Cold War Canadian airborne anti-submarine missions (290)

Cold War Conversations

Colonel Terry Chester’s flying career spanned some 42 years, and 10,000 flying hours. He joined the RCAF in Sept 1964 and in 1968 was awarded Navigator Wings.

Terry flew for 3,000 hrs on the Argus Maritime patrol aircraft where he spent a good portion of his RCAF career hunting for Soviet Submarines in both the Pacific and Atlantic areas of operation.

He was instrumental in the design criteria for sub-hunting capability when Canada procured the new Aurora, for anti-submarine hunting in the early 1980s.

Terry reveals sub-hunting tactics as well as details of Canadian participation in NATO exercises.

Among other stories, he describes how he accidentally attacked a US nuclear submarine, the perils of landing in Gibraltar, and Soviet sub-incursions into Canadian waters. He also recalls airborne meetings with Soviet aircraft and a trip in the British nuclear submarine HMS Churchill.

0:00 Introduction to Cold War Conversations with Colonel Terry Chester

2:24 Overview of Chester's experiences in Anti-Submarine Warfare and the Soviet Navy

5:05 Accounts of accidental attacks on US nuclear submarines

13:21 Encounters with Soviet aircraft and monitoring of Soviet submarines

20:34 The Gibraltar Base, Spanish tensions, and life aboard HMS Churchill

26:28 Protocols and preparations for potential nuclear warfare

28:14 Soviet submarine incursions in Canadian waters and international cooperation

32:19 End of the Cold War: experiences and concerns

33:40 Post-Cold War era and the Western Alliance's reduced defense spending

34:21 Reflections on serving in the Cold War and camaraderie during service

35:17 Sponsor: Listener Support and invitation to the Facebook discussion group

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Episode 1 of our interview with Terry is here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode54/

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Episode extras including videos and photos https://coldwarconversations.com/episode290/

Do take a look at Vintage Wings a collection of historically significant aircraft that Terry has worked on as well as the Royal Canadian Airforce Association of which Terry was a National President.

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