air Force One that would carry his body back to Washington one year later.: JFK pictures at VFP-62 Provided by Pete Wallace

...the Cuban Missile Crisis was no crisis for VFP-62, because we could do anything asked of us...It was truly an exciting time.




"We did not have much build-up time...[for] The Cuban missile crisis; We had 29 aircraft, 7 Detachments, using 20 of them, and 2 not flyable (cannibalized). We only had 2 or 3 with the new 5 inch format Chicago Aerial Cameras installed, that worked. The mission called for 8 camera ready Birds, and we had 7. I had never seen so many FLASH messages [wartime priority], and near instant supply response.

We got the word late Monday, and the first mission was set for the following Sunday at 8AM, for 8 camera ready birds to take off from Key West. It took a minor miracle but we did it.

There is a whole lot more to this story that most folks don?t know. Sunny Jim Curry was a J.O. not yet assigned to a detachment and he flew test hops day and night, checking the latest tweek on camera systems. We had to ensure that everything would work at high speed low level (500 ft,550-600 knots). We didn?t usually operate that way. It was truly an exciting time."

Cdr. John DeChant, USN Ret and Squadron Maintenance Officer during the Cuban Missile Crisis

The guys who made it happen: VFP-62 Operations Pictures During
Cuban Missile Crisis

• Click this link to see: VFP-62 Cuban Missile Crisis Operations (behind the scenes) Newsletter Official VFP-62 Release---MULTIPLE PAGES




VFP-62 Key West "Rotten Cotton Ball" Detachment Ground Crew
Click on photo to enlarge

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Photo: John F. Kennedy addresses the nation during the Cuban Missile Crisis.



Presenting the Photo Evidence at the UN (October 25, 1962)
Photo Contributed by Larry Plourde PH2

• (2/27/13) Click this link to see Cuban Missile Crisis Photos New photos showing low-level photographs and Hawk missile air defense in Key West Florida--Contributed by Larry Plourde, PH2

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VFP-62 Low-Level Aerial Reconnaissance Photos





VFP-62's First Mission Over Cuba (Oct. 23, 1962) San Cristobal missile site
showing 5 missiles under covers. Foreground shows missile preparation tent. Look for man center-right.


[Webmaster's Note: These photos were presented at the Smithsonian Seminar held July 10, 2008, where Michael Dobb's presented his book "One Minute to Midnight". A panel included Mr. Brugioni, and Capt. Jim Curry VFP-62 pilot. Mr Brugioni was a Senior Official at the National Photographic Interpretation Center during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Courtesy Dino Brugioni and Contributed by Jim Curry]

Adobe (.pdf format) U2 photo that started the crisis Photo opens in a new window.




VFP-62 photo - fabulous detail San Cristobal Cuba: Five covered missiles and missile preparation tent.




Adobe (.pdf format) VFP-62 photo Use browser "back arrow" to return to this page.




Adobe (.pdf format) VFP-62 photo - Smile you're on VFP-62 camera! Use browser "back arrow" to return to this page.




Adobe (.pdf format) VFP-62 photo Use browser "back arrow" to return to this page.




Adobe (.pdf format) VFP-62 photo - shows VFP-62's superior capabilities Use browser "back arrow" to return to this page.




Adobe (.pdf format) VFP-62 photo - JFK presenting Unit Commendation to squadron Use browser "back arrow" to return to this page.





Click on photos to enlarge. Note: photo can enlarge further in new window.

Credits: Dino Brugioni, senior official at the CIA National Photographic Interpretation Center, David and William Ecker

[Webmaster's Note: These photos are part of an exhibit show case, by the RF-8A Crusader, restored at Battleship Park, Mobile AL. The exhibit case contains memorabilia, donated by VFP-62 squadron members, to inform the public on the role that VFP-62 and the RF-8A played in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Our thanks to Owen Miller, Battleship Park, for scanning these photos for our site.]

Another Great Book on Cuban Missile Crisis
Including VFP-62 Missions & Photos

"One Minute to Midnight"
by Michael Dobbs

• Michael Dobbs is the first Cuban missile crisis researcher to make use of the raw intelligence film shot by U.S. Navy Crusader jets over Cuba. Dobbs uses the film to pinpoint the location of Soviet nuclear bunkers in Cuba and to recreate several Blue Moon missions over the missile sites.
  
  The book, "One Minute to Midnight" also includes a detailed account plus photographs of the missions of Commander William Ecker and Lieutenant Gerald Coffee. Coffee was commended by the Navy for diverting from his planned flight route on October 25, 1962 to take the first photographs of nuclear-capable Soviet FROG missiles. As a result of Coffee's photographs, the Pentagon revised its entire invasion plan for Cuba.
  
  EXTERNAL LINK: Here is a link to purchase the book: One Minute to Midnight from Amazon.com
  
  Click for : Book Reviews on "One Minute to Midnight" and Smithsonian Seminar

  
  
  



Click photos to enlarge. L-R: Photo #1: [VFP-62 CO] Commander William Ecker (left) and Marine Captain John Hudson---Note "Castro & dead chicken" stencil denoting a completed mission;

Photo #2: This is the only photograph you are likely to see of a Crusader [actually a VMCJ-2 RF-8] over Cuba during the missile crisis (or at any other time). It was shot on October 25 Blue Moon Mission 5010, from raw intelligence film that I discovered at the National Archives. (As you know, the planes flew in pairs, and sometimes shot photographs of each other.)

Photo #3: LT Gerald Coffee (left) and LT. Arthur Day (right) being debriefed by Rear Admiral Joseph Carson, Commander of Fleet Air Jacksonville.....Michael Dobbs, author "One Minute to Midnight"


"Photos contributed by: Michael Dobbs, author of "One Minute to Midnight"

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Before the October Flights, "We were Watching"

[Webmaster's Note: VFP-62 pilot, Phillip J. Smith (P.J.) provides this little known history of U2 and VFP-62 RF-8A reconnaisance flights over Cuba in the Spring of 1962. We are requesting any additional information.]

P.J.'s account:

"Skipper [George] Winslow alerted me that we would be flying that weekend. I had no clue as to where we might be going. He briefed that if either went down, flight was to return to Cecil Field. As we continued out over just south of the Bahamas I recognized that we were headed for Cuba. Skipper had said that we would make some photo runs and they would be done on mike clicks, no voice commands.

I do not recall altitude of runs that we made over Cuba but we ran out of film and got out of there! We landed at Homestead AFB and film was removed by people I had never seen before, nor have ever known again. What happened to that film?

Skipper told me not to log flights and do not discuss with anyone! Until recently I have not!

The irony of it all was that Lt Glen Hyde, [USAF] U2 pilot, also went down during those early days, in addition to Major Rudolph...(See story this page...Webmaster). Only a few years ago Lt Hyde was found still in the cockpit in the Gulf. [Webmaster: we are still trying to determine what brought the U2 down; hostile fire or mechanical problems. Information requested]

Glen and I were friends from the same neighborhood in La Grange , GA. Our families were close and I am still in touch with his younger brother!

A few years back I authorized the VFW to look at my service jacket to verify eligibility. It was only then that I discovered the Naval Expeditionary Medal (CUBA) award. Skipper Winslow never told me that he had written that up either, it was news to me."


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Before the Cuban Missile Crisis, There was

The Bay of Pigs Invasion - April 1961


Interesting story of VFP-62 "Gray Ghosts": Frank W. Schrader,AE2, Det 41-60 USS Independence, recalls painting their RF-8's (F8U-1P's) all gray and their mysterious mission during the VFP-62 and the Bay of Pigs Invasion

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The Crisis from the Russian Perspective




Soviet MiG-21 F-13
Photo Courtesy Sergey Isaev (see link below)

• The Russian 32nd Guards Fighter Regimant: The Russian Air Force in Cuba --by Sergey Isaev. Personal accounts of the depoyment to Cuba; what life was like during the crisis; Good photos and more. [Webmaster's Note: Some of the information about American reconnaissance is not factually complete, e.g. the Air Force F-101 [actually RF-101C] Voodoo gets most of the attention with no Russian perception of VFP-62's RF-8As doing much of the low-level fly-overs. Nevertheless it is fascinating reading with lots of photos.]--Contributed by Dave Johnson & Walt Quist

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• (11/2/14) Sergey Isaev once again writes about the Soviet deployment to Cuba: "The Stumbling Block". The 759th mine-and-torpedo aviation regiment on Cuba during the Caribbean crisis of 1962"--Translated into English this personal account of the little known deployment of the nuclear-capable Il-28 Soviet medium-range bomber and its squadron. The presence of the Il-28 in Cuba in late 1962, after the removal of the nuclear missiles, was the last diplomatic hurdle that the Kennedy administration had to complete before the crisis was considered over. Lots of photos, a few from Blue Moon Over Cuba makes this memoir a personal historical account. Written with a balanced perspective and no political agenda, it reveals the personal sacrifice Soviet Air Force servicemen made to accomplish their mission.
  
  An excerpt:

  Americans daily and very punctually, from 9 am till dinner time flied over our airbase . . . At the moment two American planes entered the space of our airdrome. When they were near our command post at a low altitude, someone opened automatic fire. We had no idea who fired. But the Cuban AA machine gun's crews, taking it as a signal, opened fire, too. . . The mission over, the Americans left the space unharmed. But for some time there were no flights over our airbase since then." [as told by Soviet officer, Lev Evseev]

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• (1/18/13)YouTube video of Sergei Khrushchev's (son of Nikita) analysis: The Cuban Missile Crisis from the Soviet Perspective

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