THE MISSILES OF OCTOBER
On the 22nd of October, Crisis Day 7: Kennedy implemented the Cuban Quarantine.
The Soviets were surprised by America’s response and felt that America’s opposition to missiles being
established in Cuba was a double standard given that the U. S. had similar missiles [Jupiters] positioned in
Turkey. Russia ordered submarines to defend Soviet missile transports en-route to Cuba.
On the 24th of October, Crisis Day 9: The Soviet ships halted short of the blockade, but did not turn around.
On the 25th of October, Crisis Day 10: the Soviet delegation to the United Nations, confronted with
evidence of their missiles in Cuba, denied their presence.
On the 26th of October, Crisis Day 11: Khrushchev sent a teletype to Kennedy to avoid deepening the crisis,
but with no resolution offered in the message.
On the 27th of October, Crisis Day 12: Khrushchev sent a follow-up message with tough demands in
exchange for withdrawal of Cuba’s Soviet missiles. These demands included: 1) U.S. must pledge to never
invade Cuba, and 2) U.S. must remove missiles from Turkey.
Kennedy mobilized U. S. troops in a show of force. A U-2 flying over Cuba was shot down. Its pilot, Major
Anderson, was killed. Kennedy refuses a contingency plan to retaliate in order to prevent escalating the
crisis even further.
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Jupiter SM-78 Weapon System
I&C Team 2, Çigli AB, Turkey 1961-1962
Chrysler Corporation Missile Division