The Photo That Nearly Triggered Nuclear War

The Cuban Missile Crisis began on October 22, 1962, when President Kennedy deployed warships to Cuba to intercept Soviet ships carrying nuclear missiles. This event was a pivotal moment in the Cold War, marked by espionage and intelligence efforts. The crisis was triggered by the discovery of Soviet missile sites in Cuba, identified through aerial photo analysis by the NPIC. Kennedy opted for a quarantine instead of airstrikes, leading to a tense standoff with the Soviet Union. The crisis was resolved when the Soviets agreed to withdraw missiles from Cuba in exchange for the US removing missiles from Turkey and Italy.

What action did President Kennedy take in response to the Soviet ships heading to Cuba?

• He declared war on the Soviet Union

• He ignored the threat

• He ordered a strict quarantine of military equipment

• He negotiated immediately with the Soviet Union

What was the primary purpose of the U-2 spy plane during the Cold War?

• Electronic warfare

• Transporting troops

• Photo reconnaissance

• Bombing enemy targets

What technology did the U-2 spy plane use to detect Soviet activities?

• Infrared sensors

• Satellite imaging

• Powerful cameras

• Radar detection

What critical evidence did Dino Brugioni discover in the U-2 photographs?

• None of the above

• Troop movements in Cuba

• American missiles in Turkey

• Soviet nuclear missile sites in Cuba

What was the role of the National Photographic Interpretation Center during the crisis?

• Negotiating with the Soviets

• Analyzing photographic evidence

• Coordinating military actions

• Broadcasting propaganda

What was the significance of the aerial photographs taken by the U-2 spy planes?

• They detected radio signals

• They showed troop movements

• They revealed missile sites

• They were inconclusive

What was Kennedy's initial response to the discovery of missile sites in Cuba?

• Immediate air strikes

• A naval blockade

• Diplomatic negotiations

• None of the above

How did the Soviet Union respond to the US quarantine?

• By ignoring the quarantine

• By increasing their military presence

• By attacking US naval forces

• By withdrawing their ships

What was the outcome of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

• Cuba became a US territory

• The Soviets withdrew their missiles from Cuba

• None of the above

• The US and Soviet Union went to war

What agreement ended the Cuban Missile Crisis?

• The UN imposed sanctions on the Soviet Union

• The US removed all its naval forces from the Caribbean

• The US agreed to never invade Cuba

• The Soviets dismantled their bases in exchange for US concessions in Europe