Operation Skyshield

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Operation Skyshield was a series of three large-scale military exercises conducted in the United States in 1960, 1961, and 1962 to test NORAD defenses against Soviet air attack.

Similar to the 9/11 attacks in 2001, all US civil air traffic was grounded during the tests (sometimes up to 12 hours) which involved 6,000 sorties flown by air forces from the US, UK and Canada simulating Soviet fighter / bomber attacks against New York, Chicago and Washington. This made it the largest military aviation exercise ever held.

The tests were intended to ensure that any attacks over the Canadian border or coastlines would be detected and subsequently stopped. The results of the tests were classified until 1997 fearing they could be used by the Soviet Union in order to more effectively engage the US during the event of World War III.

The tests proved to be a useful insight into US defense systems. Weaknesses were exposed in Sky Shield I (1960) during an "attack" by 8 RAF V Bombers. Ironically the first "casualty" of the exercise was an RAF Vulcan which was intercepted by an F-101 above Goose Bay, Labrador. Despite this, the Vulcans achieved unprecedented survivability with 7 of the 8 British bombers managing to reach their targets and return to Stephenville, Newfoundland unscathed largely due to the advanced Electronic Counter Measures systems on these bombers and their unique maneuverability (for strategic bombers) which allowed them to fly tree top (below 100 feet) missions in ways more accustomed to a fighter-bomber.

During Skyshield II (1961), the Vulcans simulated Russian heavy bombers operating at the highest tier (56,000 ft) above the B-52s at 35-42,000 ft and the lower level B-47s. Despite their superb low level ability, the Vulcan at high altitudes could out turn most fighters of the day due to the massive wing area of the bomber.

Out of the 3 Sky Shield exercises only 8 casualties occurred, all from the same B-52 crew. On October 15 1961 a search triangle 600 miles from New York was set up looking for the missing crew. A US Coast Guard cutter reported seeing an orange flare as 12:15am on October 17. Despite this however the 8 men were eventually lost at sea.

Sky Shield III held in September 1962 was North America's first and so far only test of clearing national civilian air traffic at short notice in the result of a Soviet attack. Hundreds of USAF trainers were used to simulate normal civil traffic levels and routes. These exercises however were forgotten during the September 11 attacks when a similar evacuation of US airspace was required.