Repost: MiGs Over the Sunshine State

[Matt Wiser]

The Soviet tacair strike on Florida: a few minor edits, and cleaning up some typos for this repost from the previous board:


MiGs over the Sunshine State: The Soviet Strike on Florida


The only appearance by Soviet tactical strike aircraft over the continential United States in the Third World War was the strike by elements of the 168th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Soviet Air Force, based at San Antonio de Los Banos AB, Cuba. While there were occasional appearances by Su-27s and even MiG-31 Foxhounds over Alaska, they were tasked with strike escort for SAF Backfire bombers on strikes against targets in Alaska. There were some strikes by Su-24 Fencers as well on several occasions. But the attack by the SAF's 168th IAP was intended to not only strike targets in Florida critical to the American war effort, but to provoke a response by the U.S. that would be so overwhelming against Cuba as to bring that country into the war fully on the Soviet side, despite a declaration of neutrality issued by Fidel Castro upon the outbreak of war on 21 April 2005.

The 168th IAP directly reported to the Soviet Military Mission to Cuba, although in the event of an American attack, would be under Cuban AF operational control. The Regiment was equipped with 40 MiG-29 Fulcrum-C interceptor/strike aircraft, with 60 pilots, plus the ground crews, intelligence, KGB Special Department, medical, and other support elements. Also on the base, but not assigned to the 168th , were several SNAF (Soviet Naval Air Force) Tu-95 Bear-D and Tu-142 Bear-F maritime reconnaissance and ASW aircraft. Two of the former did take part in the 26 April mission, one directing the MiGs tasked against Key West, while the second Bear provided SAR patrol for downed MiG pilots close to Cuban waters. In addition, the Oscar-II class submarine Perm not only contributed SS-N-19 cruise missiles, but landed a number of Naval Spetsnatz teams in Florida to conduct sabotage and to attempt rescue of downed air crews.

In the days immediately following the outbreak of war, both the Americans and the Soviets were making their preparations for a possible extension of the war to the Florida Straits. U.S. Navy P-3 Orions based at NAS Jacksonville and at NAS Key West were busy with ASW patrols, as not only had the cruise missile strikes against Washington and New York struck a nerve, but several convoys were forming up at Gulf Coast ports, such as Houston, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, New Orleans, and Mobile. Most of their escorts were Knox-class frigates reactivated from mothballs in the lead-up to war, along with a number of Perry-class frigates belonging to the Naval Reserve Force. Also escorting the convoys for the run through the Florida Straits were the Pegasus-class PHM hydrofoils, guarding against any possible interference from the Cuban Navy's FACs.

Air defense had been reinforced after the missile strikes on New York and Washington, with the 325th TFTW at Tyndall AFB taking F-22 Raptor instructor pilots and sending a detachment from the 1st TFS to MacDill AFB, and keeping four additional Raptors on alert at Tyndall. The Florida ANG's 125th FIW at Jacksonville IAP maintained a dozen F-15A MISP Eagles on alert, with a CAP over central Florida of two aircraft. Four additional Eagles from the 125th were detached to Patrick AFB south of Cape Canaveral, sharing ramp space there with F/A-18A+ Hornets from the U.S. Navy's VFA-305. The Navy also contributed additional squadrons from Carrier Air Wing 30 of the U.S. Naval Air Reserve. The wing was deployed to Florida while the training carrier U.S.S. Forrestal (CV-59) was being made ready for combat at Pensacola. NAS Key West hosted VF-301 and VFA-303, while Homestead AFB hosted VF-302. Also at Key West were the E-2Cs of VAW-88, providing AWACS coverage over the Straits and Cuba itself. Homestead also was home base to the 482nd TFW of the USAF Reserve, with a single F-16C squadron (93rd TFS).

Ground based air defense was also a priority, with a Florida National Guard I-HAWK battalion deployed to the Cape Canaveral area (4-265 ADA), and a U.S. Army Reserve I-HAWK battalion deployed to the Homestead-Miami area, with two key targets, Homestead AFB and the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant, being covered. In addition, Humvee Avengers deployed to both sites to back up the HAWKs, being manned by the Florida National Guard's 1-265 ADA at the Cape, while a Georgia Guard battalion manned those in South Florida. CENTCOM's peacetime HQ at MacDill AFB was protected by a pair of Air Force manned SLAMMRAM batteries, with a second battery deployed to Patrick AFB, and another on the facilities of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Key West had a USMC Reserve SLAMMRAM battery deployed at NAS Key West, and although there were no Avengers, numerous Marines were deployed around the base, armed with shoulder-launched Stingers. Key West also had the frigate U.S.S. Samuel Eliot Morrison (FFG-13) and her SM-1 SAMs, as the frigate was at Naval Station Key West, waiting on a convoy from the Gulf Coast to arrive.

The Soviets had been making their strike plans since D-Day, and the pilots, along with the Regimental Intelligence Officer, had been making target proposals. Some favored Kennedy Space Center, while others were arguing for a target closer to Cuba, such as NAS Key West or Homestead AFB. Others suggested CENTCOM HQ at MacDill AFB, Mayport Naval Station near Jacksonville, and even Tyndall AFB in the Florida Panhandle. The proposed targets were relayed to STAVKA in Moscow, and on 25 April, the targets assigned to the 168th were sent to Cuba. Two primary targets were assigned: CENTCOM HQ at MacDill AFB in Tampa, and the Port of Miami. A secondary target for those striking MacDill was Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, which was emphasized as a secondary target due to the fact that a Titan IVB launch vehicle was on the pad at LC-40, due to lift a KH-12 satellite on 29 April. An additional secondary target near KSC was the McDonnell-Douglas Missile Plant at Titusville Airport, where not only Tomahawks, but the AGM-129 A/B ALCMS, were manufactured. A diversionary attack on NAS Key West was also tasked, as well as the Perm's cruise missiles against Miami and Key West. The pilots of the 168th suggested to their CO, Col. Arkady Vorshinov, that Cuban AF MiG-29As of the 21st Fighter Regiment, also stationed at San Antonio de Los Banos, be seized and used in the mission. Vorshinov agreed, and elements of the Soviet Army's Brigade Cuba surrounded the base and placed the Cuban base personnel under house arrest.

The targets chosen were selected due to their military importance, and aircrew were reminded that “this is not Germany” and that opportunity targets were not to be engaged. If a pilot could not positively identify his target, he was to abort and return to base. Aircrew were also briefed on Florida's geography, and were warned “Do not eject over the Everglades, unless you wish to be eaten by an alligator.” Those who bailed out over water were briefed to expect the U.S. Coast Guard to pick them up, though the Cuban Navy and (hopefully) the Perm, would attempt to rescue downed pilots in the Straits. Those who bailed out over populated areas were advised to surrender to local police or Florida National Guard, as the population was not only hostile, but armed, though the Spetsnatz teams would try to rescue any downed aircrew and get them to the submarine. As far as air-to-air engagements, the pilots were advised not to attack any civilian aircraft, such as airliners or news helicopters.

Takeoff time was set for 2:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time on 26 April. Of the 40 aircraft in the Regiment, 36 were fully-mission capable and launched on time, with Colonel Vorshinov being the first airborne. Unfortunately for the Soviets and their plans, fewer than half of the Cuban MiGs were able to launch, with at least one takeoff crash, and several others aborting and returning to base after takeoff.
As the Soviets formed up and headed north, they were picked up by both E-2Cs and by Aerostat balloons, and the data flashed to the Southeast Air Defense Sector (SEADS) at Tyndall AFB. The air activity had been assumed to be a training flight, or a CAP, but when the bogeys headed north, SEADS ordered the alert birds in Florida to scramble, alerted FEMA to issue a warning to Florida's population and State government, and advised CINC-NORAD of the situation.

While the MiGs were launching and forming up, two Spetsnatz teams attacked two HAWK batteries in the Cape Canaveral area. The first attack, directed at a battery deployed at Titusville Airport, succeeded in knocking out the battery's command van and radar, but at a heavy price. A second attack, against a battery at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, went in just before the air strike. This attack, though, failed to knock out the battery, and though given the opportunity to surrender, the Soviet frogmen fought to the death against not only the Army personnel, but the USAF's 45th Security Forces Squadron as well. It was just as well, as the AF Security Police had just discovered the bodies of eight of their colleagues who had been killed by the Spetsnatz, and they were in no mood to take prisoners.

At 3:25 PM, Colonel Vorshinov noted that his aircraft had been detected, either by an Aerostat or an E-2C. His own radar noted four aircraft headed towards him, and then his threat receiver warned of missile lock-on. His lead squadron had been locked up by two F-14s of VF-301, and four AIM-54Cs were soon in the air, headed for his squadron. Vorshinov called the break, but for three of the MiGs, it was too late, as they fireballed when hit by Phoenix. Six MiGs, armed for air-to-air, went ahead to distract the Tomcats, but didn't count on the alert birds from Key West, as two Tomcats, still climbing out of NAS Key West, locked on and fired at nearly maximum range. Four Phoenixes were launched, and this time, all four blotted their targets out of the sky. That left nine strike birds and two escorts to try and get to MacDill AFB.

VF-302, along with the 93rd TFS, had CAP up out of Homestead, and they picked up sixteen MiGs headed for Homestead AFB. The Tomcats also locked and fired, and two MiGs were blotted from the sky. This was the 2nd Squadron, 168th, tasked with htting the Port of Miami. 302's alert element got airborne, and also decided to fire as soon as they gained lock. Again, four Phoenix missiles went after targets, and three MiGs fell out of the sky. The escort MiGs, from the 3rd Squadron, then came into the picture, and ran right into four F-16Cs from the 93rd TFS. The Americans had one key advantage: the Falcons had AIM-120s, while the Soviets had only AA-10 Alamos for their radar missiles. Slammers filled the air, and of eight escort MiGs, five fell from the sky, and a sixth turned back with battle damage. The other two tried to close the F-16s, but both fell to Slammers east of Key Largo.

CAP and alert birds then closed their targets, and while Colonel Vorshinov's lead squadron was able to get over Florida Bay and then the Everglades, their two remaining escorts fell victim to F-14s over the Keys. One of the MiGs smashed into a bridge on U.S. Highway 1, the Overseas Highway, east of Marathon Key, dropping the northbound bridge into the water. Three of Vorshinov's strike birds made it over the Everglades, but ran into two F-22s that had hurriedly scrambled out of MacDill AFB, and although two of the pilots ejected over the Everglades, none was ever found, although the wreckage of their aircraft was. To this day, there are stories told by hunters, trappers, and fishermen of Russians living in the swamp, but these stories have never been verified, despite searches by the USAF, the Florida National Guard, and by state and local law enforcement.

To the East, the Miami strike element flew up Biscayne Bay, and the seven remaining pilots noticed that the fighter radars had turned off, and the radar targets that were the defending Tomcats and Falcons had broken away. Suddenly, they knew why as their threat receivers lit up with SAM warnings, and four I-HAWK batteries came online and engaged. Two MiGs fell to the I-HAWKs, and a third, damaged, jettisoned his ordnance and tried to return to base, but he had to ditch south of Key Largo, where a Coast Guard cutter picked him up. As the SAMs came up, two MiGs fired AS-17 ARMs back down at the HAWK radars, who then shut down to avoid the antiradar missiles. One of the AS-17s wound up homing on one of Homestead AFB's air traffic control radars, while another picked up an Aerostat and took it down. The other two AS-17s never found targets, and one was found, intact, north of Homestead, giving Air Force Intelligence its first real look at the weapon.

While all this was going on, the Key West strike went in. Fourteen hijacked Cuban MiGs, along with four 3rd Squadron Fulcrum-Cs, headed after both NAS Key West and Naval Station Key West. VF-301's third alert flight scrambled with only four minutes' warning, and they barely had their wheels up when two VFA-303 Hornets went up right behind them. Four Tomcats and two Hornets went after the incoming MiGs, and were warned to watch out for SAMs, as U.S.S. Samuel Eliot Morrison (FFG-13), powered up her SM-1 SAMs and began shooting. None of the Cuban MiGs had the AS-17, but only had the AS-14 ARM variant, and had to get close in to fire. Two MiGs fell to SM-1, a third turned back to Cuba damaged, and then the Tomcats and Hornets came to the party, with Phoenixes and AIM-120s filling the sky. Four of the Cuban MiGs fell to AIM-54, three to AIM-120, and one of the escort MiGs also fell to a Phoenix. Just as the fighters engaged, though, six additional contacts to the northeast were picked up, both by radars on the Morrison and the Knox-class frigate U.S.S. Joseph Hewes (FF-1078) and by E-2C: SS-N-19s from a submarine. The Perm had decided to show herself.

The Perm, hull number K-149, was a modified Oscar-II class SSGN, with several of her missile tubes removed and replaced with lock-out chambers and a miniature submarine similar to the USN's Seal Delivery Vehicle, to deploy and recover Naval Spetsnatz. She had put several Spetsnatz teams ashore in Florida, and two of these teams had attacked the SAM batteries near the Cape. Now, after making that delivery, she had made a speed run to a point off of Palm Beach, where she planned to fire12 SS-N-19s against both Miami and Key West. However, Perm's skipper would not make his date to pick up any of the Spetsnatz, as a VP-45 Orion out of NAS Jacksonville spotted the missile launches, and not only radioed a warning, but attacked the submarine as she was firing. Eight of the Shipwrecks had been launched when a Mark-50 torpedo slammed into the sub's port side, and the Oscar tried to evade, but it was too late. Two more Mark-50s were dropped, and one of the fish struck her stern, popping the shaft seals and flooding her engine room. The sub dropped to the bottom in 160 feet of water, and a dozen crewmen managed to use their escape gear and get to the surface, where the P-3 spotted them, and after dropping a raft, radioed Miami Coast Guard for a cutter to pick them up.

As the Shipwrecks headed for their targets, interceptors tried to take shots, but only the AIM-54 had a really decent shot at an intercept, and none of the airborne Tomcats had any left. The two launched at Miami landed in the Port area, one blowing a warehouse sky-high, and the other landed on a docked cruise liner, the Carnival Majestic, burning her out and leaving her a total loss. The six headed for Key West were engaged by SM-1s from Morrison, and two were taken out. That left four, and Marine SLAMRAAMs took their shots, killing two. Two dived on Key West, one hitting an abandoned HAWK site left over from the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the other hitting a fuel tank at the Naval Station, torching it and sending flames and smoke into the sky.

As things developed at Key West, Colonel Vorshinov led his six remaining MiGs against MacDill AFB, somehow managing to avoid the two F-22s that had scrambled. He had heard the screams and yells of his pilots on the radio, reporting either being engaged by American fighters, or calling out SAM warnings. He was just approaching Tampa Bay when his threat receivers went off, warning of SLAMMRAM activity. An AF-manned battery just south of the Bay locked his MiGs up and fired, and he launched two AS-17s in response. His wingman also fired two AS-17s at another battery that had came up, and the six MiGs headed over Tampa Bay to make their run at CENTCOM HQ. Four MiGs acquired the target and launched EO versions of the AS-14, and just after that, two MiGs took hits from the SLAMMRAM fire and crashed into Tampa Bay. And right after the four survivors turned away, another MiG took a hit and exploded, crashing right onto Interstate 4 east of Tampa. Voroshinov himself barely avoided another RIM-120, and led the three survivors east towards Cape Canaveral.

Eight AS-14s struck within the CENTCOM HQ complex, causing significant damage to two buildings, and knocking out one of the satellite dishes normally used to relay communications from Doha to Tampa. Fortunately, there was a backup dish available, and the data flow was not significantly interrupted. While the main HQ staff, including CINC-CENT, General John Abazid, had already flown to Doha to get the wartime HQ up and running, a rear HQ staff to keep the Tampa HQ running had stayed behind, and there were a number of casualties as a result of the strike.

Down in Miami, the five remaining MiGs from the 2nd Squadron closed in on the Port. Each had targets assigned, such as yard cranes, warehouses, or fuel storage, but if a ship was loading at the docks, they were allowed to take a shot at it. The MiGs screamed in over Miami-Dade County, and headed right for the port area. One MiG found a container ship, and fired all four of his AS-14s at this attractive target. Three of the missiles hit the ship, which happened to be a Panamanian-flagged vessel that had just begun to unload, having sailed from Cartagena, Colombia, before war began. After the war, Miami wags joked that the Russians got everyone downwind of the explosion stoned, because as it turned out, two of the containers had cocaine hidden in amongst the cargo! The only ones angry, other than the Colombian cartel, who was upset for very obvious reasons, were the DEA, who had an investigation severely crippled as a result of the sinking, for not only was a major shipment they'd hoped to seize blown to the four winds, but two of the suspects involved were killed in the attack.

The other four MiGs picked out targets and launched their AS-14s at several dock cranes, two warehouses, and several fuel storage tanks. As the MiGs turned to head south, two F-16s from Homestead AFB arrived, and the people of Miami-Dade watched as F-16s and MiG-29s dueled in the sky. Even helicopters from Miami's TV stations, who had caught the attack live, watched as two MiGs and an F-16 took missile hits and crashed. One blazing MiG crashed right onto Interstate 95, tying up traffic for several hours, while the other crashed into the Key Biscayne Golf Course, leaving a rather sizable divot. The F-16 took an AA-11 hit and lost a wing, but the pilot was able to eject over Miami harbor, and a police boat picked him up and took him to a hospital. None of the two MiG pilots shot down over Miami managed to eject.

As MiGs went in over Miami, Colonel Vorshinov led his three remaining MiGs against Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.Fortunately for the Americans, the MiGs tasked with hitting the Titusville Missile Plant had been downed-either by SAMs or by fighters. Despite the Spetsnatz attack, only one of the SAM batteries was out of action, and the others were able to fire as the MiGs approached. The Alert det from the 125th FIW did scramble, as did VFA-305's alert birds, but they were vectored south towards Miami. However, two additional Hornets from 305 did get off and just as they got wheels up, their pilots spotted the three inbound bandits. Both I-HAWK and SLAMMRAMs launched almost immediately, and two MiGs were hit. One of the planes blew apart in a fireball, but one managed to fire two AS-14s at LC-40, and one of them hit the Titan, blowing it and the complex up in a huge fireball similar to a launch abort in 1997, where a Titan blew up just after launch, wrecking the pad and sending debris raining down on CCAFS. That plane was flown by Colonel Vorshinov, who managed to eject and landed within the perimeter of Kennedy Space Center. He was captured by NASA security personnel, and handed over to the USAF for interrogation. The only survivor managed to get away from the Cape, but ran into the 125th's Eagles as they were returning to Patrick AFB. The resulting 4 v. 1 left one Eagle damaged, and the only remaining MiG from the 1st Squadron a smashed wreck on Interstate 95 near Fort Pierce, with the pilot lucky to be alive, as he was found by some irate locals, and he was grateful to the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Department for preventing him from being lynched. After spending the night in the County Jail, Air Force Combat Security Police from CCAFS came the next morning to take him to Patrick AFB for interrogation.

The three surviving MiGs from Miami had to run the gauntlet of F-14s, F-16s, and I-HAWKs to get out over the ocean to safety. Only one made it, with one falling to an I-HAWK over Biscayne Bay, and the other eating a Sparrow missile from an F-14 right over Key Largo. The surviving MiG pilot made it back to Cuba, with a hair-raising story of SAMs, fighters, and dodging and turning to avoid Miami's skyscrapers.

As Miami, Tampa, and Cape Canaveral had their fill of MiGs that afternoon, Key West had its share come in as well. A dozen hijacked Cuban MiGs, armed with bombs, AS-14 EO missiles, and rocket pods, came into the area, intent on hitting NAS Key West and Naval Station Key West. The frigate Morrison launched several additional SM-1s, and two MiGs went down. Then it was SLAMMRAM's turn, and three of the ex-Cuban Fulcrums fell victim to RIM-120. A fourth, damaged by RIM-120, blundered into a pair of Tomcats that were down to Sidewinders only, and he was quickly splashed. Eight MiG-29s then came into range of the base, but only two had AS-14s. The pilots quickly selected targets and fired, and two hangars, an old control tower, and an Aerostat balloon launch site were hit. Those two MiGs managed to get out of the area and beat a retreat back to Cuba. The six others came in with bombs and rockets, but now had to deal with the frigate Joesph Hewes and her 5-inch gun and several sailors armed with Stingers. One MiG fell to a lucky shot from the 5-inch mount, crashing into the sea, while another was hit by a Stinger and had to abort. That left four MiGs to hit the two bases, and as they came in, more SLAMMRAMs came up, as did Stingers fired by Marines. The lead MiG was most unlucky, as he was hit by both weapons, and he was blown to pieces, with debris landing just outside the base. The second MiG, armed with four UV-16-57 rocket pods, sprayed one of the runways with the rockets, and the third came in with four BETAB-250 antirunway bombs, putting one of the base's runways out of commission for several days. The final MiG had four 1100-pound bombs, and he went after the fuel storage area at the Naval Station. Two of his bombs ignited fuel tanks, leaving a fire that burned for two days. Only the fourth MiG managed to get off target and back to Cuban airspace. The second MiG ran into what a local newspaper reporter called “a flock of patriotic seagulls” and took not only a bird strike in the cockpit, but took a bird down one of his engine intakes. The pilot managed to eject, landing in the water just south of Key West. His partner in #3 took a Stinger hit on egress, and bailed out just as his plane nosed over. One Marine who captured him later said he was the luckiest SOB in Key West, for he landed right on a south-facing beach, where not only was there a college beach party going on, but after he was caught by some very burly college boys and held for the Marines, he was able to watch the wet T-shirt Contest! The Marines said that “at least he got to see that before we took him to Naval Intelligence for his Q and A session.” The MiG driver who ejected over the water was not so fortunate, and though Morrison's SH-2F lifted off to go and retrieve him, the helo crew came back empty-handed, for as the rescue swimmer was preparing to go into the water, the unfortunate Russian was struck by a large shark, estimated at 12-14 feet in length. The swimmer did not go into the water, and a Coast Guard rescue cutter went out to find the pilot's body, and his remains were found about 500 yards off the Key.

As it became apparent that the threat was over for the time being, SEADS lowered its alert status, and the air raid warnings for Florida were lifted at 6:00 PM local time. State and local first-responders were busy fighting the fires at not only the Port of Miami, but were assisting with Air Force efforts at MacDill AFB and at Cape Canaveral. A Hazmat team was sent to CCAFS to see if there were any remaining toxic residues left from the wreckage at LC-40, while local law enforcement assisted the Military in securing the MiG crash sites and searching for any downed Soviet airmen. Remains of a number of Soviet aircrew were found by authorities in Florida, and after processing by the local coroners, were handed over to the Air Force. The MiG crash sites were secured by the Air Force later that evening, and checked for any unexploded ordnance. After they were safed, several MiG wrecks were hauled away, initially to Eglin AFB, but were later taken to Wright-Patterson AFB and the National Air Intelligence Center. Four wrecked MiGs were kept in Florida, with one on display at the University of Miami, one at Homestead AFB, one at CCAFS, and the other at MacDill AFB.

The wreck of the Perm was found quickly by the Navy, and USN salvage divers aboard the U.S.S. Grasp came down from Norfolk, VA to investigate the wreck and attempt to enter it. Naval Intelligence wanted to see if any code books, charts, other documents, crypto gear, and even the Captain's safe, could be recovered. What, if anything was recovered, is still classified to this day by the U.S. Navy. The Navy will only say that “important intelligence materials were found” in the wreck. After the reactor compartment was salvaged at the request of the State of Florida, the wreck of the Perm became a popular dive attraction off the Florida Coast, being one of the few nuclear submarines sunk in the Third World War accessible to recreational divers, and only one of two off the East Coast of the United States.

After the remaining MiGs returned to San Antonio de Los Banos, and with so many senior officers lost, the 168th IAP's Intelligence Officer began counting the cost. Only 5 of 36 Fulcrum-Cs, and four hijacked Cuban MiGs, had returned to base. The four unserviceable MiGs were soon made ready, though, but the 168th IAP had been wrecked as a unit. The only strike assessments came in from Key West and Miami, and in the latter case, were assisted by the Lourdes SIGINT Station picking up Miami radio and TV broadcasts, police and fire radios, and some of the Coast Guard's traffic. While local TV in Tampa and in the Cape Canaveral area reported on the strikes there, no damage assessment was really possible, though the explosion at LC-40 had been seen for miles. A Spetsnatz team did report on CCAFS, noting “heavy fire and rescue activity” at LC-40, and they assumed with the size of the explosion, the complex had been wrecked. It had, and was not fully repaired until 2007. The Air Force did not admit the damage at MacDill AFB until after the war, though a Soviet satellite did photograph the base, and its pictures noted the wrecked satellite dish and the damaged buildings.

Surprisingly, there were no real recriminations on the American side after the attack. However, Brig. Gen. Susan Helms, the Commanding Officer of the 45th Space Wing at both Patrick AFB and CCAFS, was furious, and justifiably so. General Helms, a former astronaut and three-time shuttle flyer, was angry that the fighters at Patrick had been vectored south to Miami when the MiGs that had struck MacDill had been last seen heading East, towards the Cape, and she demanded to know why. SEADS tried to explain that it was assumed that the MiGs would be turning back to Cuba, and no one expected an air attack aimed at the Cape, despite the Spetsnatz attacks near Cape Canaveral. Her response was that “Nobody attacks air-defense assets with Special Operations Forces unless there is a planned airborne follow-up.” She also wanted to know where was the CAP over the Orlando area, and it had been vectored south, but never made contact with the strikers inbound to MacDill. General James Garner, CINC-NORAD and CINC-AFSPACECOM, launched a formal investigation, and it really satisfied no one, and, despite a postwar Congressional investigation, no one at SEADS was ever held at fault for the strike at CCAFS.

However, there was one final act on 26 April: CVW-30's A-6s and EA-6Bs flew from NAS Cecil Field that evening, and after meeting up with their escorting Tomcats, along with SEAD and additional strike Hornets, hit both Lourdes and San Antonio de Los Banos. Both facilities were severely damaged, and several bombs on the POL storage area at the air base made sure that the remaining MiGs would be grounded for some time. Time enough for Castro to decide whether or not he really wanted to be a neutral, or a belligerent. The message delivered was simple: Intern the Russians at both facilities, or suffer the consequences. It would be a few days, but Castro would issue his response.