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Launch Pad UK: Britain and the Cuban Missile Crisis
For most British people the weekend of 27/28 October 1962 could so very easily have been their last weekend on earth, yet astonishingly the fact that Britain's nuclear deterrent forces went to an unprecedented level of readiness was kept secret from the public. Thor nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles stood on a round-the-clock wartime state of alert ready to be fired, these were the 'other' missiles of the Cuban Missile Crisis, which made Britain, in effect, America's launch pad. During the height of the crisis both RAF Bomber Command and the US Strategic Air Command were poised at the highest states of readiness. Both were ordered to a level of war readiness unparalleled throughout the whole of the forty years of Cold War.
There is evidence to suggest that had the US needed to launch an air strike against Russian missiles in Cuba, President Kennedy might have been willing to absorb a Soviet nuclear assault on a NATO ally without retaliation, if it would have avoided escalation to World War Three.
It is sobering to those who lived through that period that, the British Ambassador to Cuba commented: 'If it was a nuclear war we were headed for, Cuba was perhaps a better place to be than Britain!'
There is evidence to suggest that had the US needed to launch an air strike against Russian missiles in Cuba, President Kennedy might have been willing to absorb a Soviet nuclear assault on a NATO ally without retaliation, if it would have avoided escalation to World War Three.
It is sobering to those who lived through that period that, the British Ambassador to Cuba commented: 'If it was a nuclear war we were headed for, Cuba was perhaps a better place to be than Britain!'
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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5 people want to read
About the author
Jim Wilson
253 books15 followersJim Wilson could have simply dismissed himself as a competent piano tuner-technician, even an exceptional one. But he was and is so much more, and it took the sudden death of a dear friend and the encouragement of a legendary singer/songwriter to prove it to him.
From a broken home in Amarillo, Texas to a multi-award-winning recording artist, Jim Wilson’s journey is a captivating tale of showbiz glamour, personal tragedy, self-discovery, and dogged determination. And, as is typical of Jim Wilson, he’s turned out to be a pretty good wordsmith.
Tuned-In: Memoirs of a Piano Man is a page-turner and a life-changer. It’s a self-help book in the form of an autobiography. It is entertaining, revealing and full of lessons for musicians, fans, and all readers.
Jim Wilson’s life direction was set when he was given a guitar at age 7, then began composing songs at age 9. Soon after moving from West Texas to LA in his early 20’s, he gained a reputation as a respected piano technician, catering to the highest echelon of the music industry. Jim helped develop the first MIDI-adapter for acoustic piano in the 80’s, which became an instant hit with artists and studios around the world.
It was the shocking, untimely death of his closest friend that forced Jim to question the whole purpose of his life. With the love and support of his musical heroes – most significantly his friend and mentor, Dan Fogelberg -- Jim set out on a solo career, composing, recording and performing his signature style of piano-featured instrumentals.
Four of Jim’s ten recordings have hit the Billboard Top-20, he’s had two PBS specials, and his music has been streamed over 75 million times by fans around the globe. He was recently made a “Lifetime Member” of the Recording Academy. He enjoys scuba diving, skiing, pilot lessons, and mountain biking. Tuned In is Jim’s first book.
From a broken home in Amarillo, Texas to a multi-award-winning recording artist, Jim Wilson’s journey is a captivating tale of showbiz glamour, personal tragedy, self-discovery, and dogged determination. And, as is typical of Jim Wilson, he’s turned out to be a pretty good wordsmith.
Tuned-In: Memoirs of a Piano Man is a page-turner and a life-changer. It’s a self-help book in the form of an autobiography. It is entertaining, revealing and full of lessons for musicians, fans, and all readers.
Jim Wilson’s life direction was set when he was given a guitar at age 7, then began composing songs at age 9. Soon after moving from West Texas to LA in his early 20’s, he gained a reputation as a respected piano technician, catering to the highest echelon of the music industry. Jim helped develop the first MIDI-adapter for acoustic piano in the 80’s, which became an instant hit with artists and studios around the world.
It was the shocking, untimely death of his closest friend that forced Jim to question the whole purpose of his life. With the love and support of his musical heroes – most significantly his friend and mentor, Dan Fogelberg -- Jim set out on a solo career, composing, recording and performing his signature style of piano-featured instrumentals.
Four of Jim’s ten recordings have hit the Billboard Top-20, he’s had two PBS specials, and his music has been streamed over 75 million times by fans around the globe. He was recently made a “Lifetime Member” of the Recording Academy. He enjoys scuba diving, skiing, pilot lessons, and mountain biking. Tuned In is Jim’s first book.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 28, 2017
Its kind of scary how the government keeps secrets from the general population, especially when it means it could end of mankind. Well it happened in October 27/28 1962 with the Cuban Missile Crisis, with the help from Britain they held the America’s launch pad for “Thor,” that’s what they named the ballistic missiles. It's alarming knowing how close the launch crews have had sixty missiles just minutes from lift off!
Jim Wilson did remarkable research on this subject, he provides pictures of the actual missile launch pad at Cape Canaveral to the transportation of Thor through the villages of east England. Jim provides details of the transport of the missiles, who was involved, how they had cranes, tractors, police escort, etc. There is also a launch pad plan that are numbered to explain its function. He also provided the names of The Thor Squadrons who participated in the continuation of the Cuban missile crisis launch team.
This is a great book to go back in time for the people that grew up in the sixties or who is eager to know what really happened during the Cuban missile crisis. It tells who was involved, and what happened to Thor at the end of the crisis, how it was essential to America’s growing achievements.
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Jim Wilson did remarkable research on this subject, he provides pictures of the actual missile launch pad at Cape Canaveral to the transportation of Thor through the villages of east England. Jim provides details of the transport of the missiles, who was involved, how they had cranes, tractors, police escort, etc. There is also a launch pad plan that are numbered to explain its function. He also provided the names of The Thor Squadrons who participated in the continuation of the Cuban missile crisis launch team.
This is a great book to go back in time for the people that grew up in the sixties or who is eager to know what really happened during the Cuban missile crisis. It tells who was involved, and what happened to Thor at the end of the crisis, how it was essential to America’s growing achievements.
--
June 28, 2017
Its kind of scary how the government keeps secrets from the general population, especially when it means it could end of mankind. Well it happened in October 27/28 1962 with the Cuban Missile Crisis, with the help from Britain they held the America’s launch pad for “Thor,” that’s what they named the ballistic missiles. It's alarming knowing how close the launch crews have had sixty missiles just minutes from lift off!
Jim Wilson did remarkable research on this subject, he provides pictures of the actual missile launch pad at Cape Canaveral to the transportation of Thor through the villages of east England. Jim provides details of the transport of the missiles, who was involved, how they had cranes, tractors, police escort, etc. There is also a launch pad plan that are numbered to explain its function. He also provided the names of The Thor Squadrons who participated in the continuation of the Cuban missile crisis launch team.
This is a great book to go back in time for the people that grew up in the sixties or who is eager to know what really happened during the Cuban missile crisis. It tells who was involved, and what happened to Thor at the end of the crisis, how it was essential to America’s growing achievements.
Jim Wilson did remarkable research on this subject, he provides pictures of the actual missile launch pad at Cape Canaveral to the transportation of Thor through the villages of east England. Jim provides details of the transport of the missiles, who was involved, how they had cranes, tractors, police escort, etc. There is also a launch pad plan that are numbered to explain its function. He also provided the names of The Thor Squadrons who participated in the continuation of the Cuban missile crisis launch team.
This is a great book to go back in time for the people that grew up in the sixties or who is eager to know what really happened during the Cuban missile crisis. It tells who was involved, and what happened to Thor at the end of the crisis, how it was essential to America’s growing achievements.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews