◆ SpookStack

with Capt. Quintana of the· Nicaraguan Gardia Nacional riding in one of the B-26's as an observer. On 4-5 April, 17 sorties were planned for the First Pilots of the B-26's, with the pilots to ride in both the left and the right seats of the airGraft. The ordnance load for these sorties was to be two 500 pound bombs, four 200 pound fragmentation bombs, four rockets, and 800 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition. 97/* With the move to TIDE, it was not only the B-26 pilots who went into advanced training -- the C-46 pilots, too, were immediately engaged in upgrading their skills and improving their techniques. According to Eddy Ferrer, the Cuban pilots also spent their time assisting the ground crews in aircraft maintenance and arming bombs and rockets -- the ordnance activities being conducted under the supervision of the armorers. Insofar as Ferrer was concerned, it appeared that the living conditions for the air crews at JMTIDE were an improvement over the situation at JMADD. The * Interestingly enough, "five sorties on live bomb range (5 Apr 61] cancelled due lack Nicaraguan mark- ings." 98/ The paint shortage which had been raised with Heaaquarters was no joke! - 164 -