Cold war secret operations. 1954: The U-2 Spy Plane. and Soviet officials authorised covert projects that operated well outside the public’s view and that often bypassed international law and ethical boundaries. In the late 1950s, the US Air Force quietly assembled top scientists, including a young Carl Sagan, to study a nuclear detonation on the Moon as a Cold War show of strength. Although covert operations were an integral part of America’s arsenal during the late 1940s and early 1950s, the majority of these operations were ill conceived, unrealistic and ultimately doomed to failure. In 2022, a chilling recruitment video released by the U. The first U-2 mission was over eastern Europe on June 20, 1956, and the first U-2 mission over the Soviet Union was flown a few weeks later on July 4. Operation Bluebird. On 19 August 1953, Prime Minister of Iran Mohammad Mosaddegh was overthrown in a counter coup d'état. This post reveals how covert operations shaped global politics, unveiling declassified documents, high-stakes spy missions, and secret programs that changed history. Operation Northwoods: The Plan That Never Happened | America’s Secret False Flag Proposal Operation Northwoods: The Plan That Never Happened uncovers one of the most disturbing Cold War secrets ever revealed—an official U. It was an audacious operation in both scope and skill. But there were also ridiculously bold, The Cold War was a crazy time: We went into battle against the duplicitous penguins and the mighty polar bears; the great walrus hordes and the brutal whale armada; the seal assassins and the alba- What? The Cold War was a time of geopolitical tension between two world superpowers, mostly involving The Cold War conjures up memories of frosty diplomatic receptions and fingernails bitten down to the quick in anticipation of the bomb. Although a mole threatened the entire mission, historians consider the Berlin Tunnel one of the greatest intelligence successes of the Cold War. By early 1960, President Dwight D. 1950: CAT Airlines/Air America. The mujahideen were also supported by Britain's MI6, who conducted their own separate covert actions The CIA’s Secret Plan To Scare The Soviet Union And other ideas from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) The CIA helped fund an operation in the 1950s that sent thousands of weather balloons Cold War espionage describes the intelligence gathering activities during the Cold War (1947–1991) between the Western allies (primarily the US and Western Europe) and the Eastern Bloc (primarily the Soviet Union and allied countries of the Warsaw Pact). Download this stock image: The Mighty Eighth Heritage 8K at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, on April 26, 2017, celebrated Eighth Air Force veterans. Their betrayal compromised countless operations during WWII and the Cold War, all while maintaining polished public lives. The 1944 Henning Nickel captures one of America’s most gripping numismatic sagas—a shadowy World War II counterfeiting operation that slipped undetected into circulation for generations. Together, they represent relics of a Cold War espionage mission so audacious, the museum’s curator, Vince Houghton, compares it to the heist from Ocean’s 11. Subproject 54 was the Navy's top-secret "Perfect Concussion" program, which was supposed to use sub-aural frequency blasts to erase memory; the program was never carried out. Nov 4, 2025 · Discover how the CIA used tactics like propaganda and espionage during the Cold War to combat communism. Explore its shadowy depths and impacts! Volume 62, No. Operation Ivy Bells was a 1971 joint United States Navy, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and National Security Agency (NSA) mission whose objective was to place wire taps on Soviet underwater communication lines during the Cold War. Current Airmen interacted with veterans who served during WWII, the Cold War, Vietnam, Operation Secret Squirrel, and Operation Linebacker II. This was a joint venture between the CIA and British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), commonly known as MI6, aimed at tapping into Soviet military and civilian communications in East Berlin. Dead Hand. Operation Bluebird was a precursor to Project MKUltra, a CIA program that aimed to explore various techniques for mind control and interrogation. 9 billion in 2024). [15] According the Lansdale's own writings and subsequent historical reports, part of the CIA effort involved psychological operations exploiting local superstitions, notably, the Filipino belief in the aswang, a Based on recently declassified documents, this book provides the first examination of the Truman Administration’s decision to employ covert operations in the The dramatic story of how the superpowers collected secrets and used intelligence to build an advantage during the Cold War, the longest and most dangerous confrontation of the twentieth century. Operation Paperclip was part of a broader strategy by the US to harness German scientific talent in the face of emerging Cold War tensions, and ensuring this expertise did not fall into the hands of the Soviet Union or other nations. Hidden People Inc. [1] Both relied on a wide variety of military and civilian agencies in this pursuit. . Soviet espionage in the United States during the Cold War was an outgrowth of World War II nuclear espionage, with both sides utilizing and evolving techniques and practices developed during World War II. In August 1950, the CIA secretly purchased the assets of Civil Air Transport (CAT), an airline that had been started in China after World War II by Gen. This operation, which involved a complex series of covert actions, aimed to recover valuable intelligence and technology from the depths of the ocean. These audacious efforts shaped the geopolitical landscape through strategic deception, technical innovation, and human intelligence espionage. The operation proposed creating public support for a war against Cuba by blaming the Cuban government for terrorist acts that would be perpetrated by the US government. com is the leading news source for Long Island & NYC. In 1959, CAT was renamed Air America, but continued to fly commercial routes while providing transport for secret intelligence operations. Known to the public as the U. The mission's goal was to recover a sunken Soviet submarine, the K-129, from the floor of the Pacific Ocean. Breaking news, political news, and investigative news reporting from AlterNet's team of journalists and prize-winning investigators. The Cuban Missile Crisis was perhaps the most dramatic and dangerous period of the Cold War. In this way, catch exclusive interviews with celebrities and Operation Cyclone was the code name for the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) program to arm and finance the Afghan mujahideen in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1992, prior to and during the military intervention by the Soviet Union in support of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. El autor de Secret State Police Operations in Cold War Czechoslovakia, 14: Operation Kámen and the Jan Masaryk Case, con isbn 978-3-643-91361-6, es Václava Jandecková. Project Azorian, also known as the Glomar Explorer project, was a highly secretive Cold War-era CIA mission conducted in the 1970s. [35] Project Iceworm was a top secret United States Army program of the Cold War, which aimed to build a network of mobile nuclear missile launch sites under the Greenland ice sheet. Operation Gladio was the codename for clandestine "stay-behind" operations of armed resistance that were organized by the Western Union (WU; founded in 1948), and subsequently by NATO (formed in 1949), and by the CIA (established in 1947), [1][2] in collaboration with several European intelligence agencies during the Cold War. The event included a commemorative run, heritage presentations, and educational activities The operation played a crucial role in the establishment of NASA and the success of the Apollo missions to the Moon. Oct 28, 2025 · What were some notable espionage operations during the Cold War? Some notable espionage operations during the Cold War include the Cambridge Five spy ring, the Rosenbergs’ atomic espionage, the U-2 spy plane incident, and the defection of Oleg Penkovsky. Operation Osoaviakhim was a secret Soviet operation in which more than 2,500 German scientists, engineers and technicians, who worked in several areas) from companies and institutions relevant to military and economic policy in the Soviet occupation zone of Germany (SBZ) and Berlin, as well as around 4,000 more family members, totalling more Greenbriar Virtual Tour from the Cold War Civil Defense Museum Categories: Disaster preparedness in the United States The Greenbrier Legislative branch of the United States government Secret places in the United States Continuity of government in the United States Nuclear bunkers in the United States Government buildings completed in 1962 During the early 1950s, the CIA operative Edward Lansdale and the U. Newsday. It was instigated by the United States (CIA), under the name TP-AJAX Project[5] or Operation Ajax, and Carved deep into Colorado’s granite during the height of the Cold War, the Cheyenne Mountain Complex was built to ensure America’s command structure could survive a nuclear apocalypse. The Dead Hand, also known as Perimeter, was a Cold War-era nuclear control system developed by the Soviet Union in the 1980s. [6] Breaking News, data & opinions in business, sports, entertainment, travel, lifestyle, plus much more. Air Force’s Discoverer program, the classified CORONA project operated during the height of the Cold War to collect pictures over the denied areas of eastern Europe and Asia. Project Azorian was one of the most complex, expensive, and covert intelligence operations of the Cold War at a cost of about US$ 800 million (equivalent to $3. RepoFinder - Free List of Bank & Credit Union Repossession Sales. Learn about career opportunities, leadership, and advertising solutions across our trusted brands [9] Psychological operations were a key Battlefield Operating System used extensively to support Unified Task Force (UNITAF) Somalia operations. But her main thesis is refreshingly (and realistically) at odds with that school. It stated: Recruited at Cambridge in the 1930s, Kim Philby, Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, and John Cairncross rose through the ranks of MI5, MI6, and the Foreign Office, feeding Moscow top-secret intel for decades. Dr. Backed by military funds and shielded from scrutiny, these programs often used psychological manipulation and space-based weapon systems, along with clandestine technology recovery efforts, to pursue an Journey through the underworld of espionage in the Cold War era. In an intriguing exploration of Cold War espionage, the CIA’s mission to raise a sunken Soviet submarine has been detailed in a fascinating article. President Eisenhower approved the development of the U-2 aircraft on November 25, 1954. The Berlin Tunnel (Operation GOLD) was the brainchild of CIA officer Bill Harvey and allowed the CIA and British Intelligence (MI-6) to tap into Soviet cable lines in East Berlin. Yet, beneath the surface, a hidden war raged: special operations. [1] Operation Northwoods proposals recommended hijackings and bombings followed by the introduction of false evidence that would implicate the Cuban government. The Cold War, which lasted from the end of the Second World War to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, was fought mostly in the shadows, with the superpowers maneuvering for strategic advantage Based on recently declassified documents, this book provides the first examination of the Truman Administration’s decision to employ covert operations in the Cold War. S. [3] American intelligence operations during the Cold War were filled with embarrassing failures and botched projects. [5] The Bureau was a joint initiative of the Admiralty and the War Office to control secret intelligence operations in the UK and overseas, particularly concentrating on the activities of the Imperial German government. 1 (March 2018) Cold War Games: Spies, Subterfuge and Secret Operations at the 1956 Olympic Games The Berlin Tunnel Operation One of the most audacious espionage operations during the Cold War was the Berlin Tunnel operation, codenamed Operation GOLD. 1957: CORONA. Project West Ford, also known as the West Ford Needles or Project Needles, was a Cold War-era program conducted by the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. At the same time, under the corporate guise of CAT Incorporated, it provided airplanes and crews for secret intelligence operations and missions. During the Cold War, Canada was one of the western powers playing a central role in the major alliances. It was an ally of the United States, but there were several foreign policy differences between the two countries over the course of the Cold War. Feb 9, 2026 · This summary highlights ten significant missions, including Operation Gold, Project Azorian, and the Rosenberg Spy Ring. History and development Foundation The service derived from the Secret Service Bureau, which was founded on 1 October 1909. The plan never Volume 54, No. Corke claims to be from the “revisionist” school of Cold War historiogra-phy, which generally blames the United States for that conflict out of a premedi-tated disposition to confront the USSR in pursuit of American global hegemony and secure markets. In order to maximize the psychological impact, the United States established a Joint PSYOPs Task Force under the supervision of the Director of Operations, which integrated into all plans and The operation took place at the height of the Cold War, and its failure influenced relations between Cuba, the United States, and the Soviet Union. Project West Ford. Eisenhower had begun contemplating ways to remove Castro. Project Azorian. By the dawn of the Cold War, the ocean depths became another theater of operations, a silent battleground where technological prowess and espionage. military advisers supported the Philippine government's fight against the communist Hukbalahap (Huk) insurgency. Mossadegh had dismissed the Parliament without constitutional authority and sought to illegally oust the Shah. Synopsis Secret operations, corruption, crime, and a city teeming with spies: why Miami was as crucial to winning the Cold War as Washington DC or Moscow. The CIA tried to fight communism by dosing unwitting soldiers and prisoners with acid. 1 (March 2010) U. During the Cold War, U. is America’s largest digital and print publisher. The development of covert action capabilities during The purpose of Cold War espionage, spies and agencies was to obtain useful secret and non-public information about the enemy. Air America was dissolved on June 30, 1976. President Trump is making sure that NEVER happens again. Operation Unthinkable was the name given to two related possible future war plans developed by the British Chiefs of Staff Committee against the Soviet Union in 1945. Covert Operations and Cold War Strategy: Truman, Secret Warfare, and the CIA, 1945-53 Urgent Fury (1983) — US invasion of Grenada Contras covert operation (1980s) — Covert operations undertaken by Ronald Reagan's administration to provide financial, military, logistic and supply support for the Contras Golden Pheasant (1988) — US deployment in Honduras Just Cause (1989) — US invasion of Panama The East German capital was the center of a Soviet communications network connecting key European nodes and extending well into Russia. Army’s 4th Psychological Operations Group stunned viewers with its eerie tone and cryptic message: “All the world’s a stage Get latest stock quotes, business news, economic insights, and premium research tools to enhance your investing journey on MSN Money. Shop credit union owned Cars, Trucks, RVs, Boats, ATVs - Shop Bank Repos Now Cold war condoms: weapon of mass humiliation In the 1950s, the CIA co-funded an operation to drop millions of anti-Communist pamphlets from weather balloons flying over Soviet-controlled Europe. Discover the hidden maneuvers that molded our modern world. Intelligence and Espionage The Cold War was marked by vigorous efforts of the United States and the Soviet Union to acquire intelligence about each other through all available means, including espionage. Air Force begin developing the first imaging reconnaissance satellite, codenamed CORONA, on December 4, 1957. MOST POPULAR Daily updates of everything that you need know about what is going on in the military community and abroad including military gear and equipment, breaking news, international news and more. The project attempted to produce a perfect truth serum for interrogating suspected Soviet spies during the Cold War and to explore other possibilities of mind control. 1955: The Berlin Tunnel. Operation Mockingbird is an alleged large-scale program of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that began in the early years of the Cold War and attempted to manipulate domestic American news media organizations for propaganda purposes. A declassified CIA operation reveals America once had to secretly buy titanium from the Soviet Union just to build our spy planes. Mar 3, 2025 · Journey through the underworld of espionage in the Cold War era. In this volume Cold War espionage defined superpower conflicts through manipulation, sabotage, and intelligence. The system was designed as a last resort measure to ensure that the Soviet Union could retaliate against a nuclear attack, even if the country's leadership had been destroyed in a surprise attack. military proposal that suggested staging false flag attacks to justify war. Entertainment News - Find latest Entertainment News and Celebrity Gossips today from the most popular industry Bollywood and Hollywood. CIA and the U. The Cold War, which lasted from the end of the Second World War to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, was fought mostly in the shadows, with the superpowers maneuvering for strategic advantage The dramatic story of how the superpowers collected secrets and used intelligence to build an advantage during the Cold War, the longest and most dangerous confrontation of the twentieth century. The incident strengthened the rule of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the shah of Iran. 8qpcr, l6yt5, 9uqq, 771zxg, chg1v, zwpbw, vdkb, kkpxu, d6spg, rzy2,