BAY OF PIGS INVASION

APRIL 17 1961

TRAINING
March 1960 President Eisenhower approves the training of Cuban
exiles in combat for the invasion of their homeland
Camps were set up in Guatemala
Trained in assault landing and guerrilla warfare

Castro learned of the training as early as October 1960

February 1961- newly elected President JFK authorises the invasion

THE PLAN
JFK wanted Americas known involvement to be limited so a landing
point was chosen that would hide the US forces.
Remote swampy area on the southern coast of Cuba

2 airstrikes, 1400 man invasion on land

Surprise attack
Paratroopers would drop ahead and cut of Cuban military supplies
Another force would land on the east coast of Cuba to confuse the military

THE INVASION
April 15 1961 8 bombers leave Nicaragua to bomb the Cuban
airfileds
Planes were painted to look like Cuban airforce
The bombers missed their targets and left Castros airforce intact

News broke of the attack and photos surfaced of the repainted planes
which revealed Americas involvement
Kennedy cancelled the planned second airstrike

 April 17 1960 Cuban exile force known as Brigade 2506 landed at

beaches along the Bay of Pigs
They immediately came under heavy fire
Cuban planes attacked the invaders, sunk 2 ships and destroyed half the air
support

Over the next 24 hours, Castro orders 20,00 0 troops to the beach and
the airforce to continue the strikes.

April 19 1960 JFK orders six unmarked US planes to defend the

brigades and the B-26 flying aircraft

 According to reports the planes arrived late, due to comfusion with

time zone differences between Nicaragua and Cuba.

When they did arrive, they were shot down by the Cubans and the
invasion was crushed.

AFTERMATH
Some exiles escaped to sea while the others were killed or imprisoned
by Castros forces
Almost 1200 surrendered and more than 100 were killed

Those imprisoned remained so for 20 months.

Castro and the US eventually negotiated their release.
They were released for US$53 million worth of baby food and medicine.

CONSEQUENCES??