◆ SpookStack

Cabezas and all other air traffic, except for Agency operated aircraft, would be completely prohibited. ~/ Somoza also was going to go so far as to make an announcement on 15 April that the activity which cer- tainly would be known to be taking place at Puerto Cabezas was in response to the threat of possible incursions from Costa Rica and the need to have the Nicaraguan military forces in a state of readiness. 63/ At the same time that this cover story was being dis- cussed with the representatives of the Nicaraguan Government, General Somoza was visiting TIDE and spoke with Colonels Hawkins and Gaines who were in Puerto Cabezas to give the final briefings prior to the be- ginning of operations; and Somoza raised the question of possible attacks by Castro's Air Force should any of his planes get off the ground. The Agency's repre- sentatives regarded this as a legitimate concern; and even though convinced that Castro's FAR (Fuerza Aerea Revolucionario) would be destroyed on the ground, they asked Headquarters to approach the US Navy about es- tablishing a radar· picket operation off the Nicaraguan coast to relay warnings of incoming Castro aircraft.