European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 12, 1969, Darmstadt, Hesse � i i i my Ftp of x \ Iceland based americans counter soviet surveillance with constant observation fighter interceptor on five minute Alert. Rocky Iceland occupies strategic location in Atlantic. 58 in a spy game Between soviets and americans a . F102 from Iceland sidles alongside snooping russian Long Range Bear. By John Lebl Cap staff writer it May be a cold climate in Kola Rejust below the Arctic Circle but hid Island seethes with military activity Althe same. According to a briefing officer of the big . Air contingent stationed at the North Atlantic treaty organization has Pat Kef Lavik in the event of War ice land becomes a strategic key Bem Sethe decisive opening moves at sea would a probably be in the Northeast Atlantic. Meanwhile military forces of the of yet Union and the . Play an uninterrupted i spy game with each Oili or All around Iceland. Scarcely a Day goes by that Sovio Tair surface or underwater surveillance Craft Are not spotted by patrol i Anu from be Finvik s Meeks Field on ire land s Southwest tip. The americans counter with constant Aerial Obsen Mioi and fighter interceptor planes on a is minute Alert. Bepo ters who stopped off on flying visit to ships engaged in a re cent nato exercise at sea got an at the Way Iceland s Rol developed since a Small Force of in Riband canadians landed at be Flovik forestall the nazis during world War they also got an Eyebrow lifter Page 12 nato base at Kef Lavik lies near Reykjavik. The stars and stripes i it the Way russian War Craft Havein on the Middle of the Atlantic o really regarded As the private prese Rof the Western countries. A particularly striking illustration this was a movie sequence taken in an american plane of a russian in Cruiser about the size of a v i German pocket battleship refuel Lnu in routine fashion from a Supply ship wit the icelandic coast visible 10 or 1 Miles in the background. J in the past year Kef Lavik based air Craft have made 220 separate contacts with submarines undoubtedly russian some identified through electronic gear As carrying ballistic missiles. The Long Range russian Bear and Badger recon Naissance planes Are often seen close to Iceland and the Bear is known Mohave prowled As far As the offshore Waters of Labrador. Scores of russian trawlers fish off Iceland. Many Are outfitted with radar equipment designed for More than fish eries work. 1 o the South and East of Iceland ships of Canada and other Natona tons Are continually under close observation from russian ships plan Sand probably submarines. During one exercise 18 surface vessels were counted. There s a definite trend in Russia operations being pushed out greater Dis Tances from their shores As they get More and More sophisticated equip ment says rear adm. Frank b. Stone the . Navy commander of nato s Iceland defense Force. Iceland is about 2.500 air Miles fro Russia but its position on the map gives it considerably More strategic importance than this suggests. It is astride the sea lanes that the russian flee would have to burst through to get into the Atlantic and it also is on thereat Circle route Between Europe Puiul North America. To meet contingencies both ways theato Force at Kef Lavik is equipped with both Antisubmarine planes an fighter interceptors to take care of air aggressors. Sunday january 12, 1969 Lois Fly Lookout station sits on volcanic coast Between Reykjavik and Kef Lavik. The stars and stripes Page 13 m. I of a
