123. Telegram From the Chief of the Subsidiary Activities Division (Gray) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)0
Washington, April 18,
1961, 2:49 p.m.
JCS 994317. Bumpy Road. Exclusive for Adm Dennison and Adm Clark from Gen Gray.
- 1.
- Following preparatory actions directed at high-level conference in
light of loss of Red Beach, tank and air attack on Blue Beach and
reported four Castro T-33ʼs and
three Castro
MIGs in action.
- a.
- Prepare unmarked Navy planes for possible combat use. Number suitable in view of above left to your discretion. This instruction in addition to earlier message regarding recce mission.1 Amphibious group move to within four hours steaming of landing area. Prepare unmarked boats for possible evacuation of anti-Castro forces.
- 2.
- New subject. We are operating almost entirely in the dark. Forward assessment of situation as you see it. Any information at all would be helpful.
- 3.
- FYI. There is no intention of intervening with US forces.
- Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Cuba, Subjects, Taylor Report. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Limited Distribution. According to a memorandum for the record prepared by Commander Mitchell, this message, sent on behalf of the JCS, was authorized by a telephone call to the JCS Operations Center from Admiral Burke at the White House. (National Defense University, Taylor Papers, Box 12, Cuba, Paramilitary Study)↩
- Document 122.↩