Cuban Missile Crisis By filippa Oct 13, 1962 Intermediate-range nuclear missiles are discovered San Cristobal Cuba Oct 16, 1962 JFK is informed about the presences of Soviet missile sites in Cuba, meeting is held with his advisors, regarding the action that should be taken Period: Oct 16, 1962 to Oct 17, 1962 The Joint Chiefs of Staff strongly advise JFK to make an airstrike Oct 20, 1962 JFK meets with EXCOMM to discuss the speeches he was going to give and the idea of a blockade on Cuba Oct 22, 1962 US military forces go into DEFCON 3 (increase in force readiness) Oct 22, 1962 JFK tells public about the missile sites in Cuba in a televised speech Oct 23, 1962 JFK receives letter from Khrushchev in which Khrushchev states that "there is a serious threat to the peace and security of our peoples" Oct 24, 1962 Soviet ships en route to Cuba reverse their course, except for one Oct 24, 1962 US military forces go into DEFCON 2 (further increase in force readiness) Oct 25, 1962 JFK sends a letter to Khrushchev placing the responsibility for the crisis on the Soviet Union Oct 26, 1962 Khrushchev sends letter to JFK proposing to remove his missiles if Kennedy publicly announces never to invade Cuba Oct 27, 1962 An American U-2 plane is shot down over Cuba Oct 27, 1962 JFK sends Khrushchev a letter stating that the US will not invade Cuba if Khrushchev removes the missiles from Cuba Oct 28, 1962 Khrushchev announces over Radio Moscow that he has agreed to remove the missiles. In return the US removed their missiles from Turkey