A daughter's 18 year search for her Cold War CIA pilot father at the Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba (247)

Aug 5, 2022

01:00:41

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Episode notes

In 1961, members of the Alabama Air National Guard secretly took part in the failed invasion of Cuba by U.S.-backed Cuban exiles known as the Bay of Pigs. This was a covert attempt by the United States to overthrow the Soviet-allied Cuban government of Fidel Castro.

Pete Ray was one of eight Alabama guardsmen who flew combat missions on April 19th 1961, which resulted in the deaths of Pete and three members of the Alabama unit. U.S. President John F. Kennedy later acknowledged America's involvement but denied that American military personnel had entered Cuban territory. It was not until 1987 did the U.S. revealed that eight ANG members had indeed flown into Cuban airspace.

We hear from Pete Ray’s daughter Janet, who tirelessly worked to find out the truth of what happened that day despite the best efforts of the CIA, the Cubans, and the US government to obstruct her investigations.

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I am delighted to welcome Janet Ray to our Cold War conversation…

Photos and videos here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode247/

0:00 Introduction to the podcast and the story of the Bay of Pigs invasion

2:32 Guest Introduction: Janet Ray, daughter of Pete Ray

4:22 Pete Ray's involvement in the Bay of Pigs invasion

9:34 Aftermath of the Bay of Pigs invasion and the government's cover-up

15:03 Impact of the mercenaries' deaths on their families

18:52 The fear and paranoia in the families following the Bay of Pigs invasion

22:55 Janet's investigation into her father's death and resistance from the CIA

31:58 Janet's interactions with the Bay of Pigs pilots and Fidel Castro

47:15 The truth about Pete Ray's death and the return of his body

55:58 Wrap up and closing comments by Ian Sanders