Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, analysis C016 / 4236
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Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, analysis C016 / 4236
Cuban Missile Crisis. Strategic Air Command (SAC) photo interpreters using a magnifying and mapping machine to examine aerial reconnaissance images of Cuba, obtained in 1962. Analysis of the photographs showed launch sites for medium range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) that would have been able to reach the USA from Cuba. This led US President John F. Kennedy to order a naval blockade of Cuba. The following stand-off brought the world to the brink of nuclear warfare. The crisis ended on 28th October 1962, when Soviet Premier Khrushchev announced that the Cuban sites would be dismantled. For examples of aerial views, see C016/4235 and V900/0167
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9204497
© US AIR FORCE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
1900s 1960s 1962 Aerial Photography Arms Race Atom Bomb Atomic Ballistic Missile Cold War Communism Communist Crisis Cuban Device Display Early Espionage Global History Of Science Instrument International Launch Site Light Box Machine Magnifying Mapping Military Missile Missiles North American Nuclear Nuclear War Reconnaissance Rocketry Silo Silos Soldiers Soviet Soviet Union Spying Surveillance Surveying Ussr Viewer Warfare Weapon Worldwide Ballistic Missiles Brink Cuban Missile Crisis John F Kennedy Khrushchev Solider Spy Plane Stand Off Superpowers
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a pivotal moment in history - the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. In this image, we witness the intense analysis taking place at Strategic Air Command (SAC) as photo interpreters meticulously examine aerial reconnaissance images of Cuba. Equipped with magnifying and mapping machines, these dedicated individuals scrutinize every detail to identify launch sites for medium-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States from Cuba. The discovery of these missile sites prompted US President John F. Kennedy to respond swiftly by ordering a naval blockade around Cuba. The subsequent tense standoff between superpowers brought the world perilously close to nuclear warfare, raising global anxieties to unprecedented levels. It was through such meticulous examination and interpretation that crucial intelligence was gathered, enabling decision-makers to navigate this treacherous crisis. As SAC's photo interpreters pored over each photograph on their light boxes, they played an instrumental role in shaping the course of history. Fortunately, on October 28th, 1962, Soviet Premier Khrushchev announced that the Cuban missile sites would be dismantled. This announcement marked a turning point in defusing tensions between nations and averting catastrophic consequences. This powerful image serves as a reminder not only of humanity's capacity for destruction but also our ability to prevent it through careful analysis and diplomacy. It stands as a testament to the bravery and dedication displayed by those involved during one of the most critical moments in modern history – when mankind teetered on the brink while striving for peace amidst Cold War hostilities.
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