On Oct. 2, the U.S. government relaunches atmospheric nuclear tests at Johnston Island in the Pacific, known as "Operation Dominic." A B-52 plane drops a high-yield bomb, but the test -- referred to as "Androscoggin" -- failed (it was repeated successfully on Oct. 30). At the same time, a U.S. military statement declares that action in Cuba would be justified if they have evidence of "Soviet action against Western rights in Berlin" or of "offensive weapons on Cuban soil."
In Washington, McNamara requests that any military plans place particular emphasis on strategies that would remove Fidel Castro from power. Meanwhile, in Cuba, the Soviet cargo ship Krasnograd arrives in the port of Mariel bearing six R-12 missiles.
Above, a photo shows an earlier, successful test in the "Operation Dominic" series.
United States Department of Defense
