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Tor SECRET crews for both resupply and combat.* The air opera- tions were the subject of considerable discussion. Concerning the possibility of launching air strikes for three days before the invading force landed, Willauer objected, pointing out that this would give the OAS ample time to get involved in the act. Wil- lauer then raised the question of whether all of the tactical bombing could be done on D-Day. The answer to that from Col. Hawkins was "no," but Hawkins said that it could be done on D-2, if permission were given for dawn airstrikes to take out Castro's air force and military targets, with additional sorties during the course of D-l and follow-up raids on D-Day prior to the landings. Moreover, Hawkins pointed out that if an attempt were made to withhold the airstrikes until D-Day, the Castro air force would have an op- portunity to attack the ships which would be carrying the invasion troops. In a similar manner, a strong case was made for the use of the Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua air base to * Hawkins wanted "pilots wh6 can work over key targets without tearing up installations we will later need." - 180 - TOP SECRET