Major Anderson was the only direct casualty of the Cuban Missile Crisis of
October, 1962. Fifty years ago today the U-2 spy plane of which he was the
pilot was shot down over Cuba.
The U-2 reconnaissance missions which had been conducted by the CIA were
turned over to the USAF on October 14 and the planes were badged with Air
Force insignia.
Major Anderson qualified as a U-2 pilot in 1957 and had over 1000 hours on
mission assignments. The Major’s body was returned to his hometown, Greenville,
where he was interred on November 6, 1962. Anderson was posthumously awarded
the Air Force Cross by the President of the United States. Greenville conducts
an annual memorial service for Major Anderson. This year they will unveil the
redesign of the Anderson Memorial.
Image: Wikipedia
6 comments:
I am glad he is receiving his just honor. I don't know much about this time period in history, and now I want to read more on it.
I had forgotten about this casualty. Great history reminders in your recent posts.
I read the title of this post and thought the name was somewhat familiar. Now, I remember, but not well. He is one of those heroes who seem to be forgotten. Like the poor man who saved his town through his wisdom, but was forgotten.
Shelly, our history is a story of winning and keeping our freedoms.
Vee, strange, isn't it, how I find history much more interesting now that there are no marks or final exams?
Chuck, there have been literally thousands of heroes who have given everything to protect us. Possibly we don't think of them often enough.
Interesting. I've only ever heard about Gary Powers in connection with U-2 shootdowns.
Sharkey, I remember the Francis Gary Powers incident as well. It occurred two years before the Anderson flight.
Differences: Powers was flying CIA, Anderson USAF. Powers survived, Anderson didn't.
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