General Discussion

canetoad

(19,321 posts)

2. In October 1962

Sun Jun 22, 2025, 08:44 PM

Jun 22

I was eight years old, living in the Midlands, England. Being a precocious kid, I was well aware of President Kennedy, the USSR and the missile crisis.

One night during the crisis, there was a loud bang and sizzle, a blinding flash and most everyone in the street rushed outside thinking it had ....happened. Nuclear war!

Turns out it was particularly icy and the powerlines had broken under the weight of ice and this caused the flash and noise. Over 60 years on, I still remember vividly the evening we were hit by a nuke!

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Silent Type kcoates stillcool multigraincracker calimary Prairie_Seagull EverHopeful generalbetrayus Doremus electric_blue68 wyn borkins Tracyjo

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I am 75, I hid under a desk at school during the Cuban Missile Crisis [View all] TNNurse Jun 22 OP

With nary a check or a balance BOSSHOG Jun 22 #1

In October 1962 canetoad Jun 22 #2

I lived about 20 miles from major power stations Retrograde Jun 22 #17

see my post #55 living in NYC electric_blue68 Jun 23 #56

Woahhh... electric_blue68 Jun 23 #55

In 1961 JPK Jun 22 #3

Yup, duck and cover drills in grade school mitch96 Jun 22 #4

Under your desk.. homegirl Jun 22 #6

and if close enough you just might be dust in the wind..I remember seeing pic's from Hiroshima Japan mitch96 Jun 22 #16

In the early '70s Japan sent Atomic Bomb Artifacts, and Photos on a first time Tour across the USA.... electric_blue68 Jun 23 #57

Nah! Bend over and kiss your ass goodbye! Wonder Why Jun 23 #44

My brother was issued dog tags Conjuay Jun 23 #48

Same here. MuseRider Jun 22 #5

Scary times for this 12 year old. multigraincracker Jun 22 #7

This message was self-deleted by its author multigraincracker Jun 22 #8

I can't think of a more dangerous time for this country La Coliniere Jun 22 #9

Evacuated Godot51 Jun 22 #10

In Ft Worth they called them tornado drills. rickyhall Jun 22 #11

Well, the "duck and cover" routine was the same protocol as for a tornado... Jack Valentino Jun 22 #23

earthquake dril. duck, coverr and hold AllaN01Bear Jun 23 #34

The current clown car Just Jerome Jun 22 #12

I remember the drills well. hamsterjill Jun 22 #13

I think there are people here Hornedfrog2000 Jun 23 #43

I was in the first grade.Boston area. Somewhat confused about what was going on. maveric Jun 22 #14

I was in kindergarten Omaha Steve Jun 22 #15

Being a military kid, in a military town, with many other military kids niyad Jun 22 #18

I did too. You are correct. spanone Jun 22 #19

I started school, 1st grade, in... 2naSalit Jun 22 #20

I save New Yorkers KT2000 Jun 22 #21

I still remember the 'fad' of folks in fear trying to build Jarqui Jun 22 #22

People following after a malignant narcissist. NEOBuckeye Jun 22 #24

I'm going on 75. boonecreek Jun 22 #25

That's probably why they gave us all ID bracelets. Grumpy Old Guy Jun 23 #26

I was in high school in Indiana radical noodle Jun 23 #27

I live next to a top five target purple_haze Jun 23 #28

I'm 75 as well TexLaProgressive Jun 23 #29

I'm of the MAD generation. Hugin Jun 23 #30

I was an adult during the Cuban Missile Crisis. marybourg Jun 23 #31

As a person who understands nuclear technology very well... NNadir Jun 23 #32

Said Something Similar Yesterday ProfessorGAC Jun 23 #47

Most of the world's research reactors utilize highly enriched uranium, in order to maintain a high neutron flux. NNadir Jun 23 #50

Agree. The Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis... ananda Jun 23 #33

I remember my dad saying that if we needed a bunker (as was advised on TV PSAs) EmmaLee E Jun 23 #35

I remember that well myself.. Peacetrain Jun 23 #36

I remember it. The Three Stooges were supposed to be on TV but this took its place. Still pissed. twodogsbarking Jun 23 #37

I lived in SE D. C. at the time of the Cuban missile crisis. The thing that scared me the most was that on school days generalbetrayus Jun 23 #38

This message was self-deleted by its author NEOH Jun 23 #39

Gen-Xer here... NEOH Jun 23 #40

I'm 81 and was locked in our barracks so we didn't go AWOL while JFK and Kruschev came to their senses Ping Tung Jun 23 #41

We were in the halls mgardener Jun 23 #42

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 23 #45

Same here. THIS evil bastard IS the worst creature that was ever given the right to breath. bluestarone Jun 23 #46

And we had stocked fallout shelters in most communities. We have nothing like that anymore..... Evolve Dammit Jun 23 #49

I may remember seeing you under there! HAB911 Jun 23 #51

Maybe it's different in other places. Littlered Jun 23 #52

Just think how traumatic the active shooter drills are for today's children. Any and every minute it could happen. spike jones Jun 23 #53

I just remember walking to school that leftyladyfrommo Jun 23 #54