The Frozen Body of An American Pilot Was Used As Evidence After The Bay of Pigs Invasion

In 1961, during the ill-fated Bay of Pigs Invasion, the United States quietly sent members of the Alabama Air National Guard on a covert mission to support the attack. The involvement of American forces in Cuba was cloaked in secrecy and conducted unofficially.

The botched invasion turned into a major debacle for the CIA, especially following the reveal of Lt. Thomas "Pete" Ray's remains. For years, the US government refused to acknowledge or retrieve the airman's body, which only increased the infamy of the incident.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

In 1961, the US orchestrated and funded an invasion on Cuba's southwestern coast, assigning the task to Cuban exiles. The original strategy included air and naval backing to secure the operation's success. However, when the 1,500-strong force arrived, they found minimal support. As the news of the invasion reached the world, US President John F. Kennedy decided to limit air support.

To hide its involvement, the US government used elaborate tactics, such as repainting American aircraft in Cuban colors to spark confusion. The invaders and pilots received training from American military forces and the CIA . To counter the Cuban Air Force, which flew Douglas B-26 Invaders, the same type of aircraft was selected for the mission.

By 1961, the aging bombers from the 1940s were only in use by the Alabama Air National Guard, and pilots from this unit were chosen to train and oversee the invaders. However, they were specifically prohibited from participating in any active missions.

Lt. Thomas "Pete" Ray was shot down

Lt. Thomas Ray of the Alabama Air National Guard was shot down while piloting a B-26 Invader during the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The aircraft was hit by Cuban anti-aircraft fire shortly after attacking Fidel Castro 's field headquarters. In similar attacks, they dropped napalm onto targets below.

Although US pilots were originally prohibited from participating in the invasion, the CIA reluctantly allowed them to fly after the situation became more desperate.

According to the Los Angeles Times , the agency reinforced the secrecy of the operation to the airmen: "Cannot attach sufficient importance to fact that American crews must not fall into enemy hands. In the event this happens, despite all precautions, crews must state [they are] hired mercenaries, fighting communism, etc.; U.S. will deny any knowledge."

The CIA continued to deny their involvement

After landing, Thomas Ray and his flight engineer, Leo Baker, were intercepted by Cuban soldiers and shot. Ray's body was then recovered and preserved on ice. Although the United States denied any involvement in the attack, Castro was aware that the CIA was responsible. He aimed to definitively demonstrate US involvement, and Ray's body was the most compelling proof.

Despite this, the US remained resolute. The CIA persistently denied any connection and refused to return Ray's body. To his family and friends, the air national guardsman seemed to have disappeared without any explanation, unaware that the government knew precisely what had occurred.

Lt. Thomas "Pete" Ray's body is returned to the United States

If the CIA wanted to repatriate Thomas Ray's body, it would have to admit American involvement in the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Even the Cubans were confused by the government's cold treatment of the deceased.

Following his disappearance, Ray's wife began trying to find some answers about his death, which were being held secret by those associated with the Alabama Air Guard. A number of rumors have circulated since about the CIA's bullying of those who refused to let the topic die. One mentioned in the Los Angeles Times article details how the agency threatened to institutionalize Ray's wife if she continued searching for answers.

Ray's daughter tried to recover his body

In 1979, Cuba became aware that Ray's daughter, Janet Ray Weininger, was trying to recover her father's body. As a result, his body was returned to the US. It was also around this time that the CIA privately informed Weininger that Ray had participated in the Bay of Pigs Invasion and had actually been awarded the agency's highest award: the Distinguished Intelligence Cross.

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Despite Thomas Ray's body having been returned and Weininger receiving her much-sought after answers, the CIA still refused to publicly confirm the airman's involvement in the Bay of Pigs Invasion until 1998, when additional media pressure was applied. In addition to this, it was revealed the agency had also set up a fake company to pay the families of the deceased pilots a regular sum of money, and even funded their children's post-secondary education.

As this information was finally public knowledge, Ray's name was finally added to the Book of Honor in the foyer of the CIA's headquarters.