The Bay of Pigs Invasion
Because of the alliance that had formed between Cuba and the Soviet Union, The United States broke off diplomatic ties with Cuba on January 3, 1961. In Washington, it was believed that U.S. national security was threatened by the revolutionary government of Fidel Castro being rapidly converted into a Communist dictatorship, offering the Soviet Union a foothold in the Western Hemisphere. The U.S. sought an indirect way to topple the Castro government and to establish a friendly, democratic government. The task was handed to the CIA, who, after failing to make any progress with the underground Cuban groups, decided to train a special guerrilla task force of refugees out of Miami--what would become known as the 2506 Brigade. This guerrilla task force would invade Cuba at Cochinos Bay (Bay of Pigs) and rally rebel forces against Castro to lead a coup.
To transport the 2506 Brigade, six ships were procured and the date of invasion was set for midnight, April 17, 1961. An air strike was planned to sweep over the island before the infantry arrived to crippled the Cuban air force. However, the day before the first air strikes were to take place, the State Department persuaded Kennedy to reduce the number of planes involved in the raid from 16 to six, and to cancel two subsequent air raids entirely, to preserve the ‘nonviolent image’ of the United States. Kennedy approved these cuts routinely, without consulting the CIA.
On April 17 half of the brigade, almost 1,500 strong, began pouring onto “Blue Beach” at Playa Giron. The other half landed approximately 20 miles away at “Red Beach” at Playa Lago deep in the mouth of the bay. Castro’s troops and his nine remaining aircraft began attacking the brigade as the exiles continued to rush onto shore. Many of the brigade’s major ships were damaged, included the Houston, which began sinking, and the Rio Escondidio, which exploded after being attacked by one of Castro’s Sea Fluries. Each of these ships carried ammunition, fuel and medical supplies. After notifying Washington of the need for air support, and receiving none, Commander Grayston L. Lynch received the orders to retreat and remove the brigade from the beachhead. Many of the 2506 Brigade refused to retreat, however, and continued fighting until they ran out of ammunition, were killed, or captured by Castro’s army. Reflecting on the day, Lynch writes:
“Many have called the Bay of Pigs Invasion a fiasco. It was not a fiasco--it was a tragedy. For the first time in my thirty-seven years, I was ashamed of my country.”
- Grayston L. Lynch, Decision for Disaster
To transport the 2506 Brigade, six ships were procured and the date of invasion was set for midnight, April 17, 1961. An air strike was planned to sweep over the island before the infantry arrived to crippled the Cuban air force. However, the day before the first air strikes were to take place, the State Department persuaded Kennedy to reduce the number of planes involved in the raid from 16 to six, and to cancel two subsequent air raids entirely, to preserve the ‘nonviolent image’ of the United States. Kennedy approved these cuts routinely, without consulting the CIA.
On April 17 half of the brigade, almost 1,500 strong, began pouring onto “Blue Beach” at Playa Giron. The other half landed approximately 20 miles away at “Red Beach” at Playa Lago deep in the mouth of the bay. Castro’s troops and his nine remaining aircraft began attacking the brigade as the exiles continued to rush onto shore. Many of the brigade’s major ships were damaged, included the Houston, which began sinking, and the Rio Escondidio, which exploded after being attacked by one of Castro’s Sea Fluries. Each of these ships carried ammunition, fuel and medical supplies. After notifying Washington of the need for air support, and receiving none, Commander Grayston L. Lynch received the orders to retreat and remove the brigade from the beachhead. Many of the 2506 Brigade refused to retreat, however, and continued fighting until they ran out of ammunition, were killed, or captured by Castro’s army. Reflecting on the day, Lynch writes:
“Many have called the Bay of Pigs Invasion a fiasco. It was not a fiasco--it was a tragedy. For the first time in my thirty-seven years, I was ashamed of my country.”
- Grayston L. Lynch, Decision for Disaster