316. Notes on Special Group Meeting0
Washington, March 22,
1962.
Operation Mongoose: General Lansdale and Air Force reported on aerial resupply problems indicating high degree of safety although possibility of loss with consequent attribution could not be dismissed. Attorney General considered this most serious, as resulting public opinion would probably cause stand-down of all other operations. Resupply plan with one C-54 and one C-46 now being sanitized. Initial operation 30 days, probable rate between 6 and 15 per month. Following questions which I wish to discuss with Helms, Harvey and others were raised:
- 1.
- Is it not possible to conduct immediate intense training of a few Cuban pilots and have them available for these missions? Noted some Cuban airline pilots are now in Florida. As an alternative, could other nations (such as Turks) be readied for these missions?
- 2.
- Can we procure unattributable aircraft? Is it possible to buy from third countries and use Soviet aircraft for this purpose? Reported that American manufacturer had stated he could produce and deliver Russian-type MIGs or Russian-type IL 14ʼs in 90 days. Has this matter been explored and if so should such equipment be available for covert operations in various parts of the world?
- 3.
- What evidence do we have of Cuban supply of arms to insurgent groups in the Caribbean, Central or Latin America?
- 4.
- Clandestine operations.
- 5.
- Could we now develop a policy for action if missile bases are placed on Cuban soil?