264. Memorandum for the record, May 261

JMG–0399
[Facsimile Page 12]

SUBJECT

  • Post-D Day Supply Drops from [less than 1 line not declassified]

1. General Cabell called the afternoon of 25 May, requesting information on the number of supply drops flown from [less than 1 line not declassified] following D-Day, 17 April 1961. I debriefed [less than 1 line not declassified] and Major Skinner on this subject and called General Cabell back with the following facts:

a. The night of 18 April a total of seven C–54 loads were rigged and launched from [less than 1 line not declassified] to the Blue Beach and Red Beach areas. Each aircraft carried approximately 12,000 pounds of brigade ammunition including grenades, tank ammunition, mortar shells, and small and heave weapon support items. The loads of three of these were kicked out at the Blue Beach, while one went on to the Red Beach region. Three aircraft did not complete the mission due to the presence of early morning daylight and enemy aircraft activity. These loads were returned to [less than 1 line not declassified].

b. Additionally, one C–46, with between eight and ten thousand pounds of the same cargo, discharged its load the morning of 18 April at the Playa Giron Airfield. A second C–46, similarly loaded, did not land because of enemy aircraft but returned to [less than 1 line not declassified].

c. Additionally, a single C–46 had attempted to land at the airfield the previous afternoon, but while on route to the target area was in radio communication with two B–26’s returning to [less than 1 line not declassified] who informed him that enemy aircraft were active in the area and the chances of a successful landing were small. This aircraft then returned to [less than 1 line not declassified].

2. General Cabell also had asked me about why we had been unable to load and dispatch the four C–130 aircraft from Kelly Air Force Base on 18 April. I told him that there had not been time to rig the approximately 90,000 pounds of cargo in the time allotted with the insufficient number of riggers on hand. I did advise him that [less than 1 line not declassified] and six PDO’s/riggers had flown from Missoula, Montana, to the Depot in a chartered airplane, and had the beach not [Typeset Page 649] been lost the afternoon of the 19th, the C–130’s would have been ready to go that night.

[name not declassified]
Acting Chief, DPD-DD/P

Distribution:

1—C/DPD/ASB

2—ASST CH/DPD

3—AC/DPD

4—EO/DPD

5—DPD/MAT

6—DPD/SO

7—DPD/RI

DPD-DD/P: [name not declassified]

  1. Post D-day supply drops review. Secret. 2 pp. CIA Files: Job 85–00664R, Box 4, Vol I.