10 Aug 60: U.S. successfully launches first reconnaissance satellite into orbit aboard Discoverer 13

Oct 60: CIA initiates U-2 overflights of Cuba to gaauge defenses in preparation for invasion by CIA-trained Counter-revolutionaries

Nov 60: John Kennedy wins U.S. Presidential election over Vice President Richard Nixon

Jan 61: President Eisenhower breaks diplomatic relations with Cuba – paving the way for coordination with exile government leaders

John F. Kennedy inaugurated as 35th U.S. President

Mar 61: Scope of counter-revolution invasion established

Apr 61: U.S./CIA supported Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba

May 62: Krushchev devises plan to station MRBMs in Cuba to off-set US missiles in Turkey – coincides with U.S. plan to start bi-weekly overflights of Cuba

29 Aug 62: U-2 flight over Cuba brings back photos of anti-aircraft SAM sites being built on Cuba

5 Sep 62: U-2 Flight reveals Soviet-supplied SA-2 GUIDELINE SAM Site and MiG-21 jet fighter aircraft

8 Sep 62: Soviet cargo ship Omsk docked in Havana and unloaded cargo of MRBM (SS-4s). A second shipment arrived one week later

Sep 62: PRC shoots down a Tiawanese-piloted U-2

14 Oct 62: USAF (SAC) flies two U-2F missions over Western Cuba and brings back photos of SS-4 site construction near San Cristobal. President Kennedy informed next day

19 Oct 62: CIA reports that four of the MRBM sites were operational

22 Oct 62: President Kennedy makes public addresses about Soviet nuclear missiles being installed in Cuba. Naval quarantine and massive retaliation promised

26-27 Oct 62: Infomal messages and communications take place with US/USSR about USAF U-2 (Maj Rudy Anderson) shot down over Cuba by SA-2 and ways to solve problem

27 Oct 62: U-2 strays off course over northern USSR and crosses over into Soviet Union

28 Oct 62: Krushchev agrees to dismantle MRBM sites and Kennedy agrees not to invade Cuba (and secretly removes U.S. MRBMs in Turkey)

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