In 1961, during the Bay of Pigs Invasion, the United States secretly sent members of the Alabama Air National Guard on a covert mission to assist with the operation. The presence of American forces in Cuba was kept hidden and conducted without official recognition.
The failure of the invasion led to controversy surrounding the CIA, especially after the remains of Lt. Thomas “Pete” Ray were found. The U.S. government denied his involvement for years and delayed the recovery of his body, which only added to the infamy of the incident.
Bay of Pigs Invasion
In 1961, the United States planned and financed an invasion of Cuba’s southwestern coast, assigning the task to Cuban exiles. The operation was initially designed with air and naval support to ensure its success. However, when the 1,500 troops landed, they found little support. As the invasion gained international attention, U.S. President John F. Kennedy chose to restrict air support.
To conceal its involvement, the U.S. employed several strategies, including repainting American aircraft in Cuban colors to create confusion. Both the invaders and pilots had received training from U.S. military personnel and the CIA. In response to the Cuban Air Force, which flew Douglas B-26 Invaders, the same aircraft model was selected for the operation.
By 1961, these aging bombers, dating back to the 1940s, were only in service with the Alabama Air National Guard, and pilots from this unit were chosen to train and oversee the Invaders. However, they were expressly forbidden from participating in active combat missions.
Lt. Thomas “Pete” Ray was shot down
Lt. Thomas Ray of the Alabama Air National Guard was shot down while piloting a B-26 Invader during the Bay of Pigs Invasion. His plane was hit by Cuban anti-aircraft fire shortly after attacking Fidel Castro‘s field headquarters. In similar operations, napalm was dropped on the intended targets below.
Although U.S. pilots were initially prohibited from participating in the invasion, the CIA reluctantly gave their approval as the situation grew more desperate.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the agency emphasized the importance of secrecy to the airmen: “Cannot attach sufficient importance to fact that American crews must not fall into enemy hands. In the event this happens, despite all precautions, crews must state [they are] hired mercenaries, fighting communism, etc.; U.S. will deny any knowledge.”
The CIA continued to deny their involvement
Upon landing, Thomas Ray and his flight engineer, Leo Baker, were intercepted and shot by Cuban soldiers. Ray’s body was later recovered and preserved on ice. While the United States denied any involvement in the incident, Castro acknowledged the CIA’s responsibility and sought to conclusively demonstrate US involvement, using Ray’s body as the most compelling evidence.
Despite this, the US remained steadfast. The CIA continued to deny any connection and refused to return his body. To his family and friends, the air national guardsman appeared to have vanished without a trace, unaware the government was fully informed about what had happened to him.
Lt. Thomas “Pete” Ray’s body is returned to the United States
If the CIA wanted to repatriate Thomas Ray’s body, it would have to admit American involvement in the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Even the Cubans were confused by the government’s cold treatment of the deceased.
Following his disappearance, Ray’s wife began trying to find some answers about his death, which were being held secret by those associated with the Alabama Air Guard. A number of rumors have circulated since about the CIA’s bullying of those who refused to let the topic die. One mentioned in the Los Angeles Times article details how the agency threatened to institutionalize Ray’s wife if she continued searching for answers.
Ray’s daughter tried to recover his body
In 1979, Cuba became aware that Ray’s daughter, Janet Ray Weininger, was trying to recover her father’s body. As a result, his body was returned to the US. It was also around this time that the CIA privately informed Weininger that Ray had participated in the Bay of Pigs Invasion and had actually been awarded the agency’s highest award: the Distinguished Intelligence Cross.
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Despite Thomas Ray’s body having been returned and Weininger receiving her much-sought after answers, the CIA still refused to publicly confirm the airman’s involvement in the Bay of Pigs Invasion until 1998, when additional media pressure was applied. In addition to this, it was revealed the agency had also set up a fake company to pay the families of the deceased pilots a regular sum of money, and even funded their children’s post-secondary education.
As this information was finally public knowledge, Ray’s name was finally added to the Book of Honor in the foyer of the CIA’s headquarters.
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