Did anyone know this?

[Subversive Pessimist]

In his book, Carlos Franqui, he says that Fidel was tired of waiting if it was going to be a war or not, so he said to his fellow comrades that he will show them how things are to be done. He drove over to the Russian territory in Cuba where missiles were placed, and was greeted by the Russians. Suddenly, a U-2 spy plane was discovered on the radar. Fidel Castro asked them how they were to shoot this plane down if a war was started. A high ranking officer told Castro what would happen, that if they pushed the button, the plane would be destroyed, and pointed at a red button. Castro pushed the red button, and the U-2 plane crashed and were no longer seen by the radio. Then Fidel said: "Now we will see if there will be a war or not", and nothing happened.

It is correct that a plane was shot down on Cuba, and Carlos Franqui was one of the leading figures in the Cuban revolution and Cuban politics, so it seems to me that it is at least some truth to it. Interesting story.

Anyone who can confirm it?

[Felicia]

yeah, I think it is.

I've read that somewhere before, although I can't remember where.

[RageAgainstTheMachine]

havent seen it before but a interesting story

[commiecrusader]

i have definitely read that a U2 was shot down over Cuba in many history books about the Cold War whilst i was studying it at college. whether it was Castro who shot it i don't know.

however, the U.$. ignored it since they were busy trying to be 'the good guys' and were also trying to hide from the public that there was a USSR presence in Cuba.

[Severian]

That story sounds improbable...I doubt that equipment could be successfully operated without training.

According October 1962 by Cuban historian, Tomas Diez Acosta, a U-2 was shot down by a Soviet officer acting contrary to his orders from Moscow....basically, influenced by the attitude of Cuban soldiers.

[Lacrimi de Chiciură]

so I'm guessing the button signaled some guy to shoot it down? Interesting story...

[LSD]

however, the U.$. ignored it since they were busy trying to be 'the good guys' and were also trying to hide from the public that there was a USSR presence in Cuba.

Actually, by the time the plane was shot down, the US (and indeed the UN) had already been made aware of the nuclear build-up on Cuba.

The "U.$. ignored it" because they didn't want to start a war, and you should thank whatever god you believe in that they did. If the "U.$. [hadn't] ignored it", by all indications there would have followed a "pronlonged nuclear interchange" which in short means a couple million dead.


As to Fidel shooting the plane down himself..... well.... probably not.

It appears that the local Soviet commander did shoot it down without the approval of Moscow, but there are not reports that Castro was involved in the decision.