Cold War Conversations

Dave Phillips is a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London. The Yeoman Warders have been guarding the Tower since Tudor times. Dave joined the British Army aged 16 into the Royal Irish Rangers. We hear of his early years in the Army in Northern Ireland and his posting to West Berlin.In West Berlin Dave is part of the force that guarded Rudolf Hess, a leading member of the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany and appointed Deputy Führer to Adolf Hitler in 1933. On 10 May 1941, Hess made a solo flight to Scotland, where he hoped to arrange peace talks with the British. He was arrested and stood trial at the 1946 Nuremberg trials of major war criminals. The court convicted him of crimes against peace and of conspiracy with other German leaders to commit crimes and was given a life sentence in Berlin’s Spandau Prison. Dave describes interactions with Hess, as well as the guard duties and operation of the prison. 0:00 Introduction and Dave Phillips' early experiences in Berlin1:04 The story of Rudolph Hess and his arrest6:16 Dave's experiences in Berlin and Spandau Prison15:38 A typical day for Hess in Spandau Prison and guarding duties24:56 Hess's time at the Tower of London and conversations with him28:59 Military training in Berlin and preparations for a potential invasion36:00 Interaction with other occupying forces and West Berlin locals39:44 Dave's return to Berlin years later and reminiscing about the fall of the Berlin Wall45:16 Career progression, service in Northern Ireland and UN Peacekeeping49:22 Dave's current role as a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London52:54 Financial support and donationsTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.Episode videos and photos here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode262/Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We continue the story of Richard Stachurski from the previous episode. Part 1 is here  https://coldwarconversations.com/episode260In 1971 Richard left NASA and was assigned to the Drone/Remotely Piloted Vehicle Systems Program Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. From 1975-1978 Richard did a tour of duty with the Air Staff at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and between 1978-1981: he was Deputy Program Manager, Ground Launched Cruise Missile Program (GLCM) System Program Office-engaged in the adaptation of the Navy’s SLCM for use by the Air Force. In 1981 he was assigned to the staff at USAFE Headquarters (Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany) responsible for the deployment of the GLCM to five European countries (England, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy). Richard was then promoted in 1984 to Vice Commander, Commander, 487th Tactical Missile Wing, Comiso Air Station, Sicily where he was responsible for the missile wing's operational readiness, and his troops' welfare.0:00 Introduction and background of Richard Stachurski4:18 Rationale behind developing drone programs13:12 Design and manufacture of the missile launcher and control center17:34 Richard Stachurski's agreement to go to the Royal College of Defense Studies in London34:45 Initial impressions of Comiso Air Base and roles at the base41:10 Encounter with Russian special forces45:30 Dealing with peace protesters and security protocol46:49 The short-lived cruise missile program 51:59 The significance of the Apollo 11 mission53:20 Cold War Conversations Store PromotionTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.Episode notes and videos here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode261Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Richard Stachurski joined the US Air Force in 1962, on the cusp of the Cuban Missile Crisis as a security police officer guarding nuclear-armed B-58 Hustler bombers.Within two years he volunteered for the Minuteman nuclear missile program where he served as a Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander with the 68th Strategic Missile Squadron at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. Richard was the junior officer on a two-man crew in a launch control capsule buried beneath the South Dakota prairie who was charged with monitoring the status and launching if necessary ten Minuteman ICBMs. In 1965 he was selected as one of 128 Air Force officers to be loaned to NASA to support the activation and operation of the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas. He worked his way up to being a Network Controller, who sat two consoles to the right of the Flight Director in the Mission Operations Control Room. He was responsible for all the ground systems that supported an Apollo mission and was selected as the lead Network Controller on Apollo 11 working on both the launch from Earth and the first-ever launch from the lunar surface.0:00 Introduction and Career Overview of Richard Stachurski2:33 Richard's Journey in the US Air Force and the Cuban Missile Crisis9:25 The Minuteman System and Life in the Bunker20:14 Launch Protocols and the Dynamics of Working as a Missileer27:03 Richard's Transition to NASA and his Role in Apollo 1134:29 Apollo 11 Launch Day, Landing, and Return to Earth44:43 Richard's Experiences during Apollo 13 and Subsequent Missions48:10 The Camaraderie and Humour in High-Stress Situations50:00 Acknowledgements and Promotion of the Cold War Conversations Online StoreTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨ Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community and get a sought after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. One-off donations are also welcome.Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Episode notes , inc photos and video here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode260/Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Home Service Force or HSF was UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's Cold War version of the World War 2 Home Guard. An almost forgotten unit, the HSF was established in 1982 and recruited from ex-regular Army, ex-territorial and ex-uniformed service personnel aged up to 60 years old. Its mission was to guard key points in the UK as the perceived threat from Warsaw Pact special forces increased towards the end of the Cold War.I speak with Richard Coles, who served as an officer in the HSF Company of The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC). He tells of the setup of the unit, the incredible characters he served with and details some of the exercises that he participated in.  0:00 Introduction and overview of the Home Service Force2:38 Richard Cole's background and establishment of the Home Service Force6:34 Recruitment and training process for the Home Service Force13:51 Role and perceived threats of the Home Service Force21:45 Diversity and roles within the Home Service Force members29:12 Memorable characters and experiences within the Home Service Force34:31 Career paths and attitudes towards promotion within the Home Service Force38:35 Various training exercises and anecdotes from the Home Service Force47:28 Disbandment of the Home Service Force and its irony51:44 Richard Cole's service in 2 HAC companies and reflections on the bond between old soldiers53:18 Sponsor: Episode extras, acknowledgements, and invitation to Facebook discussion groupTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨The Cold War Conversation continues in our Facebook discussion group and on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodCold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.I am delighted to welcome Richard Coles to our Cold War conversation…Episode notes here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode259Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Back in the 1970s, migrating from the Soviet Union was an unattainable dream for many, particularly Jews wanting to leave for Israel. To leave the Soviet Union for another country, it was necessary to obtain exit visas. In practice, many people found them impossible to get. On the morning of June 15, 1970, 16 Soviet Jews who had been refused exit visas appeared at Smolny Airport near Leningrad to hijack a plane. They posed as a group going to a wedding — hence the name of the operation.The plan devised a year before the attempted hijacking, was quite straightforward. The hijackers would target a small aeroplane and book all the seats on it. They would commandeer the aircraft and leave the pilots unharmed on the landing strip, while one of the conspirators would take control of the aeroplane and fly it to Sweden.I speak with filmmaker Anat Zalmanson-Kuznetsov whose film “Operation Wedding” reveals the compelling story of her parents, the leaders of the group. 0:00 Introduction and background on Soviet Union migration 7:22 The Struggle of Soviet Jews' Emigration 11:16 The Origin and Execution of Operation Wedding 17:03 The Arrests and Aftermath of Operation Wedding 24:36 Prison Conditions and International Reaction 30:17 Influences and Interventions: Golda Meir and Franco 33:03 Soviet Restrictions on Emigration and Its Impact 35:22 Release and Life Post-Prison for Anat's Parents 40:52 The Making of the Film "Operation Wedding"42:49 Acknowledgement of Supporters and Closing RemarksTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community and get a sought after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. One-off donations are also welcome.Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.I am delighted to welcome Anat Zalmanson-Kuznetsov to our Cold War conversation…Episode notes and full film here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode258/ Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trevor Howie’s role at RAF Gatow was advising the Station Commander on Station defence during times of war, tension or terrorist threat as well as the defence of 26 Signals Unit at the Teufelsberg listening post. RAF Gatow’s western side was located right against the Berlin Wall which was clearly visible from the control tower. Beyond the Wall was the Döberitz training area for the Soviet and East German Army. Soviet jets regularly overflew West Berlin emitting sonic booms to underline the immediate threat from their forces. To gain intelligence about the opposition Trevor used the resident De Havilland Chipmunk aircraft to see across the Wall and observe the neighbouring Soviet and East German forces. He describes the defence plans and exercises such as Exercise Grizzly Bear where every member of the air station would have played a part in its defence.Trevor vividly describes how he heard that the Wall had opened on 9th November 1989. It’s a fascinating view of British forces in Berlin and their plans should the Cold War have turned hot.0:00 Introduction and Trevor Howie's role at RAF Gatow 3:53 The role and responsibilities of a station regiment officer8:21 The vulnerability of the base and the plan in case of an attack13:37 Life in Berlin during the Cold War19:50 Discovery of a Stasi spy on the base and introduction to British Services Security Organization23:50 Preparations for Exercise Grizzly Bear and the realization of the fall of the Berlin Wall31:24 Enhanced security measures post-fall of the wall37:27 Impact of the fall of the wall on Berliners and the beginning of the exit of Soviet forces43:10 Discovery of World War 2 ammunition and relics in the base46:10 Podcast extras, appreciation of financial supportersTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community and get a sought after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.Episode notes here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode257/Please leave a review.If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a written review.Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following his RAF Regiment officer training Trevor Howie was posted to 34 Sqn at Raf Akrotiri in Cyprus, commanding C Flight. The RAF regiment was effectively the Royal Air Force’s infantry, providing ground defence for air operations.34 Sqn had a dual role of providing defence at Akrotiri and in the event of war at RAF Wildenrath in Germany. Trevor vividly describes his time at Akrotiri, including terrorist threats and realistic anti-riot training exercises the enthusiasm of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders required a hospital ward to be kept available for casualties.  In 1986 Trevor became involved in Nuclear Weapon Security training, where the training techniques he introduced were the subject of complaints. His service also includes stints at RAF Greenham Common where he describes providing support to the US nuclear-armed cruise missile deployment there. Don’t miss next week’s episode where Trevor is posted to RAF Gatow in West Berlin as the Station Regiment Officer, responsible for advising the Station Commander on how to defend the Station during times of war, tension or terrorist threat.0:00 Introduction and brief about Trevor Howie's role during the Cold War2:31 Trevor Howie's training and role in Cyprus14:17 Description of weaponry and tactics used during the Cold War22:30 Potential terrorist incident and precautions taken30:04 Security and transportation of Britain's nuclear weapons35:43 Evolution of military readiness and training for competence42:15 Use and criticism of physical punishment in military training46:08 Transforming challenges into rewarding experiences during training48:03 Role in protecting cruise missiles at Greenham Common54:24 Conclusion: Episode extras and thanking financial supportersTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis is reckoned to be one of the most perilous events in history, when the World faced a looming nuclear collision between the United States and Soviet Union. During those weeks, the world gazed into the abyss of potential annihilation.I speak with Sir Max Hastings whose new history  Abyss: The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 tells the story from the viewpoints of national leaders, Russian officers, Cuban peasants, American pilots and British disarmers. The period is brought to life with eye-witness interviews, archive documents and diaries, White House tape recordings, and top-down analysis. More than purely a focus on the 13 days of the crisis, the book provides context through the Cold War experiences of Fidel Castro’s Cuba, Nikita Khrushchev’s Russia, and Kennedy’s America. Among the areas we discuss are how Cuba became a crisis, the failure of intelligence on both sides, and those nail-biting Thirteen Days in which Armageddon beckoned. Buy the book and support the podcast https://amzn.to/3rlPLsM0:00 Introduction and discussion on the Cuban missile crisis7:35 Examination of the decision-making approaches during the Cuban Missile Crisis15:07 Analysis of Jack Kennedy's political considerations and the missile gap myth25:58 Comparison of Nikita Khrushchev's wisdom and Putin's actions in Ukraine33:30 Analysis of fear's role in decision-making during the Cuban missile crisis40:29 Discussion on the portrayal of military leaders in the Cold War43:05 Exploration of communication failures and the impact of technology during crises48:08 Cultural context and perspectives of the missile crisis era52:10 Personal memories and humor in the face of the missile crisis57:05 Conclusion and details about Max Hastings' book, "Abyss"Table of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Episode notes here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode255/Please leave a review.If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a written review.Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fred Haise was one of the three astronauts on the ill-fated Moon mission when a design fault caused an oxygen tank to explode mid-mission putting the Apollo 13 crew in mortal danger on April 13th, 1970. This was the seventh crewed mission in the Apollo space program and the third meant to land on the Moon.Now as you can imagine I’m genuinely excited to be speaking with one of the Apollo astronauts. Fred and I talk about his life and his almost accidental entry into flying. We cover his admission into the astronaut programme, the family impact, and as you can imagine go into some detail about his experiences on the Apollo 13 mission. Many of you will know of this mission via the Film “Apollo 13” starring Tom Hanks, and Fred shares his views on the film and corrects some of the inaccuracies.Buy Fred's new book Never Panic Early: An Apollo 13 Astronaut's Journey and support the podcast here https://amzn.to/3DvCRzN0:00 Introduction6:14 Fred Haise's journey to becoming an astronaut and role in Apollo 1116:39 Selection and preparation for Apollo 13 mission32:41 The Apollo 13 crisis: the explosion, aftermath, and survival51:21 Critical maneuvers to correct trajectory back to Earth1:03:42 Activation of the command module and return journey1:11:12 Splashdown and immediate aftermath1:18:48 Analysis of Apollo 13 film and Fred Haise's book 'Never Panic Early'1:25:17 Episode extras, acknowledgment of financial supporters, and closing remarksTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.I am delighted to welcome Fred Haise to our Cold War conversation…Episode notes here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode254Follow us on Twitter here https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook here https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ All audio/video/photos courtesy of NASA.Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Richard Blevins enlisted aged 18 in the US Army in March of 1987. He completed Basic Training & Military Police School training in July of 1987 and was posted to West Berlin as a United States Military Policeman. He describes his selection for Berlin duty while at Rhine-Main AFB in Frankfurt and his first journey across East Germany on the US Duty train to West Berlin. Richard’s first year consisted of patrol duties and combat training as well as serving at Checkpoints Bravo and Charlie as the assistant to the Non-commissioned Officer in Charge. He also got selected as a traffic accident investigator in 1988 where he would patrol with the West Berlin Police and respond to all car accidents involving US military, dependents, and civilian workers as well as West German nationals. Richard also describes how he heard the news on November 8th, 1989, that Erich Honecker had lifted all travel restrictions on East Germans starting at midnight. He is a close friend of Michael Rafferty who appeared in episode 13 with his account of the last days of Checkpoint Charlie. Don’t miss Michael’s video of 1980s Berlin in the episode notes.0:00 Introduction with Richard Blevins5:00 Richard's journey to Berlin and first encounter with Soviet troops15:00 Contrasting West and East Berlin and living conditions25:00 Richard's assignment to 3rd platoon: Patrol duties, training, and interactions with Royal Military Police35:00 Liaising with Soviets and training with British units45:00 Duties at checkpoints Bravo and Charlie55:00 Living near the Berlin Wall and its transformation post-fall1:05:00 Friendship with Michael Rafferty and plans to revisit Berlin1:10:00 Security measures for soldiers and interactions with localsTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a financial contribution is not your cup of tea, then you can still help us by leaving written reviews wherever you listen to us as well as sharing us on social media. It really helps us get new guests on the show.I am delighted to welcome Richard Blevins to our Cold War conversation…Episode notes here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode253Follow us on Twitter here https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook here https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices