1/4/1961

“JAN 4, 1961: Senior CIA officials prepare a memorandum ‘to outline the status of preparations for the conduct of amphibious/airborne and tactical air operations against the Government of Cuba and to set forth certain requirements for policy decisions which must be reached and implemented if these operations are to be carried out.’ The concept of the plan is as follows: ‘the initial mission of the invasion force will be to seize and defend a small area …. There will be no early attempt to break out of the lodgment for further offensive operations unless and until there is a general uprising against the Castro regime or overt military intervention by United States forces has taken place. It is expected that these operations will precipitate a general uprising throughout Cuba and cause the revolt of large segments of the Cuban Army and. Militia…. If matters do not eventuate as predicted above, the lodgment ….can be used as the site for establishment of a…provisional government that can be recognized by the United States…The way will then be paved for United States military intervention aimed at pacification of Cuba, and this will result in the prompt overthrow of the Castro Government. Air strikes are seen as a crucial component of the invasion: ‘It is considered crucial that the Cuban air force and naval vessels capable of opposing the landing be knocked out or neutralized before amphibious shipping makes its final run into the beach.’”

“The Bay of Pigs Invasion/Playa Giron: A Chronology of Events,” The National Security Archive, NSArchive2.gwu.edu