In the early morning of April 15, 1961, a squadron of U.S. B-26 bombers camouflaged with Cuban insignias begin bombarding airports in Cuba in raids that would last for two days, destroying a large portion of the Cuban air force. 

Additional airstrikes to completely wipe out the air capabilities of Cuba are denied by Kennedy, to ensure the U.S. connection to the attacks remain secret, while world support already is beginning to swing strongly in favour of Cuban defense. On April 16, shortly before midnight, U.S. frogmen land on Cuba's beaches in the Bay of Pigs and set up landing lights to guide the coming invasion.

Thus began Playa Giron the invasion of Cuba that became known internationally as the Bay of Pigs – April 15 2013 marks the 52nd anniversary of the Cuban peoples defeat of this US sponsored invasion.

Below are links to a range of background articles on Playa Giron and on the sidebars  more in depth backgrounder; the Full Story and the Chronology  

 Hasta la Victoria siempre 

Eisenhower tramples right to travel to Cuba 

The CIA Nostra poison

The CIA Nostra 

Roa’s dramatic return

Diplomacy in the Bay of Pigs

50th Anniversary of the Bay of Pigs

Masetti's kidnapping 

The war on Cuba tormented Hemingway

The Dulles Brothers, architects of the Invasion 

Richard M. Nixon, one of the initiators of the war against the Cuban Revolution