◆ SpookStack

operation -- appears to have bee quite satisfactory. With the exception of one B-26 mishap in late March 1961, such other aircraft as were lost during the period of air operations out of JMADD were the result of damages suffered during the course of missions over Cuba; but no aircraft were lost, nor were deaths or injuries suffered by any of the crews. In one such instance a C-54 was forced to land at Kingston, Jamaica, and this "presented a problem in diplomatic relations between the US and Great Britian which was satisfactor- i1y resolved and the aircraft recovered. The C-54 had been badly shot up in an attempt to carry out three supply drops over the Escambray area, and according to Eduardo Ferrer, it had not only lost one engine, but also suffered numerous punctures in its fuel tanks and was rapidly losing fuel when it made the landing at Kingston. 74/ In other instances, B-26's made forced landings \ at the US Naval Air Station (NAS) at Boca Chica, Florida. This base, incidentally, was highly praised by one of the"DPD officers stationed in the area of Boca Chica who had responsibility for providing assistance to downed aircrews who might turn up at this NAS. 1 1 .