◆ SpookStack

with the supply drops. Both the Headquarters and field elements of DPD agreed on the need for improve- ment in such areas as the rapid transmission of agent reports on the effectiveness of the drops, particularly on such matters as time spent in the drop zone compared to brief instruction and the in and out routes over potential drop zones. On matters of improving the navigational training for the crews, there was no dis- putei nor was there any disagreement on" the suggestion that it would help some of the weaker Cuban air crews if Cuban instructor-pilots flew with such crews. DPD was not going to take full blame for the failure of the drop missions. While admitting the need to improve the quality of the air training program, Col. Beerli emphasized the need for better support from the recip- ient dissident groups in Cuba. DPD wanted better liqhting and identification of drop zones, elimination of blind drops, wider use made of beacons, and per- \ mission to make drops from higher altitudes. 73/ Although the question in Cuban crew discipline worried DPD throughout the course of the JMATE opera- tion, the performance of the Cuban trainees -- ex- eluding the initial disasters of the first month of - 146 - ~