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from USAF intelligence.* Before the end of the year, it was known that the T-33 jets were armed with two .50 caliber machine guns; and, in addition, on the last day of 1960, one source had reported that FAR was in the process of equipping the T-33's with two additional .50 caliber guns. 115/** The question of knowledgeability about the .arma- ment or the lack of armament on the Castro T-33's was a subject of some misunderstanding during the Taylor Committee investigations ordered by President Kennedy following the failure at the Bay of Pigs. Col. Stanley Beerli, in testifying before the group, said that the FAR B-26's were the primary concern of the JMATE planners and that the capability of the T-33's had been underestimated because it was believed that they were unarmed. 116/ In discussing the subject with the author, Gar Thorsrud, Chief of Air Operations at the time of the invasion, however, pointed out that there * As nearly as can be discovered from the records, however, nothing in particular was said about the USAF's statement that they had reports that the T-33's had been designated an interceptor role in FAR. 114/ ** No such armament was installed at the time of the invasion. - 88 -