October, 1962
Tensions between the United States and Cuba, an ally of the Soviet Union, leads to a tense confrontation between the two superpowers.
By this point, the pressure from the Liberals and elements from within the minority Progressive-Conservative government forced Diefenbaker to maintain a cordial relationship with the United States. Though Diefenbaker publically continued to delay official adoption of nuclear warheads into his country, his own Minister of National Defense, with his unofficial blessing, permitted the United States Air Force to station a small number of Bomarc missiles in remote areas on Canada. This led to a very minor warming up of relations between Diefenbaker and President John F Kennedy. Both leaders were still cold towards each other, but they still were willing to cooperate on matters related to the military, particularly NORAD.
In the past two years, the Avro Arrow had become well integrated into the joint Canadian-American Air Defense Network. There were quite a number of interceptions of Soviet bombers, particularly by the remaining CF-100s and the newer CF-105B Arrows, which often carried additional fuel and a lighter missile load for the long-distance arctic intercept missions.
On Saturday, October 14, a U-2 spy plane flying over Cuba, located an SS-4 Construction site at San Christobal, western Cuba. The President was informed the next day, and promptly ordered the CIA to relay the information to the Canadian Ministry of National Defense, with a lower priority carbon copy for Diefenbaker.
The Canadian military was informed a few hours ahead of the Prime Minister, with requests not to inform the public. Diefenbaker was more skeptical, but also knew not to inform the public of the Americans' discovery.
On the 18th, POTUS and the Russian Foreign Minister met, with the soviets claiming the missiles were for defensive purposes.
October 19 saw additional U-2 flights reveal four more SS-4 sites on Cuba. At this point, the United States military began to redeploy some forces to Georgia, Florida, and sent B-47 and B-52 bombers to civilian airports. The RCAF was informed by the USAF, leading to a increase of air patrols in the north, with flights of four Arrows rather than the usual pairs.
October 21 saw the US Navy begin a blockade around Cuba, with the Soviets and Americans commencing political games for the next few days.
On October 25, 1962, the American Alert Status for the Strategic Air Command was elevated to DEFCON 2, just one step away from open war. The RCAF was again alerted to the escalation, and ordered all remaining Canuck and Arrow Squadrons onto high alert, with constant air patrols, and the unofficial loading of AIR-2 Genie rockets onto the Arrows. All Canadian Genie rockets were American units that were "mysteriously lost" whenever American Voodoos loaded with the rockets came around to Cold Lake or Bagotville.
Diefenbaker was furious with the evident snub by President Kennedy, though he reluctantly ordered the military into high alert as posturing from the opposition party leaders.
Fortunately, the crisis was averted via more political dealings between the superpowers. Through it all, Canada maintained the airspace over Northern Canada. Many Canadians saw the actions of President Kennedy as correct, much to the dismay of Diefenbaker.
