◆ SpookStack

the DDP in mid-July of 1960, Jake Esterline, in talking about the p~ogress that had been made to implement a training program for Cuban pilots, pointed out that JMARC had been given assurance by DOD that a total of 12 AD-5's would be made avail- able per requested schedule. The first four aircraft will be turned over between 10 and 15 August. Navy has agreed to sup- ply maintenance personnel, instructor pilots, and an administrative CO. These personnel, about 75 officers and men, will be placed under light civilian cover. Screening and recruiting of 20 Cuban pilots is currently in process at JMASH. 38/* It was perhaps wishful thinking on Esterline's part that the question of utilization of the AD-5 had been resolved. In a meeting of the Special Group on 21 July 1960, it became apparent that there were too many problems involved in obtaining permission to use this particular aircraft, not the least of which was its deniability as a US aircraft.** Despite the fact that the Australians, the British, and the French did have some incorporated into their Air Forces, none * JMASH was the crypt for the Forward Operations Base, Miami. ** The Special Group referred to the Designated Representatives under NSC 5412/2 charged with super- vising Special Operations. The group consisted of the Assistant Secretaries of State and Defense, the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs, the DCI, and the CIA secretariat/secretary. - 31 -