Ellie's post, Documents show US considered using Nuclear Weapons

[bucksgted]

Just thought I'd share a little USMC history that took place on Taiwan during this period of 1958.

The PROC was controlling the air space over the Straits with MIG-15s and MIG-17s. The ROC was flying old, worn out F-84s and F-86s. The ROC needed some help. To the rescue came 2 pilots and 5 NCOs from VMF-323. Without the benefit of any wiring diagrams, they converted 20 F-86's to carry and launch the Sidewinder missle. Sidewinders donated from the inventory of the USMC. This mission was so secret that the USAF, the USN in the Straits and even the folks at China Lake ( where the Sidewinder was developed) did not know about it. Working non stop, the first a/c was converted in 24 hours. A Marine pilot, flying a ROC F-86 fired the VERY first Sidewinder in combat. The USN in the Straits saw the whole thing on radar and reported it as a ROC kill. The rest, as they say is history, because the ROC used the Sidewinder to it's advantage. The PROC MIGs just simply could not compete.

Another little piece of history during this timeframe you may find interesting. BGen Harold A. Dye, US Army, was responsible for proving that the atomic cannon could be deployed. He in fact deployed them to Taiwan during this crisis. Aren't we glad the commies of the PROC blinked and called the whole thing off.

Folks, the referenced article is no joke. We were just a "wisker" away from all out nuclear war with China. Had China been able to get the backing of the Russians to proceed, it would have happened. Russia told China to "stand down". Without Russian backing, China knew she would not be able to defeat the US.

[yellowwing]

Untold stories of the Cold War, which wasn't very cold at all.

[jrhd97]

Untold stories of the Cold War, which wasn't very cold at all.

A misnomer to be sure