‘Flying Gas Mains’: Rumour, Secrecy, and Morale during the V-2 Bombardment of Britain

Britain was the first country to suffer casualties as the result of a ballistic missile attack, when German V-2 rockets began landing in London and the South-East in September 1944. This new menace posed critical challenges, not only to the civilians whose lives were endangered once again, but also to the British government. Policymakers had to decide what, if any, information they released to the public, amid fears of creating panic, providing free propaganda to the Nazis, and helping the V-2 launching units improve their aim. Their commitment to secrecy in this period was both resolute and largely unnecessary, not to mention ineffective. In the absence of official information released from above, the public drew their own conclusions and myriad rumours emerged, many of which were remarkably accurate. This article will explore the ways in which government policy surrounding censorship and publicity changed during the V-2 bombardment and the extent to which this affected those in the firing line. It will also add considerable nuance to our understanding of public morale in this period, which was rather less steadfast than many accounts suggest, and which continued to be a major government preoccupation, despite the diminishing likelihood of a descent into mass panic or defeatism.

Able Archer and the NATO War Scare

Able Archer 83 was one in a series of NATO exercises designed to test processes, troop movements, secondary missions and tactical nuclear strike against chosen Soviet Bloc targets. The Soviets grew fearful that it was cover for an actual assault. The situation was precarious, perilously close to what generations of analysts considered the most likely cause of a hot war: miscalculation. Fortunately British intelligence had recruited a Soviet intelligence officer, Oleg Gordievsky, who could provide crucial insights, allowing for leaders to offer reassurances and tode-escalate. Documents: Indicators to recognize adversarial preparations for a surprise nuclear missile attack; Implications of Recent Soviet Military-Political Activities.

DIRECTIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF MISSILE ATTACK EARLY WARNING STATIONS

The article explains the current state of aviation armament and equipment protection from missile attacks. The necessity of improvement and ways of prospective development for aircraft protection systems are considered in the work. The analysis of the directions for solving the problem of detecting a missile attack on an aircraft is performed. There has also been given a solid consideration for methods and means for detecting the launch and flight of a missile in the infrared and ultraviolet band of electromagnetic waves. The source of ultraviolet emission, in particular the additives of rocket fuel in the process of combustion, is considered. A brief description of the frequency bands of the spectrum of ultraviolet emission and their classification in accordance with the current regulations of Ukraine and the classification of the International Commission on Illumination (Fr.-CIE) is provided. Considerable attention is paid to the frequency band called "solar blind". The basic characteristics of the ultraviolet sensors of the Soviet and Russian production are given. A brief overview of the missile attack early warning stations of foreign production, mentioning the aircraft on which they are installed is performed. Operational characteristics’ features of these stations are described in a concise way. The specifications of early warning stations are also given. The necessity of close interaction of these stations with the means of countermeasures, with the prospect of full integration with the onboard aircraft defense complex is shown.

Israel will worry over disruption around Eurovision

Significance The government's eagerness to take advantage of the event has helped turn it into a political and propaganda battleground for Israel and the Palestinians. Indeed, intense fighting on May 4-5 around Gaza was likely timed ahead of the contest, and last night’s livestream of the broadcast was hacked to show a fake threat of a missile attack. Impacts The coincidence of the event with Palestinian Nakba Day will heighten tensions. A successful event will help portray Israel more positively, not only as a place of conflict. Other constraints, especially cost, will continue to weigh on tourism from Europe to Israel. Having failed to stop Israel hosting the contest, pro-Palestinian activists may now see it as a way to call attention to their cause.