One of Four Plaques on the Monument [D] - Photoscape Design - B.A. Gates

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November 10, 2011: April 17, 1961, became infamous as this was the day the Fuerza Aérea de Liberación launched aerial attacks against the Cuban mainland with eight Douglas B‑26 Invader aircraft, thus beginning the Bay of Pigs Invasion (La Batalla de Girón, as it is known in Cuba).

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Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > Restored B-26 Fighter-Bomber - Replica of the Aircraft used by the Liberation Air Force, Fuerza Aérea de Liberación and Monument dedicated to Pilots

The Douglas B-26 Invader was restored as ship No. 931. It was flown by Gustavo "Gus" Ponzoa with navigator Rafael Gárcia Pujol.

The Douglas A-26/B-26 bomber was the only American bomber to fly missions in three wars. After World War II, it served as a first-line bomber during the Korean War and during the Vietnam War. Douglas started the A-26 in 1941 to follow the A-20/DB-7 Havoc bomber.

Douglas built 2,503 A-26/B-26 Invaders. During production, a number of modifications were progressively introduced so that by 1948, the A-26 was one of the few wartime aircraft types still in service with the post-war U.S. Air Force. When the famous Martin B-26 Marauder retired and the Air Force deleted the designation "A" (for attack category), the Douglas Invader took on the B-26 designation.

Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > Restored B-26 Fighter-Bomber - Replica of the Aircraft used by the Liberation Air Force, Fuerza Aérea de Liberación and Monument dedicated to Pilots

The Douglas B-26 Invader was restored as ship No. 931. It was flown by Gustavo "Gus" Ponzoa with navigator Rafael Gárcia Pujol.

The Douglas A-26/B-26 bomber was the only American bomber to fly missions in three wars. After World War II, it served as a first-line bomber during the Korean War and during the Vietnam War. Douglas started the A-26 in 1941 to follow the A-20/DB-7 Havoc bomber.

Douglas built 2,503 A-26/B-26 Invaders. During production, a number of modifications were progressively introduced so that by 1948, the A-26 was one of the few wartime aircraft types still in service with the post-war U.S. Air Force. When the famous Martin B-26 Marauder retired and the Air Force deleted the designation "A" (for attack category), the Douglas Invader took on the B-26 designation.

Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > Monument dedicated to Pilots

The memorial is laid out along a representation of the Cuban flag - appearing to "wave" in the wind. On the star is a monument while on the blue and white stripes is a restored Douglas B-26 Invader.

Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > Monument dedicated to Pilots

The memorial is laid out along a representation of the Cuban flag - appearing to "wave" in the wind. On the star is a monument while on the blue and white stripes is a restored Douglas B-26 Invader.

Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > Monument dedicated to Pilots

The memorial is laid out along a representation of the Cuban flag - appearing to "wave" in the wind. On the star is a monument while on the blue and white stripes is a restored Douglas B-26 Invader.

Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > Monument dedicated to Pilots

The memorial is laid out along a representation of the Cuban flag - appearing to "wave" in the wind. On the star is a monument while on the blue and white stripes is a restored Douglas B-26 Invader.

Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > One of Four Plaques on the Monument

Brigade 2506 - Liberation Air Force - Pilot Heroes of the Air Battle - Bay of Pigs, Cuba

NOTE: Captain Lee Barker should read Captain Leo Barker. [D]

Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > One of Four Plaques on the Monument [D]

Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > One of Four Plaques on the Monument

In 1961, members of the Alabama Air National Guard (ANG) secretly took part in the Bay of Pigs invasion. Approximately 60 members of the Alabama Guard were involved, including four pilots and four enlisted crewmembers who flew four bombers (two per bomber) to support the invasion by U.S.-backed Cuban exiles. These eight Alabama guardsmen flew combat missions on the last day when the Cuban pilots were exhausted. [D]

Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > One of Four Plaques on the Monument

The plaque reads, "This monument is dedicated to honor the ten Cuban pilots of the 2506 Brigade "Liberation Air Force," and four American Central Intelligence Agency volunteer pilots, members of the 2506 Brigade, who perished during the air strikes and landings of the ill-fated invasion of the Bay of Pigs, Cuba, on April 17, 1961."

Flight operations for the attack were coordinated by the Central Intelligence Agency and the Alabama Air National Guard. A total of seventeen B-26 fighter-bombers were used in training and designated for the eventual implementation of the planned air strikes. However, due to political considerations, last minute orders from the White House reduced flight operations to a mimimaltask force of eight, which compromised the operation and resulted in its future.

The restored B-26 fighter-bomber displayed on this site is a replica of the aircraft used by the Liberation Air Force.

The Cuban Pilots Association joins the entire Cuban exile community in remembering those martyrs, who by falling in an honorable action left a wake of glory under the Cuban sky.

Their memory will help ensure that the exiled Cuban community, as well as its American allies, achieves and preserves the freedom for Cuba that they sought through the sacrifice of their lives."

Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > Restored B-26 Fighter-Bomber - Replica of the Aircraft used by the Liberation Air Force, Fuerza Aérea de Liberación and Photos of the 14 Pilots

The pilots from left to right are: Major Riley Shamburger, Captain Crispin Garcia, Captain Thomas W. Ray, Captain Osvaldo Piedra, Captain Leo Baker, Captain Raul Vianello, Captain Wade Gray, Captain Lorenzo Pérez-Lorenzo, Captain Eddy González, Captain Gastón Pérez, Captain Daniel Fernández Mon, Captain José A. Crespo, Captain José A. Fernández, and Captain Navel González Romero.

The Douglas B-26 Invader was restored as ship No. 931. It was flown by Gustavo "Gus" Ponzoa with navigator Rafael Gárcia Pujol.

The Douglas A-26/B-26 bomber was the only American bomber to fly missions in three wars. After World War II, it served as a first-line bomber during the Korean War and during the Vietnam War. Douglas started the A-26 in 1941 to follow the A-20/DB-7 Havoc bomber.

Douglas built 2,503 A-26/B-26 Invaders. During production, a number of modifications were progressively introduced so that by 1948, the A-26 was one of the few wartime aircraft types still in service with the post-war U.S. Air Force. When the famous Martin B-26 Marauder retired and the Air Force deleted the designation "A" (for attack category), the Douglas Invader took on the B-26 designation.

Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > Restored B-26 Fighter-Bomber - Replica of the Aircraft used by the Liberation Air Force, Fuerza Aérea de Liberación

The Douglas B-26 Invader was restored as ship No. 931. It was flown by Gustavo "Gus" Ponzoa with navigator Rafael Gárcia Pujol.

The Douglas A-26/B-26 bomber was the only American bomber to fly missions in three wars. After World War II, it served as a first-line bomber during the Korean War and during the Vietnam War. Douglas started the A-26 in 1941 to follow the A-20/DB-7 Havoc bomber.

Douglas built 2,503 A-26/B-26 Invaders. During production, a number of modifications were progressively introduced so that by 1948, the A-26 was one of the few wartime aircraft types still in service with the post-war U.S. Air Force. When the famous Martin B-26 Marauder retired and the Air Force deleted the designation "A" (for attack category), the Douglas Invader took on the B-26 designation.

The pilots in this photo are Captain Thomas W. Ray, Captain Osvaldo Piedra, Captain Leo Baker, Captain Raul Vianello,and Captain Wade Gray.

Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > Part of the Bay of Pigs Memorial

Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > Plaque above Photos of the Pilots [D]

Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > Plaque above Photos of the Pilots [D]

One of Four Plaques on the Monument [D]

Barb Gates (PhotoscapeDesign) > One of Four Plaques on the Monument [D]

One of Four Plaques on the Monument [D]

Camera: Canon (Canon Eos 40d) |

more details: exif |

original size: 3888px x 2592px |

Current: 600px x 400px |

Other sizes: S • Medium • L |

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Keywords: miami florida bay of pigs memorial

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