480-10410-10124 AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER : RECORD SERIES : AGENCY FILE NUMBER : ORIGINATOR : FROM: TO: TITLE: DATE: PAGES: SUBJECTS : DOCUMENT TYPE: CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : v9.1 HW 50955 DBocld: 32763529 JFK Assassination System Identification Form Agency Information HSCA 180-10110-10124 SECURITY CLASSIFIED FILES 155-JFK Document Information HSCA 08/22/1978 2 CIA, ADMINISTRATION SUMMARY Unclassified 1A Redact 06/13/1997 Box 5. Page i Date: 10/21/20
HY O95 45 Interview of Doug Gupton, 8/22/78. Douglas Gupton was interviewed by Dan Hardway and Gaeton Fonzi. at 9245 AM at CIA Headquarters at Langley. He was shown the letter of release (omnibus) and stated that he understood it. . Mr. Gubton said that he was born on 5/9/29 and that he is currently retired and living in Mr. Gupton stated that he was an operations officer of the CIA in _ 1963 assigned to either the Covert Action division or the -desk. Mr. Gupton said that he left Miami in mid 1961, one or two months after tne Bay of Pigs. Mr. Gupton.stated that he subsequently worked on the Covert Action Guidance staff which provided support for CA projects. He stated that Mexico City CA projects would habe been reviewed by the CA Guidance Staff. Mr. Gupton served with the CIA from 12/51 to 6/30/78. Prior to 1960 Gupton worked in . He stated that he did not know Joseph B. Smith or Frank Fiorini Sturgis. He did know E. Howard Hunt. ‘Mr. Gupton stated that he was in charge of propoganda operations in. the JMWAVE station. He said that he was often meeting Cuban agents directly and that he also had a couple of Case Officers wou worked for him. He provided guidance for those C0Q/s. He pointed out that his efforts were limited to propoganda. Mr. Gupton stated that he was not involved in radio Swan at all; that operation was handled directly out of Washington by David Phillips. Gupton stated that Roberto Espin did not work on Radio Swan but that he.did do radio propoganda for a cousin of Raul Castro's wife. _ These were commercial broadcasts from Miami on Agency purchased time. Mr. Gupton said that he gave Espin "general guidance" but gave him pretty much free reign otherwise. Mr. Guptonustated that he communicated with Dave Phillips, his boss in Washington, by telephone and cable. He said that Phillips visited Miami quite often. Mr. Gupton said that his relationship with his Case Officers was informal. He said that he would discuss: things with them rather than exercise formal leadership. Mr. Gupton was asked about the control the CO's exercised over the various Cuban groups. Gupton said that there was a mutuality of interest and that the exiles had a good respect for the U.S. and realized that we were their only nope for the future. Gupton added that most of the exiles were sincere patriots. Mr. Gupton recalled the DRE and stated that he often met with the leader of that group. He could not recall having met Salvat but does remember hearing of him. Gupton said that he was personnally in contact with dozens of Cubans ranging from representatives in media, labor, students, women, politics, etc. Mr. Gupton said that with some of the CUbans he had daily contact. . He said he was im contact with Espin on the average of three times a week. Gupton said that he did not coordinate nis operations with Hunt whom he met occassionally but more with Bender. a! . Docld:32263529 Page 2?
HY O95 45 Alpha 66. Gupton-2 - ooze Gupton does not recall either Hunt or Phillips ever using the name "Knight"... Gupton stated that he never met agents together with Phillips and that he does not recall hearing Phillips use any name other. than his | own. Gupton did discuss his problems with Phillips but more often with the Chief of Station.whom he thinks was Bob Reynolds. Gupton said that his main concern was to keep Phillips informed and that he tried to solve his problems - himself. - Gupton said that he did not work with San Jenis. -Gupton stated that Ross Crozier was one of the Case officers who worked for him. He said that he saw Crozier daily. He does not remember that Crozier handled the DRE. He said that he would know what Crozier was doing in general but not in detail. He said that there were periods when Crozier would disappear for several days. Gupton said that he was aware of the leaflet drops over Cuba after they had occured. He was not involved in the operation which Phillips had ran out of Washington. Mr. Gupton pointed out that. not all the propoganda was coordinated in that Phillips did a lot of things on his own out of Washing- ton that he did not let Gupton in on. Gupton stated that he had never met Pedro Diaz Lanz. Gupton stated that there were two sets of operations. His operations were ran out of Miami and he kept Phillips informed. Phillips ran a second set of seperate operations personnally out of Washington and he did not keep Gupton briefed on these operations. Gupton said that. the FRD also ran independent propoganda operations. Gupton stated that Phillips used many of his old contacts from Havanna in his personal operations during the Bay of Pigs. He said that one of these people was Luis Conte~Aguera. _Gupton:said that Phillips did not.do his trouble shooting for him and he does not recall Phillips ever using the name Maurice Bishop. When confronted generally with Crozier's story Gupton said "Well, maybe I did. I don't remember." Gupton said that the sketch of Bishop did not look like anyone he knew. He said that he had never heard the name Bishop in Miami. He does not know Paul Bethel but remembers the name. He does not know Companda. .He did not meat Ted Shackly until he became chief of the Division. He said that the name Salvador Diaz Verson was familiar and also that of Jerry Buchanon but he does not remember that they were ever used by the Agency. Gupton did state.that Hal Hendrix was a friend of Phillips. Gupton said that Phillips met him in Havanna and that Phillips ' often used him to place articles in the Miami News. Mr. Gupton stated that he had never heard of Celluma Fantasma.or Gupton stated that he did not know Max Lesnick. Docld:32263529 Page 3