PHOTO OPERATION TARGETED AGAINST THE CUBAN CONSULATE
Agency: CIA
Originator: CIA
From: MEMO FOR RECORD
To: WITHHELD
Document date: 01/01/0000
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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Date: 12/08/04

JEK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM

IDENTIFICATION

FORM

AGENCY INFORMATION

AGENCY : CIA

RECORD NUMBER: 104-10246-10027

RECORD SERIES: JEK

AGENCY FILE NUMBER

: 80T01357A

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

Released under the John

assassination Records

collection act of 1992

144 USC 2107 Notel.

Case#:NU 53217 Date:

06-21-2017

AGENCY ORIGINATOR : CIA

FROM

WITHHELD

TO : MEMO FOR RECORD

TITLE : PHOTO OPERATION

DATE

TARGETED AGAINST THE CUBAN CONSULATE

: 01/01/1900

PAGES : 8

SUBJECTS : CUBA

PULSE CAMERA

DOCUMENT TYPE

CLASSIFICATION

RESTRICTIONS

DATE OF LAST REVIEW

COMMENTS

:10/13/93

JFK31: F6: 1993.10.13.13:34:20:840022: DRAFT MEMO

[R] - ITEM IS RESTRICTED

104-10246-10027

WH 53217, DocId: 32371757

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Memo for Record

Subject: LIONION Photo Operation targeted against the Cuban Consulate

From: RSG

SUMMARY

camera

Available records show that the VIS-2, an automatic triggering device,

in process of

waspeing installed at the LIONION basehouse on 27 Sept. 63. This device

was to be used with the K-100 16mm movie camera or the Robot Star 35mm

These systems were

still camera. It was aimed at the gate of the Cuban Consulate. The first

test pictures were sent to Hegaquarters at attachments to HMMA-22433 on

7 Hovember 1963. One of the attachments, (A), shows the VIS-2 coverage of

the Consulate gate. Obvious in this photo is a sign indicating the hours'

of the Consulate (for visas). The hours are 10-2, Monday through Friday. The date

test phate wras

taken is unknown.

A later monthly report for 1-31 December 1963, (HMMA-22726), discusses the

installation of a SEQUENCE camera on 17 Deember 1963 with hours of operation

against the Consulate of 0900 to 1400,

office hours of the Consulate)

Subsequent monthly reports confirm that the SEQUENCE camera was indeed

the Pulse Camera. Saxension oohaurs The record, then, shows :

A. The Pulse Camera was installed, for the first time,

on 17 December 1963.

B. No coverage of the Consulate existed prior to 27 Sept. 1963

inst the sin the mom no bot stop systems wee being

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DISCUSSION

HSCA Researchers, Dan Hardway and Ed Lopez, reviewed Agency files on

the following dates:

26 May 1978

22 June 1978

5 July 1978

20 July 1978

21 July 1978

This files contain materials cited in the SUMMARY, including sample

photos of the Consulate gate using the K-100 and Robot Starr systhes

triggered by the VIS-2 taken during a teet period. These systems are

resultant

readily identifiable by nature of the prints. The K-100 is 16mm format

and is so marked on the reverse side of the print (although misidentified

as Attachement A to HMMA-22433 when it should have been Attachment B).

The Robot Star is 35 mm format. Kithesboth None of these prints,

which were sent to Headquarters as test resalts on 7 November 1963, has the

distinctive mark of the Pulse Camera in the lower left corner. The Bulse

Camera recorded a time/date image in the lower left corner from an internal

Accutron movement. This can be seen in a sample picture sent to Headquarters

i mart tie

on 22 June 1965](HMMA-26414), entitled Details of LIONION Pulse Camera

Operation. This report confirms, too, that the Pulse Camera did not begin

operation until "mid-December 1963."

8XIA66XXK

INFERENCES

concludes from Duran testimany that

The Warren Commission record assuems Oswald visited the Cuban Consulate

surrestime after

upen arriving in Mexico City on the korning of 27 September 1963. That

same morning, across the street at LIERODE basehouse, the new trigger device

and K-100/Robot Star systems were in provess of being installed. If the installation

were to have gone smoothly, the systems may have been tested against the

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supposed

target at the very moment when Oswald super is ascuned to have appeared. However,

the reocra of that monnings efforts shows that the K-100 had a malfunctioning

part which had to be re-machined. Sneethe Geneulate slased it 1400, there.

is confirmed to have visited the Consulate between 1600 and 1630. Since he

appeared after normal hours of the photo operation, which terminated at the

published Consulate closing time of 1400, the Ikelihood of having a photo

on that visel

of hintis remote. Even if such coverage were to have occured during morning

testing and when Oswald was onty aesung to have been at the Consulate,

suprayed

the record does not-show ange That

visit

Assuming that LIONION-I began work on Monday morning, 30 September 1963 at

normal hours and started to operate the new K-100 and Robot Star systems against

the Consulate gate for test purposes as he was instructed to do (HMMA-22307),

the test photos sent to Heaaquarters may have been the result. The None of

these individuals appears to be Oswald. The Warren Commission concludes, too,

that Oswald only visited the Consulate on 27 and 28 September. 28 Spptember

is a Saturday. The Consulate is closed (according the to the posted sign).

The LIONION aparatinxenkoups basehoude only operated Mondays thyouh Friday

.Д.X.1.k

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It is possible that

this installation, begun in the morning, may have taken

well into the afternoon to complete becaused (1) this was a new installation

and

in a new room of the basehouse (2) the technicians experienced problems with

on the target

the equipment. The ultimate set-up would have been testedlwhen it was complete.

But the Consulate officially closed at 1400 hours, alter which there would

have been few, if any, targets (at the gate) for test purposes! It may have

been likely, then, that the instalation, when completed, was not tested

against actlal (and avalable) targets until the opening of business, Monday

morning, 30 September. Oswald is not known to have visited the Consulate

Saturday

afterf28 September.

No photo coverage was the ald with thats site died not

operate on Saturdays...

Silva-Duran's testimony indicates that Oswald visited the Consulate twice

on Friday, 27 Septenter: in the morning when she directed-him to the Soviet

Consulate;

in hhe afternoon (4 pm) when she telephoned the Soviet Consulate

and

when the Cuban Counsel, Azque argued with Oswald. The "morning visity which

vas Oswald's first contact with the luban consulate seula hidaynave occured!

during official office hours,

10-2. This is strengthened by the fact the

he was again at the Consulate, after business hours, at 4 pm. If he had not

visited earlier during normal business

hours, he eottle have been rebuffed

breturn

on Minderg

at the 4 pm visit

with the suggestion that he come during business hours? He

was not rebuffed

,. from which I suggest that hep therefore, visited the

Consulate before 2 pm. and, mostly likely, during the very houss that the

technocians were in process of setting up the new installation in LENÖION

across the street.

I conclude that the f probablity of having taken a photo of Oswald during

his visit(s) to the Cuban Consulate on 27 Sept. 1963 is remote.

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SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The files reveal the following supplemental information:

A. LITAMIL 7, LITAMIL 9/ penetrations of the Cuban Embassy,

were aware of and assisted in the production of LIONION.

ASCA researchers have reviewed this item.

had access to

B. LIONION I and 2 were terminated 1/11/72. The termination

report assumed that they were wither douhled of their

operation was being monitored.

HSCA researchers have had access to this item.

C. LIONION 1 and 2 intended to resettle in Madrid on 1 Sept. 72.

HSCA researchers have had access to this item.

D. 70 volumes (5 packages) of LIONION production from late 61

through December 1960 were sent to Record Center, 12 Aug. 69

to Headquarters with a recommendation that they be forwarded

to Records Center for retention of 10 years from date of

information. (thus, the earlier production may have been

destroyed!)

This item is HMMA-37684. Unknown if HSCA has seen.

as Enclosure 3, HMMA-2200J

or HMMA-22881 unknown to undersigned.

Unknown if HSCA has seen.

F. Photos taken using Pulse Camera were sent to Headquarters

as EMMA-22836, 31 Jan, 64. Location of photos unknown. to undersigned.

Unknown if

HSCA has seen.

G. Pulse CAmera removed for reconditioning during May 64.

H. All equipment removed from LIONION basehouse on 26-27 Sept. 64

for 6-8 weeks

as precaution after release of Warren Commission

Report.

I. LIONION basehouse partially reactivated, 25 Nov. 64 with

only coverage of the Embassy gate....Pulse Camera to be

installed in near future.

peg

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Various Items Re; LIONIONP Project

Item

Seen By/When

1. LIONION Project initiation, 16 Feb. 1905.

DH 5/29, 7/5, 7/21

"Both I and II know they, are working for Als.

LIIAMIL-7 and LIIAMIL-9, who are penetrations

of the Cuban Embassy, are aware of this activity

as they are used to help identify individuals

photographed."

2. LIONION was originally a walkin agent in Havana.

"This in iteself is enough to make him suspect.'

AM/QUAKE and AM/ STAFF

"We are further assuming that they (xxxxxxx*&)

L-I, L-2 Termination

HMMA-41490 1/11/72

DH 5/26, 7/5, 7/21

then either doubled him (L-I) or (L-2) or that they

are successfully monitoring the op. thru a combination

of physical and audio surveillance."

(4-1, 4-2)

"They lintend to départ Mexico for Madrid on 1 Sept. 72"

(to résettle)

3. Details of LIONION Pulse Camera Operation HMMA-26414 22 June 65

" This dispatch is intended to familiarize ADAIRS with the

as in 2.

details of the Pulse Camera operation in Mexico City, which

was mounted in Deember 63 and is targeted against sh the

Cuban Embassy and Consulate.

" The technocian arrived with this particular piece of

equipment (Pulse Camera) during mid-December 63, and

proceeded to install and test it at the LIONION-I

basehouse."

"The Pulse Cmera is in operation 6 hours per day,

5 days each week.."

'Attached are samples of photographis coverage Iro

he Pulse Camera...

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shine

4. Use of the VLS-2 Irigger Device at the LIERODE Basehouse

7 Nov. 63

HMMA-22133

Seen by DH and EL 6/22

"The VLS-2 Trigger Device, installed athe LIERODE bashhouse to

cover the Consulate entrance, is performing well with little

false triggering."

"See Enclosure A for the VLS-2 area of coverage"

"I=22 (LIONION-I) used the K-100 with a 152mm lens for

one day, turning in 10 feet of 16mm film. (See Enclosure

B for the results of this testing.)"

NOTE: This could have occurred on the Monday aiter

the eqpt was installed. i.e. 30 Sept. 63.

Thus, the coverage for that day (which can

be found) only amounts to this one test

picture. It is definitely the K-100, as

distinguished from the Pulse Camera

because it is 16 mm.

"The Robot Star (35mm)...1s. now being used with the VIS-?

on this project. (See Enclusure C for this coverage)

5. Operational Monthly Report - 1-30 Sept. 63

HMMA -22307 18.0ct. 63

"On the morning of 27 Sept. 63, a technician

installed the VLS-2 Irigger Device a t the

LIERODE basehouse"

"I-22 (LIONION-I) was requested to test the Robot Star

camera for 4 days and the K-100 for another 4 days.

When satisfactory results of this testing become

available to the Station, they will be forwarded to

Ors/Photo Ops Branch for examonation."

Production Figures on Jobs PRocessed.

No 16mm film was processed as "production" for

for period of this report.

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D

6. Operational Monthly R°port 1-31 Dec. 63

HMMA-22726 1/16/64

"On the morning of 17 Dec. 63 the technician met I-22 (LIONION)

at the LIERODE basehouse to install the 35 mm SEQUENCE camera

between 0900 and 1400 hours (office houss of the Consulate)."

7. LIONION Production

HMMA - 37684. 12 Aug. 69

File 50-6-122/4

Box #1: 61-Dec. 63

"Forearded for Headquarters retention are 70 molumes (5 packages)

of the photographic take of LIONION from the late 1961 through

Devember 1968......it is requested that Headquarters retire

these volumes to the Records Center.....Station suggests

that a retention period of 10 years from the date of

information may be desirable.

8. Operational Monthly Report 1-31 Jan. 64

HMMA-22881 13 Feb. 64

"Forwarded as Enclosure 3 are photos showing.....the Pulse camera.

In operating position.....See HMMA-22836 dated 31 Jan. 64 for photos

taken using the Pulse Camera."

9. Operational Monthly Report 1-31 May 64

HMMA -23629 11 June 64

"the Pulse Camera at the LTERODE basehouse was removed

for reconditioning and a new Pulse Camera installed..•:

the older camera was pauched to Hdatrs per HMMW-12500.

9. Operational Monthly Report 1-30 Sept. 64 EMMA-24518 15 Oct. 64

...on 26 and 27 Sept. the LIONION basehouse aas evacuated and

all equipment and supplies were remdved"

(because of the Warren

Cormission report... presumably, the basehouse was reoccupied

after 6-8 weeks).

10. Operational Monthly REport HMMA-24922 10 Dec: 64 for 1-30 Nov. 64

"The LIONION basehouse was partially reactivated on 25 Nov.... the

Station is receivag daily coverage of all activity around the gate

of the Embassy.....it is anticipated that the pulse camera will

be installed in the near future.

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