Cuban Missile Crisis By
John Tezak F‐106 Convair Tech Rep 6 Mar 2015 Around the middle of October1962, many rumors were flying. I was the Convair Tech Rep at Tyndall AFB, Florida. A pilot of a U2 spy plane had reported seeing missile sites and Russian aircraft on the island of Cuba. He also reported Russian ships transporting weapons in Cuban waters. On the 22nd of October President Kennedy announced a blockade of Cuba. We at Tyndall were told to prepare for war. All aircraft, F‐101, F‐102 and F‐106 were fitted with external fuel tanks and the latest armament. This was the first time weapon bay fuel tanks were installed on several F‐106 aircraft. Every joint leaked fuel. New gaskets were ordered and installed. The F‐102 and F‐101 aircraft were on alert and sent to South Florida. The F‐106 aircraft were capable of flying to Cuba, flying ‘look‐see’ missions over Cuba and returning to Tyndall to be refueled and off again. Everyone, including civilians, was restricted to the base. Bunks were set up in the hangers on the flight line for those of us who lived off base. After about three days my wife met me at the Main Gate with clean cloths. Tyndall became a staging base for the F‐106 aircraft flying surveillance. It also became the support base for all of the fighter aircraft in South Florida. The ramps were full of support aircraft from every command. There were so many aircraft deployed to Florida that some thought the state may sink into the ocean. On the 28th of October the President announced that the Russians were withdrawing all planes, ships and missiles from Cuba and surrounding water. The Crisis was over. It took several weeks to get back to normal flying and training. ‐‐