U.S. alert level raised Cuban Missile Crisis

adlai stevenson shows aerial photos of cuban missiles united nations, october 25, 1962.

the requested emergency meeting of united nations security council on october 25. ambassador united nations adlai stevenson confronted soviet ambassador valerian zorin in emergency meeting of security council, challenging him admit existence of missiles. ambassador zorin refused answer. next day @ 10:00 pm edt, raised readiness level of sac forces defcon 2. confirmed time in history, b-52 bombers went on continuous airborne alert, , b-47 medium bombers dispersed various military , civilian airfields , made ready take off, equipped, on 15 minutes notice. 1 eighth of sac s 1,436 bombers on airborne alert, , 145 intercontinental ballistic missiles stood on ready alert, of targeted cuba, , air defense command (adc) redeployed 161 nuclear-armed interceptors 16 dispersal fields within 9 hours, 1 third maintaining 15-minute alert status. twenty-three nuclear-armed b-52s sent orbit points within striking distance of soviet union believe serious. jack j. catton later estimated 80 percent of sac s planes ready launch during crisis; david a. burchinal recalled that, contrast:

the russians thoroughly stood down, , knew it. didn t make move. did not increase alert; did not increase flights, or air defense posture. didn t thing, froze in place. never further nuclear war @ time of cuba, never further.

by october 22, tactical air command (tac) had 511 fighters plus supporting tankers , reconnaissance aircraft deployed face cuba on one-hour alert status. however, tac , military air transport service had problems. concentration of aircraft in florida strained command , support echelons, faced critical undermanning in security, armaments, , communications; absence of initial authorization war-reserve stocks of conventional munitions forced tac scrounge; , lack of airlift assets support major airborne drop necessitated call-up of 24 reserve squadrons.

on october 25 @ 1:45 am edt, kennedy responded khrushchev s telegram stating forced action after receiving repeated assurances no offensive missiles being placed in cuba, , when assurances proved false, deployment required responses have announced.... hope government take necessary action permit restoration of earlier situation.

a declassified map used u.s. navy s atlantic fleet showing position of american , soviet ships @ height of crisis.