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The U-2 Incident (1960)
Francis Gary Powers's U-2 is shot down deep in Soviet airspace. The pilot, who was taking reconnaissance photos of Soviet missile sites, survives, and is used as a bargaining chip, being exchanged with a Soviet spy. -
First man is space
The Vostok 1 spacecraft, piloted by Yuri Gagarin, orbited the Earth from the upper atmosphere. Because of definitions, the upper atmosphere is considered space, making Gagarin the first man in space. This achievement prompted the US to panic more in their space development. -
Bay of Pigs
The CIA trained force of Cuban Exiles storm ashore their homeland to take back their home from communist rule. Over the next 72 hours, they will fail without US air and artillery support. 1,400 men are killed or captured -
JFK Speaks to Congress on Space
In his speech to Congress, JFK calls for more development in space, to be able to go to the moon in the next decade, as well as nuclear powered rovers and weather satellites. -
Soviet Missile Discovered in Cuba
With the CIA being tipped off of possible nuclear weapons being handled in Cuba, JFK ordered an U-2 Sortie across the island. The Aerial photos showed missile sites, along with other Soviet equipment. -
SAC orders to go to DEFCON 2
Strategic Air Command goes to DEFCON 2. The US is ready to launch a nuclear strike in less than 6 hours. -
The US Navy Quarantines Cuba
The US Navy establishes a blockade around Cuba to prevent further missile shipments. Kennedy makes it clear that there is to be no shooting on the soviet ships. The blockade is legally an act of war, and shooting on soviet ships may escalate the crisis into war. -
A U-2 is shot down over Cuba
Major Rudolf Anderson is flying over Cuba, taking additional reconnaissance pictures of the island, when he is shot down by the Cubans, against the order of the Soviet Union -
A Soviet Submarine Surfaces
US Destroyers, in an attempt to signal a Soviet Submarine to surface, drop low intensity depth charges. The command crew believe that war was declared, and should destroy the enemy fleet with a nuclear torpedo. The flotilla commander Vasily Arkhipov convinces the two other officers that the sub should surface and await orders instead. -
Khrushchev announces over the Radio that he will remove the missiles from Cuba.
Concerned that nuclear war could start any minute, the KGB halts all tragic between the Radio Station and Moscow to allow the US faster knowledge that they agree to Kennedy's deal.