Seems hard to believe that the events of October 1962 took place 50 years ago.
The below story was in to-day's Minot Daily News.
www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/570094/Minot-AFB-played-part-in-Cuban-Missile-Crisis-response.html?nav=5010Well I remember those days.
My housekeeper/nanny was not happy that she had to be on duty with my children 24/7, until the Cuban Missile Crisis calmed down.
We went to Full Alert, and had weapons on the ramp, ready for quick loads.
I don't remember how many of our birds were loaded with Genies, but it was more than the four that went to Hector Field in Fargo.
I know we had four in the alert barn, and at least four more in the ramp shelters.
:fire_missle_ani
Those that were allowed to go home, not many at a time, had to stay home, ready to get back to the line in 30 minutes or less, depending on the condition of u.S. 83 between the base and Minot.
The base chow hall was open 24/7 while the base was on high alert.
Some of our meals were brought to us on the line and hanger, just in case.
Fortunately Khrushchev and the USSR blinked, and it was over.
The actual alert time was only 3 or 4 days, but we stayed on high alert status for some time.
This was the first real test of the 5th FIS since Jack Broughton arrived that Spring.
Prior to that time the 5th owned the planes and pilots, and all the maintenance was from the 32nd CAMRON.
The combined squadron went from being a mess, to excellent in just a few months.
Under the old system morale was in the toilet and there were lots of minor incidents, and a couple of major events.
Pilots were almost leaderless and ADC was finally coming back to the combined fighter squadron concept.
Morale went up, incidents went down and people were working together.
IMHO the Cuban Missile Crisis made the 5th one of the best FIS, after having been one of the worst.
Fifty years?
Man, I don't believe I'm really that old.
Guess I am, though, as the calendar is correct.
Hmmmm???
Jim Too
:god_bless_usa
