Bay of Pigs Invasion

Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 50: attempt to call local 'map' (a nil value). The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an attempt in 1961 (during the Cold War) to remove Fidel Castro from power in Cuba. The CIA trained Cuban exiles and these exiles launched an attack in a bay called the Bay of Pigs.

The invasion was a failure and most of the attackers were captured or killed. There were several conflicts that led to this; including a lack of promised air support and a change in where the landing was to be launched. This was one of many unsuccessful attempts by the CIA to rid Cuba of Castro. One interesting fact is that the plan was originally put in motion by Eisenhower, but the attack was ordered by John F. Kennedy who only found out about the plan after his election.

Bay Of Pigs Invasion Media

Cuban Army officer Huber Matos after his arrest, being transported to La Cabaña.
The ship La Coubre after exploding in the Havana harbor, 1960. Shortly after Castro would deem the explosion a result of American sabotage, worsening US-Cuba relations.
Nixon and Kennedy debating during the 1960 US Presidential election.
John F. Kennedy answered difficult questions on Cuba on 12 April, only five days before the invasion.
Douglas A-26 Invader "B-26" bomber aircraft disguised as a Cuban model
Cuban defectors practicing parachute drops
Bahia de Cochinos 1961
The SU-100 from which Fidel Castro reportedly shelled the freighter Houston during the morning of 17 April
Douglas A-4 Skyhawks from the USS Essex purportedly flying sorties over combat areas during the invasion – these aircraft show nationality markings, which sources say were removed for such sorties.
Robert F. Kennedy's Statement on Cuba and Neutrality Laws, 20 April 1961

Related pages

Cuban Missile Crisis

References

↑ Kellner 1989, pp. 69–70. "Historians give Guevara, who was director of instruction for Cuba's armed forces, a share of credit for the victory".
↑ Szulc (1986), p. 450. "The revolutionaries won because Castro's strategy was vastly superior to the Central Intelligence Agency's because the revolutionary morale was high and because Che Guevara as the head of the militia training program and Fernández as commander of the militia officers' school, had done so well in preparing 200,000 men and women for war."
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Szulc (1986)
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 FRUS X, documents 19, 24, 35, 245, 271.
↑ Quesada 2009.

This short article about the military can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.

[1] Kellner 1989, pp. 69–70. "Historians give Guevara, who was director of instruction for Cuba's armed forces, a share of credit for the victory".

[2] Szulc (1986), p. 450. "The revolutionaries won because Castro's strategy was vastly superior to the Central Intelligence Agency's because the revolutionary morale was high and because Che Guevara as the head of the militia training program and Fernández as commander of the militia officers' school, had done so well in preparing 200,000 men and women for war."

[szulc1986-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Szulc (1986)

[frusx-4] 4.0 ^4.1 FRUS X, documents 19, 24, 35, 245, 271.

[FOOTNOTEQuesada2009-5] Quesada 2009.