RE: EJERCITO CUBANO ANTICOMMUNISTA - INTERNAL SECURITY CUBA - REGISTRATION ACT - CUBA; NEUTRALITY MATTER.
Originator: FBI
From: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Document date: 04/10/1963
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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104-10221-10220

2023 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

CNITEN STATES DEPAKTMENT OF SUSTICE

MADMAL ACREAL OF INVESTIGATIÓN

DeA 34524

In Arplo, Plaano lefor 10

File Na

Miami, Florida

. APR 1 0 1563

CONFIDENTIAL

EJERCITO CUBANO ANTICOMUNISTA

(FRENTE ESCABRAY)

(CUBAN ANTI-COMUNIST ARMY)

(ESCAMBRAY FRONT) ;

INTERNAL SECURITY - CUBA;

REGISTRATION ACT - CUBA;

NZUTRALITY MATTER.

On April 4, 1963, MS I-L, who has furnlahed ro-

11ablo Inforestion in the past, obtained Information from

a sourco who is Involved with Amorican criminal elements

In Now. York and Miami, who obtained Information from an

unknown source, whose rellability 1s unknown, but who 10

1n a position to furnish sona information concerniaz chia

201-243256.

It was reported that in the lato evening hours of

April 3, 1903, Frank Anthony Sturgis, also known a3 Prank

Florint's control. Florint continued that an infiltra-

t1on alsolor was planned by Florini and Evello Duque (matro-

nynic, naue unknown), viorein Duque and his men would infiltrate

into Cubs to crgage in guerrilla activittes against the Cubar

CONZIDENTIAL

GROUP 1

Excluded from automatic

doungrading and

declassifiestion.

261-2422,56

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CONPIDENTLAL

RE: EJE-CITO CUBANO ANTICOMUNISIA

covernient, and Florini would later supply them by ali-

plese from the United States.

Duque was described as a

Cuban calle residing in Miaul, Florida, who 18 active 1n

eati-Castro activitias.

and made the arrangemonce with

the orner, Alexander I: Rorke, Jx., free lance newspaper

Eas, who has been periodically Involved in Cuban revolu-

ticazzy declvities.

Rorke agreed to allow Fiorini use of

the bout 1f, In return, Rorke's organization, U. S. Freedom

Pightera, would receive credit for any succoss accomplished

by 210r1ni:

Later, this boat was soved to Marco, Plorida,

on the Gulf of licxico side a lorida.

Thereaftcr; Rocke

changed his aind and wanted the boat back, but Florial

clalaed he did not know where the boat was, or where it had

zone.

¿one tiro later, the "flolyn III" and another large

cout left tho Florida arca.

After tho "Violya III" left frou somewhere on tha

Host Count of rlorida,

Frank Plorini, along with airplane

pilot Bill johnson

and Jerry Bucharan, an Anerican adventurer,

zanted a small boat and wet the "Violyn III" and the othor

lange boat at sea.

The small boat loaded on to the two lar-

fer boats gasoline and food. Jerry Buchanan, at that time,

CONFIDEATIAL

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CONFIDENTIAL

RE: EJERCITO: CUBANO ANTICOMUNISIA

boarde. the "Violyn III." The two largor boats then

departed for an unknown destination.

Florlal and Johnson

Icturned to florida in the suall boat.

11 T-2, a confidential source abroad, on March 307

11963,

advieed that Frank Florin, Bill Johnson, and Jose Maria

Gonzalez Hernandez, a Cuban radio operator and technician,

arrived in Nassau

on March 29; 1963, and stayed at the Pilot

Heuse Hotel.

Tho following day, March 30, 1963, these three

porsons rented a plane and flew to Horman Key.

That sane day,

Britich authoritles arrested then, and on the evening of

that day pút thou on a commercial atriing for Mlaut, Plorida:

On Apill 3, 1963, MI1 T-3, who has furniched sellable

Infoication In the past, obtained sone Information from an

untested aource with contacts in the Bahanas, who obtained

Inforcation. from an unidentified person.

He adviaed that it

was Icported that soveral hours aftee Plorint was arrested

01 Norman Key, British suthorities in tie Bahamas stopped and

tuarded the "Violyn III" und arrested sone thirteen Cubans

and jocry Buchanan who were aboard.

Co Apr11 4, 1963, M1 T-3 advlsed that the British

cuthorities released the "Violya III" and the crew, and 10-

ceructed them to proceed

the other boat which

arigtually seconanted tha "yolyn III," maad of this boat

unknown, escaped and was being sought by the Brilsh and the

United States Coast Guard.

CONFIDENTIAL

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CONFIDENTIAL

RE: EJERCITO CUBANO ANTICOMUNISIA

On April 4, 1963, Florint reportedly claimed that

ho had been in radio contact with the above-mentioned uniden-

tifled boat, and it was tied up at an island in the Bahamas,

exact location of which was not disclosed. The boat was re-

portedly camouflaged

and heard the U. S. Coast Guard planes

flying above in an effort to locate 1t. Florini claimed he

could supply this unidentified boat with fuel and food, 1f

Icquested by this boat, and that he had available an Aero-

Comander airplane In Miami and two fast powerboats lacated

somcuhere north of Miami.

It was not known what manner of

radio comrunication was used by Florint to contact the un-

identified boat.

On April 4, 1963, local newspaper, radio stations

and tolevision stations in Miaul, Florida, reported that the

"Violyn III" had deparced from Nassau and was croute to

Miant with a U.S. Coast Guard escort.

Miani Attorney Charles

R. Ashmann wide press announcements that the crew of the "vio-

Zyn III" would not return to the

Urited States.

In the carly morning hours of April. 5, 1963, NL! T-3

advisod that Aghmann clained the "Violyn III" would rendez-

vous with the other unidentified boat and would completo its

Infiltzation mission to Cuba.

On April 5, 1963, M I-4, a representative of another

Goverment agency, advised that on

the afcernoon of April 4,

1953, the "Violyn ILI'' left Nassau, Bahamas, on a general course

for the United States, and at that date wag

at the north tip of

CONFIDENTIAL

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DBA 37829

CONEIDENTIAL

RE: EJERCITO CUBANO ANTIÇOMUNISTA

Andros Island in the Bahamas. Because the "Vialyn III"

was in shallow water, the U. S. Coast Guard discontinued

its surveillance of the "Violyn III" by boat, and the sur-

veillence was taken over by U. S. Coast Guard aircraft.

At about 8:20 'P.M., the 'Violyn III" turned off its running

lights and had not

been seen by the Coast Guard since that

tima.

Mi1 I-4 Icported that there 1s a Sigma-type Cuban

fishing boat whiah was stopped near Williams Key off the

coast of indrews Island on April 5, 1963. Ml I-4 said this

Signa boat was

possibly the boat that was supposed to rendez-

vous with the "vlolynn III" for an infiltration mission 1n-

There is an airplane landing strip at Willlams Key.

which could not be used because someone had placed a great

quaatity of rocks and driftwood on the runway.

On April S, 1963, Mr. Chester A. Wolsh, Chief,

Investigations Branch, Immigration and Naturalization Service,

lani, advised that the "Violyn III" had just arrived at the

seawall, Key Biscayne, Miami:

The Cubans aboard were to be

taken by. INS authorities to INS detention facility at Opa

Locka, Florida, where interviewa were to be conducted, and

ony nitc. States citizens on board vere to be taken by INS

authorities to INS Headquarters in Maul, where these 1nd1-

viduals would be interviewed for any possible violations of

Federal law concerning U. S. passport regulations.

Property of FBI - Ihis document is loaned to you by

thic MI, and neither it nor its contents are to be distributed

outside the agency to which loaned.

CONFIDENTIAL

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"Din37e2

UNITED STATES DEPANTMENT OF JUSTICE

FEDERAL

BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

In Reply, Plaise Refro 10

File Na

2P

WAONINGTON IS DC.

April 8, 1963

MICROFILMED

ANTI-CASTRO ACTIVITIES

APR 1 8 1963

The "VIolyn III," a boat utilized by lood, bra. sEB

Anticommunist Army, Escambray Front, In Its anti-Castro

activitles, was recently captured by British authorities

together with a number of anti-Castro raiders.

The boat

and the anti-Castro raiders hare subsequently returned to

Miami, Florida.

In this connection an informant who has furnished

rellable information in the past on April 4, 1963, advised

that during the previous evening

Frank inthony Sturgls, who

1s more commonly known as Frank Florint, a former Castro

supporter and an American soldier of fortune who has been

engaged in anti-Castro endeavors since his break with the

Castro regime,

stated that until recently the "Violyn III"

had been located

Evello Dugue, leader of the Cuban Anticommunist Army, Escambray

Front, whereby duque and his men would infiltrate into Cuba

and would later be supplied by Florini by plane from the

United States.

Florini stated he had arranged with Alexander I.

Rorke, Jr., a free-lance newspaperman who has been involved

In anti-Castro activitles, for the use of the "Violyn 1Il."

this boat but stated that he

wanted his organisation, the l. S. Freedon fighters, to

recelve some of the credit for any successes achleved.

Korke subsequently changed his mind and wanted the boat back

but Florint claimed that it had departed and that he did not

know where it was.

il

019-9-9/

CS COPY

901-347256

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[WA 37875

iNTI-CASTRO ACTIVITIES

Sometime later the "VIolyn Ill"endanother boat

Theft the florida area. On the day of the departure of these

vessels, Florini, B11l. Johnson, a pilot, and Jerry Buchanan,

an adventurer, rented a small. boat and made a rendezvous with

the other two boats at sea.

Buchanan transferred to one of

these two vessels and gasoline and food supplies. which had

been on the small boat were loaded aberd these two vessels.

Florini and Juhnson then returned to Florida in the rented

boat and the other two continued on their way.

901-251842

201-25/812

Subsequently Florin1, Johnson and Jose Marla

#Gonzalez Hernandez, a Cuban radio operator, proceeded to

Nassau, Bahamas, rented a plane and flew to Norman Key in

the Bahamas.

Immediately thereafter this group was arrested

by British authoritles who sent them back to Miani, Florida.

Several hours after Florini was arrested on Norman Key, the

British

stopped and boarded the "Violyn III" and arrested

Buchanan and a number of Cubans who were aboard.

On

Spril 4, 1963, thu Britlsh released the "Violyn III" and its

crew with instructions that they should proceed to Miami.

The other boat escaped.

ridi cannered Hang. Corns bany

caped any they tho

On April 4, 1963, Florini claimed he had been in

radio contact with the boat that had escaped and that it was

then docked at an island in the Bahemas. Florini did not

disclose the exact location of the boat but clained he could

supply it with tood and fuel if requested and that he had an

altplane and two fast power boats

available in the Miant area.

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