733667-002-002-0016

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OCR Text

ANCHORAGE TIMES - DATE The Russian bear AMID SOME indications that the United States and the Soviet Union may be nearing an agreement on the reduction of medium-range missiles in Europe, let’s not forget that Alaska still Stands face-to-face with powerful Russian military forces. : Reminders are easy to come by, quite apart from just a simple look at the map. For those who doubt the potential threat, be ad- vised that it was just last week that the two Air Force F-15s from King Salmon in- tercepted and turned back two Soviet Bear-H bombers which had flown to within 190 miles of Adak. And it was nothing spe- cial. Intercepts of the Bear- H, a flying platform from ’ which to launch cruise mis- siles, are not uncommon in the Aleutian area, Air Force . spokesmen say. SO far this year, Air Force fighters have intercepted 14 Soviet planes on approaches to the Alaska coast. Last year, there were 34 inter- cepts. THIS SORT of activity demonstrates the high level Of operational Soviet mili- tary missions in our part of the world. Such flights clearly are not isolated training mis- sions, although they cer- tainly fulfill such a function. Rather, it is safe to as- . sume that this sort of prob- ing at the defense perimiter of the United States — and Alaska — represents part of the day-to-day readiness ac- tivities by Soviet forces. And such flights provide continual proof that Amer- ica Cannot lower its guard. The Russian bear is just over the horizon. And in the sky, as well, on the Alaskan frontier. “a. * .

Metadata

Agency
Classification
UNKNOWN
Department
National Archives and Records Administration
Confidence1
Credibility1

NARA Source

NAID
733667
File
733667-002-002-0016.jpg
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image/jpeg

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