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it was written off at that point, no matter where the location was, whether it was JMTRAV or JMADD or what have you I recollect that we received approval to write off anything once it was issued out of Headquarters to one of the opera- tional training areas or the launch base. In other words, not when it was consumed ... but upon issue. 33/ B. Acquisition of Aircraft One of the most time consuming activities of Project JMATE from June through September of 1960 concerned the acquisition of combat aircraft. From the initiation of the Project, it was apparent that combat aircraft would be a major factor to the success of the developing anti-Castro effort. In addition to the use of standard transports -- C-46, C-47, or C-54's -- for supply drops ,prop drops, .infil, and exfil, there was need for aircraft that could conduct tactical ~ strikes on Cuban targets with a variety of ordnance. The choice of air~raft was to be limited by plausible deniabilitYi and, consequently the choice was quickly narrowed to one of two Douglas models -- the Navy's AD-5 or the Air Force's B-26 light bomber. Prior to DPD's formal involvement in the Project, sentiment in WH/4 was running strongly in favor of the use of the AD-5. In fact in his progress report to - 30 - •