97. Telegram From the Director of the Joint Staff (Wheeler) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)0
Washington, April 13,
1961, 7:55 p.m.
JCS 469-61. Exclusive for Adm Dennison, Gen Wheeler sends. Operation Bumpy Road contingency planning.
- 1.
- If operation aborted
- A.
- Main force will be diverted or moved to Camp Garcia Vieques Island for billeting. In order to prepare for this eventuality HQ MC is directing FMFLANT airlift camp equipment and rations for 1500 men to Camp Garcia commencing 14 April.
- B.
- Request you reschedule MarCorps BLT training exercise scheduled for 15-18 April at Vieques to a date not earlier that 25 April.
- C.
- Request you have contingency plan for use of armed MarCorps unit to seal compound of Camp Garcia to maintain order in CEF group if necessary.
- 2.
- If operation executed
- A.
- If operation proceeds as planned, a force of about 175 CEF men with 25 US instructors will train in the Camp Garcia maneuver area for about three weeks commencing about 23 April.
- B.
- It is anticipated that about 160 US Army personnel may be sent to Vieques to establish a 100 bed hospital if the need arises.
- C.
- The foregoing units will be supported by camp equipment and rations prepositioned at Camp Garcia under paragraph 1 A above.
- 3.
- New item same subject. A report has been received from CIA that a Navy P2V7 flew over Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua at low altitude during the morning of 13 April. If possible, without arousing undue interest, desire US aircraft stay clear that area.CIA has also requested US military aircraft remain south of line between 2146 N 8431 W and 1951 N 7714 W from 14 April until operation completed. We do not desire undue attention directed to that area so this request is passed to you for such action as you consider appropriate and consistent with performance of assigned missions.
- Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Limited Distribution.↩