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Bay of Pigs
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President Eisenhower approves program
President Eisenhower approves the program to invade Cuba. The CIA set up training camps to begin training soldiers for guerilla warfare. José Miró Cardona was picked to lead the soldiers invading Cuba and take over the country after invasion. -
The secret got out.
Word got around about the preperations for invasion. Castro learned about the plans for invasion as early as the beginning of October. -
Kennedy Authorizes operation
President Kennedy authorizes the invasion. -
"Bombing" of Cuban Airfields
Eight bombers coming from Nicaragua targeted Cuban airfields. They missed many of their targets in the bombing attempt. They used B-26 bombers that were painted to look like Cuban planes to bomb the air field. -
Brigade 2506 began invading Cuba.
Brigade 2506 launched their attack on the beach of Playa Girón, consisting of about 1,400 men. The brigade was working in sloppy conditions and took many losses. -
The Counterattack
Castro ordered 20,000 troops to move to the beach to counter the invasion. -
Kennedy authorized an "Air Umbrella"
Six unmarked fighter planes took off to attemt to help the invasion but were shot down before they could reach the beach. -
Brigade 2506 surrendered
The brigade surrend. 100 men were killed, roughly 1,200 surrendered, and the rest escaped at sea or unnacounted for. They were held captive for 20 months and eventually traded for baby food and medicine. The invasion is considered to be one of the biggest failures of the Kennedy administration. -
Sources
"The Bay of Pigs." - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2014.
