Just over sixty years ago, the world's attention was focused with growing fear on the Caribbean island. Here, the Cold War looked poise to accelerate into a global nuclear holocaust as the American and Soviet superpowers engaged in terse discussions. On October 23rd, 1962, Captain William Ecker was sent on a top-secret low-level reconnaisance mission over Cuba. The photographs he took under the world's gaze confirmed the presence of Soviet missile stockpiling, giving the vital leverage to diffuse the crisis peacefully.

9781780960715


To mark his direct involvement in this dramatic episode of history, Ecker's son has donated the Captain's flightsuit to the Smithsonian Museum. The drab khaki suit, devoid of badges or insignia due to the level of secrecy surrounding the mission, will now take its place in the world-famous museum.

Following an extensive book tour by the book's co-author Ken Jack, the Captain's memoirs Blue Moon Over Cuba has continued to receive some great reviews, which can be seen on the book's webpage.

For more information about this intriguing episode of aviation history, take a look a the Cold War Museum timeline and the Navy Aviation Museum website. Or, if you're lucky enough to live nearby, go and pay them a visit!