The U.S. photo reconnaissance jet swooped over Cuba, darted from point to point with whirring cameras. Offshore were four escort fighters, their jets snarling angrily, their young pilots spoiling for a fight.
On the ground. Soviet and Cuban crews scrambled for their antiaircraft missiles.
Their radio network crackled aliveĀand the voices were heard in the U.S. planes. Cuban commanders pleaded for permission to shoot down the photo plane. But there were more authoritative voices, speaking in Spanish and Russian. "Hold your fire.'' they ordered. ''Hold your fire. Don't shoot." The Cubans obeyed their Soviet masters and the U.S. planes,...
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