◆ SpookStack

a ae 2 ee a Supplies for Castro 25. In another case 1,600 pounds of food and materiel were dropped blind (in the dark of the moon) on each of four hilltops to a group which was known to be in such a precarious position thet it was not able to stay in place long enough to lay out a drop zone. Again, the Castro‘forces got most of the load. 26. In still another, DPD told Guatemala that turns were allowed if the plane was not lined up on the initial rm over the drop zone. .The agents reported that the plane passed over twice without dropping and that this alerted the Castro army to attack the resistance group and to disperse it. 27. Once two planes were sent over the drop zone half an hour apart and allowed to make two passes each. Not surprisingly, 200 militia searched the area the next day and seized the cargo. The drop altitude for another operation was set at 4,000 feet. . The pilot reported he had hit the drop zone fram 3,500 feet, even though unable to recognize the marker, but there is evidence that the enemy got at least half the drop. 28. One aircraft received heavy fire and was damaged. Its crew thus learned the hard way that dropping leaflets first had helped to alert the area and recommended that in the future the cargo be dropped first. Miami Base pointed out to Headquarters that it was a mistake to drop heavy weapons before a group had a known capability of using them or had specifically requested then. - 106 -