Cold War Paranoia and UFOs.

The cold war nearly brought us all to the brink of nuclear Armageddon in the Bay of Pigs, Cuba.

This paranoia of the two superpowers began in the aftermath of the Second World War. Each suspicious of the others intent, even though they were allies and fighting a common enemy at one time.

These governments went head to head on many levels including the build up of nuclear weapons often referred to as the arms race. Further it was fort out in the race to space and ultimately the Moon. Many cases of spying occurred some covertly others exposed in a blaze of glory across the press.

I have heard from a close friend a case of a technician (computers) who was contracted to do some work for GCHQ, a Top Secret communication came from teletype machine, immediately he was grabbed lifted up and escorted out of the room and the room itself was sealed automatically. This was back in the late 1980s. It was an atmosphere of paranoia, made more so by the cold war antics of both superpowers political and military game playing and stance.

Of course this is not the first time this kind of behaviour has occurred the famous incident in Suffolk at Woodbridge which involved a UFO incident and the extent the authorities tried to cover it up, including harassing witnesses and scattering personal to the four corners of the Earth. The case involving USAF Airman Simone Mendez, who accidentally possessed a Top Secret document concerning UFOs entering US airspace, and the consequences that occurred afterwards which involved interrogation by the FBI, is a direct result of this spying paranoia.

Even now in 2014 this cold war is not over. The United Kingdom is on the alert 24 hours a day since its airspace (responses known as QRA Quick Reaction Alerts) and waters are constantly tested by Russian aircraft and military vessels. I am aware of cases involving US and UK intercepting unknown aircrafts and objects throughout the cold war and more currently.

The paranoia continues to this day, lets just hope it doesn’t come to the extreme reactions as those dark days in Cuba.

reply to post by Frankinpillow


During the Second World War both the United States and Britain organized civilian aircraft spotters to warn of potential bombing raids. These plane spotters were provided with charts to help them identify different types of aircraft. If they spotted enemy or unidentifiable aircraft, they would contact the military by telephone. These observation corps continued on after the war. During the 1950s, thousands of Americans were scanning the sky, twenty four hours a day, on the alert for Soviet aircraft. It is no coincidence that these years saw an explosion of Unidentified Flying Objects. The Air Force needed to investigate all these reports in order to determine whether or not they posed a threat to national security. Given Cold War paranoia, whatever the Air Force determined, the public needed to be told that they were safe. It is this pre-established conclusion that civilian investigators working for the government, such as Professor Hyneck, objected to.

reply to post by DJW001


Interesting, I'm sure they monitor UFOs etc., you can't image they are just letting these objects just fly around. Cases like the Woodbridge and the USAF Airman Simone Mendez are just examples of the type of security that surrounds these events, and more than likely still exist today. I may do some research into some of these events at some point, I'm sure more information exists concerning both cases. The FBI and the AF never destroy all records.

There are also many other encounters mentioned by Captain Edward Rupplet in his book Report on UFOs, only a few have seen the light of day. These I'm sure would be very interesting to read if one can find them. I am interested in any events involving military encounters since they are more likely to leave a trail behind even though as we have seen it can take decades to come into the public light.

Frankinpillow


Even now in 2014 this cold war is not over. The United Kingdom is on the alert 24 hours a day since its airspace (responses known as QRA Quick Reaction Alerts) and waters are constantly tested by Russian aircraft and military vessels.

Not constantly tested whatsoever. Even since the Russians resumed regular out of area strategic bomber flights around 6 years ago the number of intercepts have not been at Cold War levels. When I joined the RAF in the mid-1980s QRA would be regularly active up to five day a week due to the level of Russian flights. These flights are still not in UK airspace but in international airspace. These days it works out about on average once a month that the QRA is launched for Russian aircraft.

Question
Asked by Lord Jopling

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 24 January 2008 (WA 58), on how many occasions in each of the last three years Royal Air Force aircraft have been launched to monitor Russian aircraft approaching UK airspace.[HL1663]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): The number of days on which Royal Air Force Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) aircraft have launched to identify Russian military aviation that approached or entered the NATO air policing area for which the UK has responsibility in each of the past three years is contained in the table below. The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace at all times.

Number of days QRA launched in response to Russian military aviation

2009 - 11

2010 - 11

2011 - 10

2012 to July - 6

www.publications.parliament.uk...

The figures only covered up to July during 2012. During September 12th two Tu-95s were intercepted in the North Sea.

'Russian Strategic Bombers Carry out North Patrols'

en.ria.ru...

Parliament - Written Answers to Questions 24th January 2013

Thursday 24 January 2013
Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions Royal Air Force aircraft have been launched to monitor Russian aircraft approaching UK airspace in each of the last three years; and where each such flight was (a) directed and (b) scrambled from.


Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)

Royal Air Force quick reaction alert (QRA) aircraft are based at RAF Leuchars and RAF Coningsby. The number of days on which QRA aircraft have launched in response to Russian military aviation that approached or entered the NATO air policing area for which the UK has responsibility in the each of the last three years is contained in the following table. The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace at all times. Not every launch resulted in an interception as some incidents were resolved prior to interception.

Number of days QRA launched in response to Russian military aviation
2010 11
2011 10
2012 8

I am withholding where each such flight was directed and scrambled from as deterrence is a principal function of QRA and QRA is in turn an integral part of the air defence of the UK. The disclosure of information that might compromise the QRA deterrent capability would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

www.publications.parliament.uk...


The same goes for Russian Naval vessels in and around the UK. There has been more port visits and joint exercises with Russian vessels than have been the case for the requirement to shadow them. The requirement to shadow Russian Navy vessels is extremely low indeed and certainly nothing like the heady days of the Cold War. Every two years the Russian aircraft carrier task group deploys to the Mediterranean which results in the Royal Navy shadowing the group. This year the weather in the Atlantic forced the group to shelter and take the North Sea / English Channel route. Compare that to the heady days of the Cold War and it doesn't even compare. It is these days a very rare event.

reply to post by Frankinpillow


I would agree with you about interest with military encounters and their "trail". We all know that Roswell was a great example of a very long, sordid trail, and then of course what happened at Bentwaters back in 1980, which has threads all over here at ATS. There are many many more of course.

reply to post by tommyjo


I did file a Freedom of Information request to the MOD and they supplied me with the following concerning QRAs:

"Year Number of days QRA launched
2006 2*
2007 19
2008 15
2009 14
2010 14
2011 18
2012 25
Total 107
* Records held from Sep 2006"

It seems to be increasing they also confirmed all the QRAs for 2011 were of Russian origin.

reply to post by Frankinpillow


I don't doubt that they look like missiles on radar. However, wouldn't most ufo's that have such stealth technology would at least try to avoid radar detection, especially in such arrogant times with such destructive weapons.

It was originally thought the blips that were missiles were a computer glitch. I don't think we were an experienced enough civilization to believe computers can glitch. I mean PS3 still glitchs, and that said to next generation technolgy...Wow false advertisement!

Unless the Ufos wanted to do a risky I.Q quiz.

The cold war is most likely why ufos began appearing. With earthlings now having the ability to annihilate each other, the cosmic guardians must have applied the "parental controls". I love that the disks shut the nuks down. I can just see the generals stomping their feet like little children shouting, "Its not fair, I want my bombs back and want them now!!"

reply to post by Frankinpillow


But is still no where near Cold War levels. In your initial post you were referring to the constant probing by the Russians. This is simply not the case and especially in relation to Cold War levels.

Frankinpillow


It seems to be increasing they also confirmed all the QRAs for 2011 were of Russian origin.

You seem confused on the information that you received in the FOI act

Some examples including yours.

www.theblackvault.com...

www.whatdotheyknow.com...

www.whatdotheyknow.com...

The figures for 2011 are NOT just for Russian military aircraft. The figure are for ALL real-time QRA launches. Some of the incidents during 2011 that make up the figures.

'Silent' BMI Baby holiday jet sparks RAF Typhoon alert RAF Typhoon jets

Typhoons were sent to intercept the BMI Baby flight RAF jets were scrambled to intercept a passenger flight into Manchester, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

The BMI Baby flight from Prague sparked a security alert when it lost contact with air traffic control on Sunday.

BMI Baby said the pilot had restored radio contact before the Typhoon fighters from RAF Coningsby arrived.

www.bbc.co.uk...

Passenger plane escorted to Stansted by RAF fighter jets

The plane was diverted to Stansted Airport where it landed just before midday (January 24, 2011).

“Police confirm that no one has been injured and the airport is operating normally.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: “Typhoon aircraft were launching this morning to escort a passenger aircraft due to an incident on board.

swns.com...

RAF jets escort Nigerian aircraft to Cambridge airport

A plane from the Nigerian Air Force has had to be escorted into Cambridge Airport by two RAF fighter jets.

The Hercules was flying into Cambridge for maintenance work but had a radio failure over France and was shadowed by fighters for hundreds of miles.

Its arrival at the airport at 19:30 BST on Saturday was accompanied by a high level of security.

Marshall Aerospace at Cambridge are specialists in servicing transport planes from all over the world.

The escorting RAF Typhoon jets took over from French Mirage jets as the Hercules entered British airspace.

www.bbc.co.uk...

RAF fighter jets were scrambled to escort a business plane into Doncaster ‘s airport, the Free Press can reveal.

The incident happened yesterday afternoon when the aircraft is believed to have changed its flight plans mid-air.

It is thought the business jet set off from Istanbul for Innsbruck but once inside Austrian airspace it cancelled its stop in Innsbruck and asked to continue to Doncaster.

The Free Press understands on entering UK airspace it was asked why it had by-passed Innsbruck and crew said they had enough fuel to make Doncaster .

Having been told it would be met by military aircraft, the plane was then routed along the North Sea coast into Robin Hood Airport by two RAF jets believed to be Typhoon jets scrambled from RAF Coningsby.

A spokesman for Robin Hood Airport, said: “We can confirm that a small business jet was escorted to land at Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield by two RAF aircraft yesterday afternoon.

“The matter was subsequently dealt with by South Yorkshire Police, however this had no impact on operations or for passengers using the airport.”

Police were unavailable for comment.

www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk...

There are also other incident during 2011 that resulted in QRA being scrambled. Lost communications and accidental squawking transponder codes also resulted in QRA launches.

For example this US Airways flight on 6th November 2011. Lost comms caused the incident.

An aviation enthusiast photographed the Typhoon shadowing the airliner. It was also monitored by radio enthusiasts on aviation forums in the UK.

www.flickr.com...


If you want real time info on RAF QRA launches then I suggest that you join Fighter Control website. You'll probably have to register to gain access to the radio and other sections.

The radio enthusiast on there monitor the QRA ground and air frequencies. Not only the Typhoons but also the air-to-air refuelling tankers that sometimes scramble along with the fighters. Within the aviation enthusiast community a QRA scramble doesn't go unnoticed. Even scrambles in the wee small hours set the community alight as the noise of the launch alerts those in the vicinity of the bases such as RAF Coningsby and prompts the monitoring of the scanners.

www.fightercontrol.co.uk...

reply to post by Frankinpillow


A lot of the UFO sightings during the Cold War were from the SR-71 and the U-2, that's why project blue book got started.

reply to post by tommyjo


They did state further: " I can confirm that all launches of Quick Reaction Alert aircraft in 2012 were either for Russian military aviation (either Bear or Blackjack aircraft) which approached the NATO Air Policing Area for which the United Kingdom has responsibility or aircraft within UK civil airspace that were causing concern to civil Air Traffic Controllers." They did state not all resulted in intercepts. I assume QRA are not the same as other intercepts against unidentified air craft or objects, but this is yet to be determined. They did confirm (if true) that all aircraft were identified eventually, which begs the question what about UFOs etc., or other unidentified phenomena.

reply to post by Frankinpillow


You are reading far too much into it. Of course not all QRA launches are going to result in intercept. The reason for that is because the problem has been resolved and the QRA is cancelled and the controller stands them down. As stated before I suggest that you join Fighter Control website and have a chat with the aviation and radio monitoring community. There are two types of QRA - Live and practice. Again you are trying to read far too much into it. Of course the aircraft were identified eventually even if the RAF QRA was recalled.

In regard to Russia aircraft coming from the Barents area they would be intercepted by Norwegian QRA. It is their responsibility within NATO tasking. If the aircraft come further down the Norwegian Coast it then passed to the Danes, Germans, Dutch, etc according to their areas of responsibility. RAF QRA would be scrambled in order to take over from for example the Dutch. If the Russian aircraft don't go into the UK area of responsibility the task remains with the appropriate NATO QRA and the RAF QRA is cancelled and returns to base. The info on the identity (serials/bort numbers) of the Russian aircraft would then be shared with the UK MoD on what partner countries have intercepted.

Another aspect of paranoia is the sightings of "unmarked" helicopters near areas of UFO incidents and where witnesses live. Some say they have monitoring equipment on board these helicopters, but what their exact purpose is, is only speculation at present.