-
Period: to
The Cuban Missile Crisis
The timespan of the Cuban Missile Crisis -
Missiles Discovered
A U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, flown by Richard Heyser, reveals several secret SS-4 nuclear missiles in Cuba. -
Soviet Denies Missiles
President Kennedy meets and advises Soviet Foreign Minister Andrie Gromyko that the U.S. would not allow the Soviet Union to have missiles on Cuba, and the Minister denied the presence of Soviet Union weaponry. -
More Missiles Discovered
After another U-2 flight reveals bombers and cruise missile sites on Cuba's Northen Shore, Kennedy decides that airstrikes could result in 10-20 thousands of civilian casualties. So, Kennedy decides on a naval Blockade of Cuba -
DEFCON 3
Kennedy informs the nation of the Naval Blockade decision, and the U.S. Military is set on DEFCON 3 ( Defense Readiness condition that is on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being the most severe.). Castro begins to mobilize all cuban military. -
Blockade is set
By the end of the day, the naval ships is in their blockade location of Cuba. More reconnaissance photos reveal that the missiles are ready to launch. -
Soviet reach blockade
Soviet ships reach the blockade, but have orders to hold position. -
DEFCON 2
U.S. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson confronts the Soviets at the U.N. but they refuse to answer. American military forces are instructed to set DEFCON 2 - the highest ever in U.S. history. -
An Agreement
EX-COMM receives a letter from Khrushchev stating that the Soviets would remove their missiles if President Kennedy publicly guarantees the U.S. will not invade Cuba. -
Shot down
A U-2 plane is shot down over Cuba, and EX-COMM receives another letter requesting the U.S. to remove their missiles from Turkey. -
Crisis ends
In a speech, Khrushchev announces the dismantling of the missiles in Cuba. The crisis is over.