Office of the Historian

100. Telegram From the Commander of Special Task Group 81.8 (Clark) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)0

USS Essex, Caribbean, April 14, 1961, 12:26 p.m.

141726Z. Exclusive for Dennison, info Lemnitzer, Burke, Smith, McElroy, OʼDonnell from Clark. Completed fueling 141630Z1 at lat 18-38N long 85-28W. Units proceeding independently to station. Have assigned 1 DD to escort each CEF ship with orders to remain outside visual range during daylight. Plan launch from lat 18-30N long 81-00W at 151030Z2 as follows; 3 VS for search ahead of CEF, 1 AD to assist in location CEF ships as required. Will begin routine Bumpy Road reporting at 151030Z.

Intelligence. No surface contacts. Will maneuver to avoid being sighted. 6 aircraft contacts within 60 miles. 4 engine transport passed overhead at 1710Z.3 All aircraft probably commercial airlines. No apparent surveillance activity. Elokomin proceeding via South Mariposa Bank to station at 19-00N 80-00W ETA 171200Z.4 SOA controlled to avoid contact with CEF.

  1. Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Exclusive; Bumpy Road. Repeated to Lemnitzer, Burke, Smith, McElroy, and OʼDonnell.↩
  2. April 14, 11:30 a.m.↩
  3. April 15, 5:30 a.m.↩
  4. 12:10 p.m.↩
  5. April 17, 7 a.m.↩