On April 17, 1961 a Brigade of exiled Cubans landed on a Southern isolated Cuban beachhead to initiate the infamous invasion known as the Bay of Pigs. The CIA orchestrated operation was intended to remain clandestine until the last possible moment. Yet the operation was immediately compromised by a Cuban radio station near the landing site, which a reconnaissance team had failed to spot. The Brigade was instantly jeopardized, with their every action being broadcast across the small communist island.
“The CIA history of the Bay of Pigs operation in 1961, originally classified top secret, based on dozens of interviews with key operatives and officials and hundreds of CIA documents. The four volumes include information never before released and comprise (I) Air Operations, March 1960-1961; (II) Participation in the Conduct of Foreign Policy; (III) Evolution of CIA’s Anti-Castro Policies, 1959-January 1961; and (IV) The Taylor Committee Investigation of the Bay of Pigs.
There is no doubt that if there had been more JMATE aircraft and more aircrews, constant air cover could have been possible. The real booger factor which both John F. and Robert Kennedy chose to ignore, however, was that the denial and cancellation of additional B-26 strikes at Castro’s airfields meant that attempts by the Brigade air force to provide, ground support for the invasion would be exposed to Castro’s T-JJ’s and Sea Furies. It was a no-win situation. ”
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On April 17, 1961 a Brigade of exiled Cubans landed on a Southern isolated Cuban beachhead to initiate the infamous invasion known as the Bay of Pigs. The CIA orchestrated operation was intended to remain clandestine until the last possible moment. Yet the operation was immediately compromised by a Cuban radio station near the landing site, which a reconnaissance team had failed to spot. The Brigade was instantly jeopardized, with their every action being broadcast across the small communist island.
“The CIA history of the Bay of Pigs operation in 1961, originally classified top secret, based on dozens of interviews with key operatives and officials and hundreds of CIA documents. The four volumes include information never before released and comprise (I) Air Operations, March 1960-1961; (II) Participation in the Conduct of Foreign Policy; (III) Evolution of CIA’s Anti-Castro Policies, 1959-January 1961; and (IV) The Taylor Committee Investigation of the Bay of Pigs.
There is no doubt that if there had been more JMATE aircraft and more aircrews, constant air cover could have been possible. The real booger factor which both John F. and Robert Kennedy chose to ignore, however, was that the denial and cancellation of additional B-26 strikes at Castro’s airfields meant that attempts by the Brigade air force to provide, ground support for the invasion would be exposed to Castro’s T-JJ’s and Sea Furies. It was a no-win situation. ”
Read More: Bay of Pigs Release, FOIA, CIA Library
Featured Image: Bay of Pigs Release, FOIA, CIA Library
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