Glenn[_4_]
November 10th 12, 04:47 AM
During the Cuban missile crisis a majority of B-47 bombers with
capability to drop nuclear payloads were "dispersed" to Volk, among
other bases, to make it harder for the Soviets to threaten USAF assets.
At around midnight on October 25, 1962, a guard at the Duluth Sector
Direction Center saw a figure climbing the security fence. He shot at
it, and activated the "sabotage alarm." This automatically set off
sabotage alarms at all bases in the area. At Volk Field, Wisconsin, the
alarm was incorrectly wired, and the Klaxon sounded which ordered
nuclear armed F-106A interceptors to take off. The interceptor crews had
not been notified that the Strategic Air Command had increased its
patrols of nuclear-armed bombers, some of which were airborne near Volk,
threatening the possibility of nuclear friendly fire.
Immediate communication with Duluth showed there was an error. By this
time aircraft were starting down the runway and Volk was too small for a
control tower (its aircraft were dispatched from Duluth 300 miles (480
km) away). A truck raced from the command center and successfully
signaled the aircraft to stop.
The intruder was later identified as a black bear, not the Soviet
saboteurs in advance of a nuclear attack the sentry was expecting.
capability to drop nuclear payloads were "dispersed" to Volk, among
other bases, to make it harder for the Soviets to threaten USAF assets.
At around midnight on October 25, 1962, a guard at the Duluth Sector
Direction Center saw a figure climbing the security fence. He shot at
it, and activated the "sabotage alarm." This automatically set off
sabotage alarms at all bases in the area. At Volk Field, Wisconsin, the
alarm was incorrectly wired, and the Klaxon sounded which ordered
nuclear armed F-106A interceptors to take off. The interceptor crews had
not been notified that the Strategic Air Command had increased its
patrols of nuclear-armed bombers, some of which were airborne near Volk,
threatening the possibility of nuclear friendly fire.
Immediate communication with Duluth showed there was an error. By this
time aircraft were starting down the runway and Volk was too small for a
control tower (its aircraft were dispatched from Duluth 300 miles (480
km) away). A truck raced from the command center and successfully
signaled the aircraft to stop.
The intruder was later identified as a black bear, not the Soviet
saboteurs in advance of a nuclear attack the sentry was expecting.