TESTIMONY OF EDWARD H. HINKLE
Originator: SSCIA
Document date: 08/11/1975
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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157-10011-10061

2022 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

Date: 09/30/93

Page: 1

JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM

IDENTIFICATION FORM

AGENCY INFORMATION

AGENCY : SSCIA

RECORD NUMBER : 157-10011-10061

RECORDS SERIES :

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

ORIGINATOR : SSCIA

FROM :

TO ::

TITLE :

TRANSCRIPT OF HEARING

DATE : 08/11/75

PAGES : 56

SUBJECTS :

TRANSCRIPT OF HEARING: WITNESS, HINKLE, EDWARD H.

EXHIBIT: CABLES

EXHIBIT: FOR I.G./FROM DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR OPERATION, SUBJ:

QUESTIONABLE ACTIVITIES (DATED JANUARY 17, 1975)

DOCUMENT TYPE : PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION : T

RESTRICTIONS : REFERRED

CURRENT STATUS : P

DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 09/29/93

OPENING CRITERIA :

COMMENTS:

SSCI Box 247, Folder 10

[R] - ITEM IS RESTRICTED

HH 50955

DocId: 32203829

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Phone (Area 202) 544-6000

WARD

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information before they heard from us and they do not reference

in here the Exhibit 4 which tells them to discontinue the

operation or to not pursue the matter.

This was apparently sent before they had received

Exhibit 4, and their contact in which they had, in which they

had discussed what could be done as a harassment during the

flight, they had discussed this prior to the receipt of our --

of my Exhibit 1.

Mr. Kelley. Does it appear to you that that cable,

Hinkle Exhibit 5, refers to an assassination or to harassment

and water ditching, and maybe making the trip abort, but

not kill anybody?

Mr. Hinkle.

That would be, that would appear to be

correct.

Mr. Kelley. You testified earlier that the station

in its two earlier cables, I believe Hinkle Exhibits 2 and 3,

did not, was not suggesting assassination or looking for

authority to assassinate?

Mr. Hinkle.

Reading Exhibits 2 and 3 at this point,

that is correct.

Mr. Kelley. And as Hinkle Exhibit No. 6 we will mark

a routing and record sheet, form 610 fromWill tams. Muray

dated January 17, 1975, to the Deputy Director for Operations

and the Inspector General, and attached to that is a memorandum

NW 50955 DocId: 82203829

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for the Inspector General, dated January 17th, 1975, through

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HINKLE EXN. #2

R700

COPY (Original Copy cannot be reproduced)

Date:

20 JUL E0

SECRET

TO

: DIRECTOR

FROM

: HAVARA

ACTION : CAVI? CUR MINKLE VA ISSUED TEMPO COPY 0010,

21 JULY)

INFO

:DC1, D/DGE, DO/P, COP, ADOP/A, C/FI, C/EE 3,

C/NE 3, C/SP. 3, C/HE 2, S/C 2

PRITY DIR TO PRITY

&CITE HAVE 5090

JUL 21 04332 60

PRIORITY

IN 27260

1. SPECIAL CHARTERED CUDANA AIRLINE FLIGHT PILOTED BY CAPT

RAUL MARTINEZ LEAVING HAVA APPROX 1500 HOURS 21 JULY O: FOLL

FLIGHT: HAVA TO CARGUEY TO GAS UP, THEN DIRECT TO SALTA MARIA

(AZORES) TO BRUSSELS TO PRAGUE. NO INFO O: WHETHER FLIGHT WILL

CONTINUE MOSCON TO PICK UP RAUL CASTRO RUZ OR WHETHER CASTRO PLANS

MEET PLANE PRAGUE.

2: VILMA ESPIN DEFINITELY ONE OF PASSENGERS. ORIGINAL PLANS

CALLED FOR 85 PASSENGERS BUT LOAD LIMITS DUE LARGE GAS LOAD MAKE

70 PASSENGERS MAXIMUM. FLIGHT CAPTAIN CARRYING U.S. $50,000 IN

CASH TO PAY FOR LANDING CHARGES, GAS ETC. ON TRIP. FLIGHT WILL

CONTINUE TO CAIRO, EGYPT AND THEN RETURN TO HABANA.

ANTICIPATED DURATION FLIGHT 10 DAYS.

3. IF HQS HAS ANY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RAUL MARTINEZ,

HAVA STATION CONTACT, HE CAN BE CONTACTED IN BRUS OR CAIR BY ANY

AMERICAN CASE OFFICER USING NAME MR. HOPE AND IDENTIFYING HIMSELF

AS A FRIEND OF

RAY. MARTINEZ SPEAKS FLUENT ENGLISH.

FOR

SARITIZED

APPROVED

CIA NISTORICAL

FILED 2027157.

OND OF MESSAGE

RECEIVED MOM

AUG 9 1975

HH 50955 DocId:32203829 Page 3

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C.I. BANNIS

A/DOP/A

4013

HINKLE EXI-#4

LAVANA

DIRECTOR

ADOP/A 1

cuF 2, COP jo i/mit in=10, SiC 11-12.

TOr SECRET

Aase

151

POUTIRES

HOUTINE;

PRIORITY

SEX PALATA:

.. — ..

-Tortias

HAVA

INFO

CITE DIR

-OUT 2207

10935

40755

AMBAST

REF: DIR 40923 (OUT 98941)

DO NOT PURSUE REF. WOULD LIKE IO DROP MATTER.

END OF MESSAGE

MECH

"y 7197.

APPROVED FOR RELEASE 1993

CIA HISTORICAL-REVIEW PROGRAM

AS SANITIZED

lic

27/1194

C. T. BARNES

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1' DATE &

¡ACTIONI

INFO

275

22 JULY 195D

DIRECTOR

HAVANA

CLASSIFIED MESSAGE

6LCRET

C/WH 7IWH CABLE DESK ISSUED TEMPO COPY AT 1445

22 JUL 60)

DCI, D/OCI, DOP, COP, ADDP/A, S/C 2

3

11.r=,

...

6

Ja 2l

43'80 -

REC'O CANE SECT

TO

OP IM DIR

DEST

INFO

OPERATIO VAL LIMEDIATE

IN

20071

CITE HAVA 5396

!...:

REFIEDA DIR 48923 (OUT 28941)*

18 HAVA 539Q (IN 27260) **

1. SUBU OF REF A CONTACTED BY STATION PRIOR TO DEPARTURE OF

FLIGHT. SUBJ WILLING TAKE CALCULATED RISK BUT LIMITED TO FOLL

POSSIBILITIES WHICH CAN PASS AS ACCIDENTAL: A. ENGINE BURNOUT

ON TAKEOFF TO DELAY OR HARRASS TRIP. B. VAGUE POISIBILITY WATER

DITCHING APPROX 3 HOURS OUT FROM CUBA.

1

2: SUBJ RULES OUT ENGINE FAILURE IN FLIGHT DUE IMMINENT DANGER

FIRE AND LACK OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE ANY PASSENGERS OR CREW. DOUBTS

ABILITY EFFECT PUNCTURE OF TIRE SINCE PLANE WILL BE UNDER GUARD.

DOUBTS ABILITY PERFORM REAL ACCIDENT WITHOUT ENDANGERING LIVES OF

ALL ON BOARD BUT WILLING ATTEMPT HARRASSHENT IF OPPORTUNITY PRESINE.

3. SUBU BELIEVES VIOLENCE LIKELY TAKE PLACE CUBA AFTER 2Ó JULY

AND ASKS ONLY THAT IN EVENT HE CAN MAKE INOPERATIVE THE PLANE

ABROAD THAT HE AND TWO OR THREE OTHER CREW MEMBERS BE PROVIDED

TICKETS FOR RETURN CUBA. HE BELIEVES THAT IF REAL TROUBLE BREAS

TOUTINAIN PASSENGERS AND OTHERS WILL REFUSE RETURN THUS

APPROVED FOR RE TAKAN

ASSURANCE HE CAN RETURN.

CIA HISTORICAL-REVIEW PROGRAM

AS SANDHILE

• S-E-C-R-E-T

Docta: 32203625OPYgEON BY OTHER THAN THE ISSUED GiRIS PROHIBITED.

27/1194

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SUBJECT: 1O prionall

vicaticnable ictivities

C/L/ Were

9:11.

TO:

(Officer designation, room number, and

building)

Da uly Director for

Characos 7225

2.

3

i.:

Insanctor General

4.

5.

Jewel File

6.

8.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

.. JUTING AND RECORD SHEET

EXTENSION

1597

DATE

OFFICER'S

INITIALS

RECEIVED

FORWARDED

HINKLE EXH. #6

NO.

DATE

17 January 1975

COMMENTS (Number

eoch

comment to show from whom

to whom.

Draw a line

across column oftes soch comment.)

3

421.

EASE 1993

CIA MISTOR/

M1-PET/EW PROC

KAN

1194

ORAA

1-62

610 USE PREVIOUS

EDITIONS

MW 00955

Docta: 32203829 Page

CONFIDENTIAL

discussie!

1111:

Dil whi

Suggested thit as

the overall subjert

dest with

dad a let pullin

Issued this addition

this

still

abortal case

Ail!

1vi

Herely lis

cli

your

INTERNAL

USE ONLY

UNCLASSIFIED

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,**

17 January 1375

MERORA DU: FOR: The Inspector General

SUBJECT

: Deputy Director for Operations

: Questionaole ictivities

1. In 1900 the writer develoned and meemited

• i Cubin national and a rarkin; Cubara sirline pilot.

requested an emerger:: martin" on l9 July ICiC "o

auvise th the curs the likel choice o lou a chartered Subana dartire

fliht fron luvana, buse to Prade to rick un Paul Cistro ms and nis

official mantr. On 20 July the Cuban

reportes shat the flicht. "o Fraue

for 2l July and this he would efiritnly rilet the circrift.

Headquarters id appropriate field suitions alone the fliht route tere

adviser: of ine flint sonerule; re uiremenis vere reques ..a.

On the morning of 21 July Headquarters cont. a TOP SEO-ST RYBiT

OPERTICAL DORDITE COOle COIRECTOR 40903 CUT 03011, ?l July 1000) to

the Havina it tion i visin' thit "rossible removal of top three leiders

is receivi: ¿ somous consideration at tendruartera" and requente! the

Station at ire ontin to contact the Cuban

-na dieter: ne his willinnesg

to coopera'e in arrantin an socident arine the roturn trin fron frame.

The cable sair that here cor ere muld be willine to ofire a nament after

successful conplation of 5l0, 000.ce or a reascradle mount in excoss ci that.

CrS ravana, instructe: the iriter to rest with

anu fare krown our interests. The writer contacte: the Cuban

arrangeri in oner enc: meetin which toil glace in the Cuban

vehicle while driving to the air ort. the Cuban

aid he woul take a

calculated risi out linitei the possibilities which coul: pass as in accident.

it one point the Cuban

aske: for assurance that in event of his death

the U.S. Covirnment vould spe that his to sons tere viren a Collare education.

This a surance mas given or.lly.

On returnin: on the station the iritor

was advised that an OPI! Cable (DI ECTOR 40965 nUT 9909e, 21 July l6O) had

been receiver at the Station directi.:: the Stalion to disr gard the earlier

instrustions.

5. The Cuban

was debriefed by the writer fter is return from

Prague.

He recorte: thè to had so o'ortunity to arrange an accident, sch

as ve had discussed

prior to nis departure.

I do not recil tel ing The

thit the original instructions hid been chance no

I am inclined

I fince no reference to the new instrictions nich her been receive:

J16N 5 1.975

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- 2-

after i the Cuban departure from Havana.

ó. The Cuben

dofected in girly Doon bar 1060. I saw hir once

In early tell In 11 ma,

Florinu were he in tien up residenee. I do

not inau je no oher sti inn ofricer vero Inotarcide of li je incident

Attached:

(?.)

(2)

DI:EOTCR 40923, 21 July 1950

DIRECTOR 40965, 21 July 1960

(3) HIVA 5396 (51 20071), 22 JUS

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1960 S:222r

19/5

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