TRANSMITTAL OF DOCUMENTS WITH ATTACHMENTS A & B TITLED "NARRATIVE OF AIR ACTIVI

Created: 4/16/1961

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM * mi RELEASE IN7

MEMORANDUM FOR: Lt. Colonel B. W. Tarwatcr,, OJCS

Transmittal of Documents

1. Enclosed are the following documents:

rief narrative of the air activity)

hronological sequence of events*

eport returned from Tide on

crew, target and departure time )

raining received by the pilots

upport drop missions flown from

through'

ist of personnel involved in the

of the pilotB and their background)

omposition of base unit at Tide.

does not include the air unit, which consisted of twenty people, the majority of which were the Operations Staff.)

STANLEY W. BEERJJ Colonel, USAF

A vioi^-oAL

HOT DESraOY.

Narrative of Air Activity

riefing wai conducted for the Deputy Directorcting Chief,nd Acting Chief, DPD. which outlined the proposed plan of air operation* for Project JMATE and Sub-Project JMFURY. Targets ware aa cltad In DPD Air Operationsith tha exception that Targets I.are to be struckortion of Project JMFURY. Project JMFURY Involved targetan Antonio da Loa Banoa, two aircraft] targetampo Ubertad. two aircraft! targetantiago de Cuba, two aircraft.

pril the briefing team departed Washington for JMTIDE. The purpose of this trip was to brief tha combat elements of the proposed plan of activities. After two days target study atscommendation was submitted to Hcadquartess which recommended assignment of throe aircraft each tond 2. Tola change was effected.

On IS April Project JMFURY was implemented with strikes occurring at dawn. 4 hour delay receivedpril changed air strikeso

. Results of thet strike were believed to have been destructionoercent of GOC's combat air capability. Damages sustained by attacking air-craft we re as follows: one aircraft and crew destroyed by antt aircraft fire eventually crashing Into tha sea approximatelyiles north of the Cuban coast attempting to reach Boca Chlca Naval Air Station. One aircraft landed at Grand Cayman short of fuel. One aircraft landed at Boca Chlca Naval Air Station, no battle damage had been Incurred. Ths reason for landing at the Boca Chlca Naval Air Station waa due to this aircraft attempting too Boca Chlca which later crashed Into the sea. The aircraft which landed at Boca Chica and Crand Cayman were eventually returned to the launch base.

leven targets were assigned6 strike force deelgned to deetroy the remainder of GOC operational air capability. Between the hours0 local0 local during thepril the target assignment was changed prohibiting air strike of any airfields the morningay. All aircraft were committed to sustain air support over the beachhead area.

Ons and4 successfully dropped the airborne battalionappointed DZ's within the objective area. These aircraft returned to the launch base. 6 aircraft were rotated over the beachhead throughout the day. 6 aircraft reporting the sinking of one gun boat, the dcetruction of one Sea Fury andumerous strikes on ground

fx"

targets and6 aircraft by fv.ilvn attack ceased an attacking sea fury aircraft la crash into the sea. 6 were lost lateay to3 aircraft. one aircraft landed at grand cayman with oneot oat. one aircraft landed at boca cblca doa to pilot fatigue. it should be*pointed out that all cuban air crawa had at thla point bean upoithout slaap. ) actual combat sortieware flownay. all aortias ware in support of the amphibioua landing on tha beachhead. at thla point it became clear that enemy air activity3 aircraft could deatroy the mora6 type aircraft with relative esseecision waa made to attempt to destroy the remaining ooc aircraft at nighthe ground through aucceaafol bombing ralda. six aircraft were scheduled to strike the main base of operations in two waves of three each during the nightpril. the aircraft aborted on take off. heavy base and low clouds prevented thrae aircraft from finding target and oaa aircraft attacked san antonio da los banoa.

6. t became necessary to utilise american civilian pllota to protect the beachhead araa due to tha fact tha cubans were either too tlerd or refused to fly. six aortlea were flown during the afternoonluseported damage by goc aourcea0 casualltles and destruction of aaven tanks.

7. on the morningmerican pilots again were pressed into service for protection of the beachhead area for twohe reluctance of the cuban pilots to fly more combat sorties without air to air coverhe americans were attempting to build morals andill to win. two american crews were shot down with no survivors in tha morningluaoth aircraft were lost3 aircraft. all sortlea flown on the morningere scheduled during the one hour period nary air cover was supposed to have been provided the beachhead area.

8. in the afternoonadio mesaage waa received from the ground brigade commander atating that he was destroying hie equipment and "heading for the hills". upon receipt of this message all air activities in support of the beachhead area were terminated.

Kmerj.

Destroy o. Pase Ir^ecrrrnifE

totargets scheduled

ircraft committeday

Urgets scheduled*

ircraft committeday

J. Project scheduled

rgets)

bertad

3 " an Antonio losde Cuba

Specialabort) I

targets scheduled (Delete--:

C aircraft committeeL'-Day

(CIO1 targets scheduledtA)*

5 aircraft committeday

ay targets (strategic)

(GLOWaircraft committed support

beachhead1 abort) T-

effort nlpht attacks on air-

fields

6 aircraftborts)

Target numbers above are listecfinoo Air Operations ^lan .'io.e Loss due to antiaircraft fire (AA) Loss due3 fighter aircraft

f

Original document.

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