◆ SpookStack

Further in this same cable, it was pointed out to Headquarters that various of their messages concerning drop zone times or control times had been received without identifying the time zone. MADD reported: It was apparent that the time was not ZULU. Therefore, it was necessary to reason that it was Cuban local time ... To prevent confusion, suggest all times be identified by the time zone, or that all times that are vital to the success of all operational mission be stated in ZULU only. 55/* In response to another question concerning mission approvals, Headquarters spoke very firmly to the field concerning its (Headquarter's) responsibility for weather forecasting as related to approvals for given missions; and specified that: Mission approvals from Headquarters are based on intelligence, political, security, and other considerations usually known only at Headquarters as well as review of weather forecast to determine general missicn feasi- bility. 56/ On~e Headquarters approval had been received, how- ever, the message authorized the launch-base commander, or designated officers at given sites, to cancel or * Emphasis by author. The criticality of this last statement concerning the use of ZULU time will be dis- cussed in detail later in this volume. - 133 -