Eyewitness – Page 6 – The Cold War Conversations History Podcast

On Tour with The Red Elvis, aka Dean Reed the US Cold War music star

Warning: This episode does cover the subject of suicide. If you need help please use these links: UK https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ Rest of the World https://findahelpline.com/i/iasp Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on Google Podcasts Dean Reed was an American actor, singer and songwriter, director, and Socialist who became a huge star in Latin America and the Eastern Bloc. … Read more

In conversation with 7 BRIXMIS veterans – Part 2

Part 2, or a two part recording. Part 1 is here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode268 Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on Google PodcastsBecome a Patron! In October of 2022, I was asked by the West Pennines Military Vehicle Trust to moderate a Q&A session with a number of BRIXMIS veterans. Attending were Drivers Neil Walton, Pete Curran, Dave … Read more

In conversation with 7 BRIXMIS veterans – Part 1

In October of 2022, I was asked by the West Pennines Military Vehicle Trust to moderate a Q&A session with a number of BRIXMIS veterans. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on Google PodcastsBecome a Patron! Part 2 is here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode270 Attending were Drivers Neil Walton, Pete Curran, Dave Collins, and Kev Smith, plus Sandy Saxton-Warne … Read more

Cold War Chieftain tank deployment at the East German Border

We’re back with Alan Hodges, a Royal Tank Regiment Chieftain tank commander, and Mick Hadfield who was his 17-year-old gunner. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on Google Podcasts In this episode we talk in detail about their deployment within a kilometer of the East German border and their tasks should H Hour have … Read more

Crewing the Cold War Chieftain tank

Alan Hodges was a Royal Tank Regiment Chieftain tank commander and troop SGT in West Germany. Mick Hadfield was his 17-year-old gunner. The affection between the two is still apparent even today and Mick still calls Al his army Dad. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on Google Podcasts Mick met Al in 1987 … Read more

Britain’s 1980s Cold War Dads Army/Home Guard – The Home Service Force

The Home Service Force or HSF was UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s Cold War version of the World War 2 Home Guard. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on Google Podcasts 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 … Read more

From Cold War military drone development, to the deployment and command of the nuclear armed Ground Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCM) in Europe

We continue the story of Richard Stachurski from the previous episode. In 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 … Read more

Cold War nuclear bomber guard duty, to ICBM launch control and Mission Control for the NASA Apollo Moon Missions

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 … Read more

Defending RAF Gatow – Britain’s airbase in Cold War Berlin

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. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on Google PodcastsBecome a Patron! RAF Gatow’s western side was located right … Read more

Guarding Britain’s nuclear weapons and RAF Akrotiri during the Cold War

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. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on Google PodcastsBecome a Patron! 34 Sqn had a dual role of … Read more