◆ SpookStack

Less than an hour after the message was sent to Gar Teegan confirming the one hour CAP for 19 April, JCS sent a message to both Admiral Dennison, CI1~CLANT, and to Rear Admiral Clark, Command~ ing Officer of the Task' Group. This message ordered TG-81.8 to furnish six unmarked aircraft to protect the anti-Castro Cuban Air Force during the period from 0630-0730 local time, 19 April 19.61. The USN pilots were not to seek air combat, but were to play a purely de~ensive role guarding both B-26s and C-46s. ,!I The Task Group also was alerted to the possibility that the invading forces might need to be evacuated from Blue Beach, and Admiral Dennison ~ad an amphibious squadron in the area alerted to assist if such an effort were authorized. Again, however, there were restrictions on the extent to which the rescue opera- tions could be performed. At all costs, the US presence was to remain deniable! 51 At 1128Z t0628Rt on 19 April, a FLASH message to Puerto Cabezas from the Task Force (via CIA Headquarters) reported that the aircraft from the Essex had taken off, but if the testimony of Admiral Clark to the Taylor Committee is to be believed, this message from the Task Force failed to make any reference ~o the fact that the anti-Castro B-26s already had passed over the Essex at 05301 279 4