On October 14, 1962, US Air Force U-2 spy planes captured images of Cuba revealing Soviet missile sites only 90 miles away from American soil. President Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of the island, and demanded the Soviet Union remove the missiles and dismantle the silos. For the next 13 days, the two sides glared at each other across the nuclear abyss until the Soviets finally relented. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the USAF's 327th Fighter Group was alerted and deployed to Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, where their well trained fighter pilots flew Convair F-102 "Delta Daggers" in combat air patrols around the surrounding skies. 327th FG pilots at Homestead AFB were also kept on 24-hour "slingshot alert", a tense status in which two F-102s had to be in the "slingshot" position around the clock, that is on the runway with pilots in the cockpit and engines running. This USAF 1960s Pre-Vietnam CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS F-102 327TH FIGHTER GROUP PATCH is in excellent condition, with a small loose thread of embroidery at the middle front, some light brownish spot soiling at the upper left front, some hardened whitish spot soiling running vertically/diagonally along the middle back, some light overall edge curling, and with some light scattered age wear evident (ALL pictured). Otherwise, the patch is in excellent shape, with absolutely no rips, holes, tears, or other damage. Most interestingly, it bears the classic "327TH FIGHTER GROUP (AIRDEE)" shield shaped insignia on a maroon twill background US machine embroidered at front; the last portion of the top line is undoubtedly supposed to read "(AIRDEF)", but the last letter was made an E in error by the manufacturer. It dates to the early 1960s, measures 4 7/8" in diameter, and sports a "cut edge" and partial tight "cheesecloth" back. A beautiful example of a very rare, original USAF 1960s Pre-Vietnam CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS F-102 327TH FIGHTER GROUP PATCH. Now celebrating a quarter century on eBay. Buy with confidence and please view our other great military, aviation, and Old West classics, including a pair of very rare, original Antique 1920s OLD WEST COWBOY BRASS STUDDED LEATHER WRIST CUFFS in good condition, boasting an incredible diamond like design of large and small silvered brass studs at front, and sporting the original brown leather lacing along the upper backs.