Trest

Wings of Denial

By Warren Trest and Don Dodd New South Books 2001 120 Pages

Wings of Denial is a chronicle of the Alabama Air National Guard's role in the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, which occurred 40 years ago last month.

The book focuses on a story buried in secrecy and overcome by future events, including President John F. Kennedy's assassination, the Berlin Crisis and the Vietnam Conflict, leaving the failed invasion almost forgotten. But the book also notes an interesting detail, which was the reason for the Air Guard's involvement in the first place: old aircraft, particularly timely as modernized aircraft continue to top the list of urgent needs in both the Army and Air National Guard.

After developing a plan to overthrow Cuban dictator Fidel Castro without appearing to be involved, the Central Intelligence Agency decided the best way was to use the same plane flown in Castro's fleet: the World War II-era B26 medium bomber. And the only place it could be found after its retirement from the active Air Force was in the Alabama Air National Guard. The Americans disguised the bomber with Cuban markings so it would seem his own forces were turning on him.

The Alabama volunteers were solicited and sworn to secrecy. Cuban exiles in "Brigade 2506" flew the American aircraft non-stop for three days until the Alabama Guardsmen relieved them. Guardsmen shot down and captured what would be considered mercenaries. The U.S. government would not acknowledge it was involved.

A Cuban T-33 Fighter shot down two B-26 bombers during missions flown by the Guardsmen. The bodies of two Guardsmen were lost in the invasion; one thought to be Cuban, was buried in a mass grave; and another was frozen for 17 years until it was returned to his daughter.

Wings of Denial brings to light the valiant sacrifices of the Alabama Air Guardsmen, who died trying to remove Castro from power.

Copyright National Guard Association of the United States May 2001
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved