Monday-Wednesday, April 17-19, 1961: Bay of Pigs

A U.S.-sponsored attempt to topple the government of Cuban leader Fidel Castro fails. An invasion force of some 1,400 Cuban exiles -- trained and financed by the CIA -- goes ashore at the Bay of Pigs. They are routed by government forces. The U.S. had hoped that the operation would spark an uprising against Castro (at lower right in photo); that, too, never takes hold.

* Summary (from americanheritage.com): @

* Summary (from Miami Herald): @

* Summary (from Kennedy library): @

* Summary (from the book "Disasters, Accidents, and Crises in American History"): @

* Letter from Khrushchev to Kennedy (April 18): @

* Letter from Kennedy to Khrushchev (April 18): @

* "Invasion at Bay of Pigs" (from historyofcuba.com): @

* "Assault Brigade 2506 and the Bay of Pigs" (from military.com): @

* "Inspector General's Survey of the Cuban Operation" (from CIA, October 1961): @

* "Official History of the Bay of Pigs Operation" (from CIA): @

* Government documents, April 17-19; start at "106 through 120": @

(from "Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961-1963 -- Volume X, Cuba, 1961-1962")

* Other links to relevant documents: @

* More from National Security Archive: @

* More from cuban-exile.com: @

* "Cuba and the United States: A Chronological History": @

* "Rebels Invade Castro's Cuba:" (newsreel, from britishpathe.com): @

* "Aftermath of the Cuban Episode" (newsreel, from britishpathe.com): @

* Battle footage (from criticalpast.com): @

* Photos (from life.com): @

* New York Times (April 18): Front page @ and article @

* Front page of San Francisco Chronicle (April 20): @

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