This collection is primarily composed of aerial reconnaissance photographs of ballistic missile bases taken during and immediately after the Cuban Missile Crisis in October and November, 1962. These photographs feature extensive captions and labels that became part of the report, ““Cuba Know, Yankee See! A Picture Story with an Object Lesson: Castro had his 10,000 words, but we got the picture.” and was used as part of a Department of Defense Special Cuba Briefing by Robert S. McNamara in February 1963. Other less significant portions of the collection include constructions reports on the Thule Air Base in Thule, Greenland (the United States Armed Forces’ northernmost installation) and a World War II era handbook on China, including language lessons focusing on military vocabulary and culture, and a press photo from NASA in 1965.
The digitized items here do not represent the entirety of the James R. Shephard Papers, 1942-1965. To view what other materials are in this collection but not yet digitized and available online, search the guide to the James R. Shephard Papers, 1942-1965.
-
Unnamed MRBM base, Cuba, Oct 23, 1962
US Army Engineers Intelligence Division
Unnamed MRBM base, Cuba, late Oct 23, 1962, b&w. One of several reconaissance photos made during Cuba missile crisis. On back: Probably 23 Oct.
