The Cuban Missile Crisis
Between October 15 and November 1, the time period during which the Cuban Missile Crisis
took place, six nuclear tests took place in the Johnston Island area of the Pacific Ocean.
These tests were either Airdrops from B-52's or shot into space by a solid fueled XM-33 Strypi
NOT included are the three underground nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site or
the twelve Atmospheric nuclear tests conducted by the Russians at Novaya Zemlya or Semipalatinsk
during the same period.
Timeline of events (American Nuclear tests in blue
- Day 1: Tuesday, October 16
Crisis begins President Kennedy convenes his Executive Committee to consider America's options.
- DAY 2: Wednesday, October 17
President Kennedy meets with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrie Gromyko and advises him that
America will not tolerate Soviet missiles in Cuba. Gromyko denies the presence of any
Soviet weaponry in Cuba.
- DAY 3: Thursday, October 18
CHAMA Dominic Airdrop test over Johnston Island area. 1.59 Megaton yield Hydrogen
- DAY 4: Friday, October 19
JFK meets with the secretary of defense, Robert McNamara, and the members of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff. They discuss military options.
- DAY 5: Saturday, October 20
President Kennedy returns to Washington to discuss the discovery of additional Soviet missiles in
CHECKMATE Dominic High Altitude test on Missile test over Johnston Island Area.
Low Kiloton yield.
- DAY 6: Sunday, October 21
President Kennedy decides on a naval blockade of Cuba.
- DAY 7: Monday, October 22
President Kennedy addresses the American public and announces his plan to implement a naval blockade
of Cuba. U.S. military alert is set at DEFCON 3 and Castro mobilizes all of Cuba's military forces.
High Altitude Russian Nuclear Test at Kapustin Yar Hydrogen Bomb on Rocket. Yield Approx. 300 Kilotons.
- DAY 8: Tuesday, October 23
The OAS (Organization of American States) supports the decision to quarantine Cuba. Reconnaissance
photos reveal that Soviet missiles are ready for launch.
- McNamara, Kennedy review and discuss options of confrontation.
- Discussion of diplomatic efforts at the UN and the vote by the Organization of American States.
- DAY 9: Wednesday, October 24
Soviet ships reach the quarantine line, but receive radio orders from Moscow to hold their positions.
- Consideration of civil defense options and planning for possible Soviet responses in Berlin.
- JFK concludes that if we invade in the next ten days, the missile base crews in Cuba will likely
fire at least some of the missiles at US targets.
- Detailed briefing on new reconnaissance photos from Cuba and discussion of the need to disperse
planes at Florida bases in the event of attacks by MIGs based in Cuba.
- McNamara talks of a very dangerous situation since ships approaching the quarantine line are
being shadowed by a Soviet submarine.
- DAY 10: Thursday, October 25
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.
- Review of the movement of ships toward the quarantine line and potential US responses.
- DAY 11: Friday, October 26
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.
- The CIA reports that the construction of the missile sites is continuing and accelerating. RFK
meets secretly with Soviet Ambassador Dobrynin and agrees after a phone call to the president that
the removal of US missiles from Turkey is negotiable as part of a comprehensive settlement.
- Khrushchev receives a cable from Castro urging a nuclear first strike against the US in the event
of an invasion of Cuba.
BLUEGILL TRIPLE PRIME Dominic test High altitude on Thor IRBM over Johnston
Island area. Low Kiloton yield.
- DAY 12: Saturday, October 27
While one U-2 spy plane accidentally flies into Russia, another is shot down over Cuba. EX-COMM
receives a second letter from Khrushchev stating that, in addition to a public promise not to invade
Cuba, the U.S. remove its missiles from Turkey.
CALAMITY Dominic Airdrop over Johnston Island area by B-52 Hydrogen bomb test.
Yield 800 Kilotons.
- DAY 13: Sunday, October 28
The crisis is over
- In a speech aired on Radio Moscow, Khrushchev announces the dismantling of Soviet missiles in Cuba
and does not insist on his demands concerning the removal of U.S. missiles from Turkey.
High Altitude Russian Nuclear Test conducted at Kapustin Yar. Hydrogen Bomb on Rocket. Yield
approx. 300 Kilotons.
- Monday, October 29
JFK orders US ships to remain on the quarantine line and authorizes continuation of low-level reconnaissance
- Tuesday, October 30
HOUSATONIC Dominic Airdrop over Johnston Island area by B-52 Hydrogen bomb test.
Yield: 8.3 Megatons.
- Thursday, November 1
KINGFISH Dominic High altitude Missile test over Johnston Island Area. Sub
High Altitude Russian Nuclear Test conducted at Kapustin Yar. Hydrogen Bomb on Rocket. Yield approx.
- Wednesday, November 21
Just over a month after the crisis began, JFK terminates the quarantine when Khrushchev agrees after
several weeks of tense negotiations at the UN to withdraw Soviet IL-28 nuclear bombers from Cuba.
John F. Kennedy signs the Limited Test Ban Treaty.