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Bay of Pigs
Storyboard Text
- Introduction
- The Bay of Pigs started after Cuban exiles launched what became a botched invasion at the Bay of Pigs located on the south coast of Cuba. In the year 1959, Fidel Castro came to power bringing an armed revolt which completely overthrew Fulgencio Batista. The U.S. government had a negative relationship with Castro and worried about his relationship with Nikita Khrushchev. Before John F. Kennedy presidency, he was briefed on a plan by the CIA to train Cuban exiles for an invasion of their own homeland.This plan found that the Cuban people and elements of the Cuban military would support in the event of an invasion. The end-goal here was to overthrow Castro and the establishment of a non-communist government which was friendly next to the United States.
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- Training
- President Eisenhower innitiated the training program in March 1960. The CIA built training camps in Guatemala. By November the operationhad created a small militia for assault landing/guerilla warfare. Through Cuban intelligence, Castro learned of the guerilla training camps in Guatemala as early as October 1960, and the press reported widely on events as they unfolded. Following his inauguration, in February of 1961, Kennedy gave the green light for the invasion plan. He was also dedicated to disguise U.S. support. Landing at the Bay of Pigs was the deceptive part of the plan. The site secretive marshy area on the southern coast of Cuba. Unfortunately, the site gave the invading force 80 miles from refuge in Cuba's Escambray wrong.
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- The Plan
- The original plan for the invasion aimed for two air strikes against air bases in Cuba. In a surprise attack, Paratroopers dropped in and disrupted transportation and Cuban forces. They traveled across the island to Matanzas and set up a defensive position. The United Revolutionary Front sent leaders from Florida and establish its own government. In order for the operation to be deemed successful, the Cuban population would have to join the invaders.
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- The Invasion
- The first event occurred on April 15, 1961. Eight bombers left Nicaragua to explode Cuban airfields. The bombers missed many of their targets and left most of Castro's air force intact. Once news broke out of the invasion, photos of the deceptive repainted U.S. planes became public and revealed American involvement in the invasion. Following this President Kennedy decided to cancel the second air strike. On the 17th of April Cuban forces known as Brigade 2506 touched down on beaches throughout the Bay of Pigs and immediately suffered heavy fire. Cuban planes wiped the invaders, sank two escort ships, and decimated half of the exile's air support. That's not to mention the poor weather conditions which caused soldiers to work with wet equipment.
- The Counterattack
- Castro ordered around 20,000 troops to push forward toward the beach and the Cuban air force kept control of skies. Later President Kennedy commenced their to be an "air-umbrella" attack at dawn on April 19. It was then six unmarked American fighter planes launched for defensive aid. Unfortunately the B-26s arrived late and were shot down by Cubans forces and the invasion crumbled soon after. Almost 1,200 members of Brigade 2056 surrendered, and more than 100 were killed.
- Aftermath
- Prisoners remained in captivity for 20 months, as the United States attempted to find a deal withCastro. On December 23, 1962 a plane containing the firstgroup of prisoners who were freed landed in the United States. Later on the remaining brigade members came together for a gathering in Miami. It was here that the brigade's flag was given to President Kennedy. The devastation from the Bay of Pigs had a great impact on the reputation for Kennedy's administration. Determined to make up for the failed invasion, Kennedy initiated Operation Mongoose. This aimed to sabotage and destabilize the Cuban government and economy. The plan also featured the possible plan for an assassination of Castro. Relations between Castro's Cuba and the United States would continue to remain tense for the next 50 years.
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