CIA ops01 - April 17th, 1961 The Bay of Pigs.
First in a series of fictional CIA operations.
Install: Because of the different varibles in this adventure, part of it must be manually installed. However, it is quite easy if you just follow the instructions in Install.txt.
Preface:
The CIA basically was an off-shoot of the OSS of WW2. It was established by Harry Truman in Jan. of 1946 and officially came into being in Sept. of 1947, appropriately, at the same time as the USAF. The CIA has a long and interesting history of covert operations involving aircraft. Some interesting reading is about the "Air America" operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict. When Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba, the United States government was extremely uncomfortable with having a communist neighbor so close to our shore. The Bay of Pigs invasion was designed to overthrow Castro with the appearance of non-intervention by the US. Cuban ex-patriots were trained in Guatamala for an invasion on Cuba's southern shore. It was hoped that the invasion would be the beginning of an inssurection in Cuba which failed to happen, resulting in a complete disaster and an international black-eye for the United States. In this fictional adventure, we leave Miami International airport before dawn, on the day of the invasion. Our mission is to drop arms and supplies for the invading forces and the insurgents. Flown correctly and as intended this adventure is quite exciting and requires considerable flying skills. Remember that in 1961 there was no GPS. The first sattellites had barely been launched into orbit. So to fly faithful to the times, do not use the GPS and do not use the map (as it shows your aircraft position). We will complete this mission with dead reckoning and the simple ADF radios available in the DC-3. It is dark, wet and a low ceiling, and there is some higher terrain...pay attention to your flying. Unfortunately, you've never been to Cuba....well, except that one gambling junket to Havana with Al Pacino.......
Mission:
Start-up: Miami International
Check your fuel...you have about 633 miles of flying to do, if you dont get lost. Plus reserves. If you have to land in Cuba you are going to get shot or thrown in prison.
Load the plane with the pilot, co-pilot and 6000 lbs of crates and parachutes. You might be slightly over gross.
Set the altimeter....you will be flying close to the deck!
Your true magnetic heading after leaving Miami is 184 deg. There is about 8 mph of wind from the east..so compensate.
(Headings, distances and frequencies available in briefing on kneeboard; push F10)
After you are well out of the Miami area, it is advisable to fly as close to the water as possible to stay under the Cuban radar. Turn off your recognisance lights to decrease visability.
From Miami you have 194 nm to your first drop. As soon as you establish a departure time, caculate the required flight time to the drop. Ground personnel will light a large signal fire in anticipation of your arrival. Turn on and blink your landing lights and circle the fire at least once before dropping your first load (press letter "I" on keyboard to drop the cargo chutes). Turn off your lights, ADJUST YOUR WEIGHT by 2000 lbs. and continue south 24 miles to the Cienfuegos NDB. Stay as low as you can and avoid the ground, or if you have to fly higher, get up in the clouds to avoid detection. Cienfuegos NDB is 212.0 freq. When you cross it, you are near the coast. Turn immediately to a heading of 278* and keep your altitude low. The second drop is 41 nm from the CienFuegos NDB. The signal fire is at the north end of the Bay of Pigs. Obviously, if you miss this drop, the mission is a failure. You know the drill...lights, circle and drop. ADJUST YOUR WEIGHT by 2000 lbs. Fly back to the Cienfuegos NDB, tune in USR (315.0)and fly 105* for 92.5 nm. As you cross USR, immediately turn to 161* for 11 nm to the third drop. (Lights, Circle and Drop). ADJUST WEIGHT after the drop! You've done your job, now all you have to do is make it to the safety of Guantanamo Bay NAS before the sun comes up, and you're spotted by the Cubans. At this point you might want to put on a little altitude...there's higher terrain in route, and no sense getting hit by ground fire at this point! But stay in the clouds to avoid detection.
From the 3rd drop to Git-mo you're 222 nm at 120 degrees. Now that wind is hitting your nose.....aren't you glad you've been conserving fuel? You can follow your ADF, UBY (268.0), UCU (339.0). Turn the lights on before you get to Guantanamo....remember you are disquised as a Cuban airline! Tower at 134.10. Happy landings, you've made a name for yorself on your first mission with the CIA.
