Another nuclear "close-call" from the Cold War

[Matt Wiser]

The Matador missiles on Okinawa were targeted (apparently) on the PRC, North Korea, as well as the Soviet Far East. It should be pointed out that at the time, Okinawa was still under U.S. military occupation, and wasn't returned to Japanese sovereignty until 1972. Thus, AF and Navy nukes could be stored there without any fuss, and SAC used Kadena AB as a forward operating base for B-47s in the 1950s and 60s. As well as the Nike SAM sites defending the island being able to have nuclear warheads.....