JFK Assassination System Date: 6/4/2015 Identification Form a SS is there AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER : RECORD SERIES : AGENCY FILE NUMBER: Agency Information FBI 124-10278-10434 HQ ; & 97-4474-116 SL “A ORIGINATOR : FROM: TO: TITLE: DATE: ‘PAGES: SUBJECTS: DOCUMENT TYPE : CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : Document Information FBI SAC, MM DIRECTOR, FBI 05/21/1964 10° MIRR, MEMBERS, ASSOC, PLAN, MIL ACT, LAS VILLAS PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT Unclassified 4 Redact 06/29/1998 INDEFINITE . INC LHM v9.1 ; DoclId: 32301599 Page 1 4l
“Date: 5/21/64 (Type in plain text or code) 7 REGISTERED MAIL TO; DIRECTOR, FBI (97-4474) ) “ : - | Kets, Abt FROM: SAC, “MIAMI (105-2855) (P ) lee “ WF, € IAs hol adtuned <3 £& 1°Z is Spee SUBJECT: <MOVIMIENTO INSURRECIONAL DE. “RECUPERACION REVOLUCTONARIA (MIRR) IS'- CUBA; NM 1 | DECLASSIFIED 8Y leeds oo iD. 00: Miami on 1-1-9... (IEK). Ss Re Miami airtel to Bureau, 5/12/64, and Miami teletypes to Bureau, 5/12, 13, 15 and 20/64. Enclosed are 12 copies of a letterhead memorandum (LHM) dated and captioned as above. Copies are also being furnished locally to State Department, Co-Ordinator of Cuban Affairs, Border Patrol, Coast Guard, G-2, OSI, Customs (Miami and Region II), INS, FAA, ONT and CIA, ee oe ys ee ra ) Pe y ies i o This communication is classified "Confidential" to | sis protect a source of continuing value. We om a BY —s Siu = _ MM T-1 is EVELIO ALPIZAR PEREZ, Cuban pilot. « ted i 916s 3 The Miami Office has immediately notified Mr. STANLEY SCHACHTER of U. S. Customs, Miami, of all pertinent 1 { Fy Gi developments and is maintaining close liaison with Mr. SCHACHTER. Mr. SCHACHTER has advised that U. S./Customs is taking immediate appropriate investigative action and surveillance action as to stop this raid and seize contraband. Miami: will maintain close contact with ALPIZAR and close liaison with Customs and ; ortinent Gevelopments 6 Ce . ; OO Bureau (Ene ae) : Heth ne 2 - Miami @ MAY 25 1964 A. (1 - 105- co CASTRO ‘Activi es) Copy to: CLA/State/Raer 4 15 Div pe al hs sf Conn’ yorr GED :mgw eteceeaserncvecesigg” ~\ toi ge of a | \ | Docld:32301599 Page 2
7 robe of, yet d a 2 Fern oe jo. oe : é Fs UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ‘yUSTICE “FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION In Reply, Please Refer to ny adc , Miami, Florida me , May 21, 1964 prec oee Sy vo L Gu 7 bh des @t—~MOVIMIENTO INSURRECIONAL DE. OD RELEASE | fe PLL RECUPERACION REVOLUCIONARIA. (MIRR) | RELEAS ASE ms PART CE] TOTAL DEMAS INTERNAL SECURITY - CUBA; BUTRALITY MATTERS Previous investigation has reflected that the Movimiento Insurrecional de Recuperacion Revolucionaria (MIRR)‘As an anti-Castro organization of Cuban exiles eadqu rtered in Miami under the leadership of Dr. Orlando. [/a i tosch/Avila, _ On May 11, 1964, MM T-1, a Cuban exile who eer Pe Vis ’rivéndly to some of Bosch's close associates, furnished Ck baie Of information reflecting that Bosch had drawn up plans for a in | joint sea and air raid designed to sink the "Las Villas", a 300 foot Cuban freighter which was scheduled to have’ recently departed Marseilles, France, for Havana, Cuba, with a load of heavy equipment such as railroad stock or buses. . Bosch planned to have this attack take place off the coast of South Florida, utilizing a Bertram's. ‘speedboat equipped with a: homemade torpedo and an airplane _ which would drop napalm during a. co-ordinated attack on. the "Las Villas". | Current Developments On May 12, 1964, Mr,:§tanley Schachter, U. S. Ela. Customs, Miami, Florida, advised it hatpbeen verified through investigation that.one .Theodore ler\ made arrange- ments on May 11, 1964, with Bertram's Boatyard, Miami, to obtain rental of a Bertram 25 foot: speedboat at 8:00 A. M. on May 12, 1964. Through subsequent surveillance by U. S. Customs this speedboat, bearing Registration FL~3696,. was - St, TNTORMATTON COMTATNED CONFEIDENTIAR ™ v 5 oy . : . DoclId: 32301599 Page 3
Re: MIRR determined to be on the night of May 13, 1964, at Lake orth, Palm Beach, Florida, a short distance south of the Lake Worth Inlet which connects the Inland Waterway with the Atlantic Ocean. Mr. Schachter advised that. two men were obsérved on boar this speedboat, one of whom had _ been identified as Orlando amirez, who, according to MM T-1, is the MIRR bomb éxpert. | Fla. On May 12, 1964, Mr. Schachter also advised that . as a result of investigation and surveillance by U. Sc): Customs in the neighborhood of: a house located near N. W, 29th Avenue and 9th Street, Miami, it was determined that On the night of May'11, 1964, some unidentified Cubans. left this residence, went to a boat house located near Miami International Airport on a lake and returned to the Same residence later’ that night with a homemade torpedo _in’a car=drawn trailer. This torpedo was seized by U. S. Customs agents on the morning of May . 12, 1964 as Dr. Orlando Bosch Avila and one Mesa, a Cuban, were transporting it by car trailer from the house located on N. W. 29th - ~ Avenue to the Coconut Grove area of Miami. Mr. Schachter: es described this torpedo as being about nine feet long,.about two feet in diameter and constructed from a modified airplane wing tank. ‘This torpedo had an outboard propeller and on _ top an adapter for a radio antenna, which appeared to be Part of the mechanism intended to make it operable by — . : electronic directional control. ‘It. also contained an. ‘ electric motor, battery operated. The nose of the torpedo ~ ; _ Contained space for explosives but it was not loaded.. | | On May 12, 1964, MM T-1 advised that the MIRR Planned to use several walkie-talkie units to maintain Communications between the Bertram speedboat, the attacking _ airplane and ground personnel for this operation. He |. _ identified ‘the walkie-talkie as a Cadre Model C-75. It was determined that these units transmit on 27.085 megacycles and receive on 27.54 megacycles. > So SO oo, : | On May 14, 1964, MM T-1 reported that the MIRR now plans to use a floating explosive mine as a substitute Do, for the torpedo which was seized by U. S. Customs. He said 1 this mine had been ‘transported to Palm Beach so that the — ; _ Bertram speedboat could plant this mine in the direct path of the. "Las Villas" in connection with the planned attack . | on this vessel. ° ee | GONFEDENTEAL | 72 - = | = 7 | |} DocId: 32301599 Page 4
| Re: MIRR MM T-1 stated that Evelio Alpizar’ Perez had ~~ been making dai y flights ‘in a Cessna airplane from Miami .to the Palm Beach aréa, surveilling the sea lanes off ‘the coast of South Florida in order to locate the "Las Villas". MM T-1 anticipated, “however, that these flights would be*. — discontinued temporarily as the MIRR had received informa-. ' tion reflecting that the "Las Villas" would not arrive off _ the coast of South Florida util later in the week. Soe On May 15, 1964, Mr. Schachter advised that U.S. Customs had ascertained through appropriate channels that the "Las Villas" departed Marseilles, France, on May 4 , 1964, and passed. the Rock of Gibraltar on May 9, 1964, destined directly to Havana. On the basis Of the reported _ a speed of the "Las Villas" as being ten miles.per hour it) | Pogete was anticipated that the "Las Villas" would arrive. off . _ the Florida coast about May 22, 1964. : {On May 18, 1964, MM T-1 advised that. Bosch had ae instructed that aerial surveillance flights to locate the {+ "Las Villas" be discontinued temporarily and that Bosch had ‘@léered his plans to include a daily look-out by boat in the vicinity of Fowey Rock Lighthouse, which is located. at sea about 11 miles ‘southeast of Miami. MM T-1 said that ; Captain Franciscofiernandes ernandez, who was skipper of CE ‘the "Ebb Tide" during the unsticcessful December 28, 1963 _ “ , . MIRR sea’ - air raid, is in charge of the look-out boat. . Hernandez will conduct this surveillance daily in the _ vicinity of Fowey Rock in order to spot the "Las Villas" | as it proceeds south toward Havana. Upon locating the yiy “Las Villas", Hernandez is scheduled to notify. by radio ' yo the other participants so that the air - sea raid can be conducted as originally planned. i. , On May 18, 1964, Mr. Schachter advised that the 7 Bertram speedboat, mentioned previously, had been returned _ , ‘to Miami on May 16, 1964 and is presently under surveillance by U. S. Customs in Biscayne Bay. It was also determined’ by U. S. Customs that rental of this boat had been continued for an additional week. " ; ... This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is-the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; _it and its contents are not _to be distributed outside your agency. | . CONFEDENETAL, . - 3 = . H . ; _ a : TT Docld:32301599 Page 5
; . re . * 7 y nn, is “| UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF~JUSTICE:  . ” FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION | ° , "In Reply, Please Rafer to 00 4 4 FONa ; 4!) REVIEWED BY 2vJFK TASK FORCE Miami, Florida May 21, 1964 “ON: esha dab aes —wovimrmero INSURRECIONAL DE 3 ODP-RELEASE IN'FULL OS RECUPERACION REVOLUCIONARIA . : tes TL RELEASE IN PART ~ " TTERNAL SECURITY ~ CUBA; © L ff: TOTAL DENIAL SUTRALITY MATTERS = ne Previous investigation has reflected that the _ ' +. Movimiento Insurrecional de Recuperacion Revolucionaria _ - (MIRR) is an anti-Castro organization of Cuban exiles rere oe _.. headquartered in Miami under the leadership of Dr. Orlando... en ae _ Bosch Avila. On May 11, 1964, mM T-1, a Cuban exile who =: .. - _. is friendly ta some of Bosch's close associates, furnished © 9°» :". _ information reflecting that Bosch had drawn up plans for'ao:. - . joint sea and air raid designed to sink the "Las Villas", =. a 300 foot Cuban freighter which was scheduled to have’ .— -recently departed Marseilles, France, for Havana, Cuba, with a load of heavy equipment such as railroad stock or buses. Bosch planned to have this attack take place off the coast of South Florida, utilizing a Bertram’s. 0 2") speedboat equipped with a&-homemade torpedo and an airplane...» ne which would drop napalm during a co-ordinated attack on er a the "Las Villas", ne i Se Pf Current Developments a re - ' On May i2, 1964, Mr,.§tanley Schachter, U. S. Customs, Miami, Florida, advised it had been verified —. eh through investigation that:one Theodore Fuller made arrange= ~ | ments on May 11, 1964, with.Bertram's Boatyard, Miami, to’) 9... 0... ° obtain rental of a Bertram 25 foot speedboat at’ 8:00 A. On May 12, 1964. Through subsequent surveillance by'U. S.: °°” Customs this speedboat, bearing Registration FL-3696,;was-- Sons ieee LE athens heat Facet hoe te tiled SE, >» DECLASSIFIED BY B FCDA: hoa | DocId: 32301599 Page 6
‘Re: MIRR | be “determined to be on the night of. May 13, 1964, at Lake _» Worth, Palm Beach, Florida, a short distance south of the Lake Worth Inlet which connects the Inland Waterway with the Atlantic Ocean. Mr. Schachter advised. that two. men were observed on board this speedboat, one of whom had _ been-identified as Orlando Ramirez, who, according to MM T-1, is the MIRR bomb expert. . . ' On ‘May 12, 1964, Mr. Schachter also advised that | 7 | .a8 a result of investigation and surveillance by U. 8. . oe ' Customs in the neighborhood of: a house located near 'N. W. . 29th Avenue and 9th Street, Miami, it was determined that . On the night of May 11, 1964, some unidentified Cubans. - *.. Left this residence, went toa boat house located near Miami International Airport on a lake and returned to the. “Same residence later that night with a homemade torpedo _in’a car-drawn trailer. This torpedo was seized by U. ‘Ss. at hag pk. .. Customs agents on the morning of May 12, 1964 as Dr.” pope et Orlando Bosch Avila and one Mesa, a Cuban, were transporting: 3 . it by car trailer from the house located on N. We. 29th" Ao Ad - Avenue to the Coconut Grove area of Miami. Mr. Schachter’ ae _ described this torpedo as being about nine feet long, about ey . ‘» two feet in diameter. and constructed from a modified airplane. :. wing tank. This torpedo had an outboard propeller. ‘and on. ~-. top an adapter for a radio antenna, which: appeared to be eas : part of the mechanism intended to make it operable by | a '. electronic directional control. It also contained an | a rn "electric motor, battery operated. The nose of the torpedo eo (contained space for explosives but it was not loaded.: MON ale SIR A a a gg items epee CS ae Baas ved On May 12, 1964, MM. T-1 advised that the MIRR So .. planned to use several walkie-talkie units to maintain © os | _. communications between the Bertram speedboat, the attacking a Oo airplane and ground personnel for this operation. He a “identified the walkie-talkie as a Cadre Model C-75. It was determined that these units’ transmit on 27.085 megacycles ; and receive on 27. 54 megacycles.. mo On May 14, 1964, MM Tol reported that the MIRR '- mow plans to use a floating explosive mine as.a substitute . Pe | : for the torpedo which was seized by U. S. Customs. He sald: 0 . this mine had been transported to Palm Beach so'that. the SS _ Bertram’ speedboat could plant this mine in the direct path | a  . of the "Las: Villas" in connection with the Phaaned, attack: . on this vessel. | : a vee ; ; “= 7 " nt ne oF pein I fe 3 i { 1 4 { t i i \ 1 | { A vit a 4 i 3 a rete encer se { . | DocId: 32301599 Page 7
. Ret MIRR » ce . Mii T-1 stated that Evelio Alpizar Perez had ° os. been making daily flights in a Céssna airplane from Miami . .to the Palm Beach aréa, surveilling the sea lanes off the : '... . coast of South Florida in ordér to locate the "Las Villas", a MM T-1 anticipated, however, that these flights would be: ... , discontinued temporarily as the MIRR had received informa-. 1, tion reflecting that the "Las Villas" would not arrive off. _.' the coast of South Florida util later in the week... = |: coe __. On May 15, 1964, Mr. Schachter advised that U. Si. -. Customs had ascertained through appropriate channels that :. the “Las Villas" departed Marseilles, France, on May 4, — -. »  1964,. and passed the Rock of Gibraltar on May 9, 1964, -.. destined direc'tly to Havana: On the basis of the reported : .. Speed of the "Las Villas" as being ten miles..per hour it - -. / Was anticipated that the "Las Villas" would arrive off | . the Florida coast about May 22, 1964, — : 7 ‘On May 18, 1964, MM T-1 advised that Bosch had. ° . instructed that aerial surveillance flights to locate the ..' . "Las Villas" be discontinued temporariy and that Bosch had -  -@itered his plans to include a daily look-out by boat in | | the vicinity of Fowey Rock Lighthouse, which is located as fxn Tsetse se satin ste ees nian etna i tebe main a ahd neath D cael te Selb haematite aiken Sn Ea AT cee eens atte wtb eee te ic ted oad tan : : BT la A eR the "Ebb Tide". during the unsuccessful December. 28, 1963 » _ ov, MIRR sea.~ air raid, is in charge of the look-out boat. on .... Hernandez will conduct this surveillance daily in the - , °° wieinity of Fowey Rock in order to spot the "Las. Villas" Hom oo ag it. proceeds south toward Havana. Upon locating the . “Las Villas", Hernandez is scheduled to notify by radio pone: the other participants so that the air - sea raid can be ';. conducted as originally planned. ae On May 18, 1964, Mr. Schachter advised that the '. Bertram speedboat, mentioned previously, had been returned “to Miami on May 16, 1964 and is presently under surveillance . by U. S. Customs in Biscayne Bay. \It was also determined ‘f i ad i nh q 24 ‘for an additional week. - This document. contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI _ at sea about 11 miles southeast of Miami. MM T-1 said that “0 > Captain Francisco Hernandez Fernandez, who was skipper of). °¥: cE by U. S. Customs that rental of this boat had been continued... ot hae and is. loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not - i _.to be distributed outside your agency. her ne 4  CONPEDENTIAL | | DocId: 32301599 Page @