Agency: FBI
Originator: FBI
From: DEEGAN, J. G.
To: GALLAGHER, R. J.
Document date: 10/12/76
Document type: PAPER-TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM

IDENTIFICATION FORM

AGENCY INFORMATION

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD_NUMBER: 124-10213-10343

RECORD_SERIES:

HO

AGENCY FILE NUMBER: 2-2173-73

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM:

DEEGAN. J. G.

TO: GALLAGHER. R. J.

TITLE:

DOCUMENT TYPE:

ORIGINAL

CLASSIFICATION:

DATE: 10/12/1976

• PAGES: 7

SUBJECT:

CUBANA AIRLINES, CRASH, SUSP, ACA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO POLICE,

OBA, ASSOC

PAPER. TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

Secret

NEW

CLASSIFICATION:

REVIEW DATE:

STATUS

05/11/1998

UPDATE DATE:

Redact

RESTRICTIONS:

JFK Act 6 (1)(C)

JFK Act 6 (4)

COMMENTS:

DocId: 32294567

Page 1

---

## Page 2

/z/

CLASS

REA

13Cl

by

Classified

Dadasei

OPTIONAL FORM NO, 10

MAY 1,262 EDITION

GSA FPMA (41 CFR) 101-11.6

UNITED STATES GOvERNMENT

Memorandum

SECRET

1

SECREIL

1

1

Mr. R. J. Gallagher

Mr.

Held

Mr.

Adams

Mr. Moore

- Mr. Gallagher

DATE: 10/12/76

FROM.

: J. G. Deegan JUP

- Mr.

1

TECT

1

Assoc. Dir. _

Dep. AD Adm. _

Dep. AD Inv._

Asst. Dir.:

Adm. Serv.

Ext. Affairs.

Fin. & Perspe

Gen. Inv..

Ident.

Inspection

Intell..

Laboratory

.. Legal Coun.

Plan. & Eval.

Rec. Mgnt..

Spec. Inv.

Training

Telephone Rm.

Director Sec'y

1

10

DECLASSIFY

PURPOSE:

To

UNSUBS; SUSPECTED BOMBING OF

CUBANA AIRLINES,

10/6/76

NEUTRALITY MATTERS - CUBA

(ANTI-CASTRO) - WEST INDIES

CHILBOM

CLASSIED AND

PFO - MURDER - EID EXTENDAD BY

185-789

REASON POR

TENSICA

FCIM, W. 1-3

DATE OF M

DECLASSÍFICA

advise of developments in

REC-76, V-15

Mr.

Mr.

MI.

Mr.

Mr.

Mr.

Fehl

Leavitt

Ingram

Kolombatovic

Castonguay

Deegan

McHargue

Graham

WI FOR

100

connection with this matter

SYNOPSIS:

<2193.73

0n 10/0 860

crashed into the

sea

West Indies,

killing

all persons aboard.

An explosion was reported prior

to crashi I Two Venezuelan citizens, Jose Vazquez Garcia and

nolead

190-17027.

4/70/94

Freddy

Lugo, were detained by Trinidad and Tobago Police as

suspects

this matter:

In Lugo's possession was name of

Lugo reported to be employee of Cuban exile,

Louat posta, [former head of Venezuelan Counterintelligence

Division

(DISIP)(S) Posada known for anti-Castro activities and

his association

with anti-Castro terrorist, Orlando Bosch

Avila, leader of Coordinacion de Organizaciones Revolucionarias

05 KMB/

Unidas (Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations)

and OCT 19 1976

sin:

ATT THPORMATION CONTATI

HEREIN I& UNCLASSITI

EXCEFF WHERE

LERWIST

70

with DISIP err 9/30/76, a Posada employee, Hernan Ricardo

Lozano, requested Legat'

in obtaining à visa to

on 10/8/76, suspect razques rarcia was determined to be

Ricaras Lozano.

since 1974,

Ricardo-known-to Legat as casual acquaintance

Information received from MM 1337-S that CORU

responsible

for airline crash but

by CORU unta? public reaction assessed y

credit to be taken

TRinidad

SECRET

Crass trted by 9098Cyn

Exempt from GDS.

Categories

and

JPG: rsm

(14)

Date Of Declassification Indefinite

SEE REVERSE

MAmN

SIDE FOR

Continued

Over

V.161976 F324

CLASSIFICATION

ACTION

Buy U.S. Savings-Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan

FBl/ DOJ

-014-109

DocId: 32294567

Page 2

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## Page 3

SECRET

Memorandum to Mr. R. J. Gallagher

Re:

UNSUBS; SUSPECTED

BOMBING OF

CUBANA AIRLINES, DC 8, NEAR

BARBADOS, WEST INDIES, 10/6/76

CHILBOM

185-789

SECREIL

Department of State (DOS) initiated attempts to obtain

deportation of Bosch, a federal parole violator to the u.s.

Venezuelan President

Perez uncommitted as to whether or not

Bosch will be deported.

• Perez told American Ambassador,

CaracaS (that Guillermo Novo Sampol

1 and Ignacio Novo Sampol,

two anti-Castro Cuban exiles, were in the employl of Chilean

intelligence service and were responsible for the Letelier

kIlling. Legat, Caracas, briefing Ambassador, Caracas,

regarding Novo brothers in order that further details of

Killing: may be obtaned.

to have left Venezuela

caller to the "Miami Heräld" claimed credit in CORU's name

for crash.

No one from Miami or Puerto Rico known to be

involved in plot according to MM 1337-S. Claim by "El Condor"

group for crash responsibility believed to be without substance

ACTION:

CHM

None. For information

APPROVED:

Assoc. Dir.

Dep. AD A

Dep. AD In

Asst. Dir.:

Adm. Serv..

Ext. Affairs..

Fin. 1 71/80

Gen. Inv.

Ident.

Inspection

Intell.:

Laboratory.

Legal Coun

Plan. & Eval.

Rec. Mgmt.

Spec. Inv..

Training..

DETAILS:

On 10/8/76, a Cubana Airlines DC 8, Flight No. 455,

crashed into the sea 16 minutes after takeoff from Seawell

Airport at Barbados bound for Kingsto killed.

Jamaica and Havana,

Cuba. All persons on board (78) were

Prior to the

crash, the pilot announced an explosion on board and that he

was returning to Barbados U

Trinidad and Tobago Police detained two Venezuelan

citizens, Jose Vazquez Garcia and Freddy Lugo, in connection

with possible sabotage against the Cubana Airlines DC 8.

XIn the possession of Lugo was an address book with the following

notation:

"Embassy American 2846111-127 FBI Joseph Leo,

331511."

(Leo is Legat, Caracas.) yOU)

SECRET

-2-

DocId: 32294567 Page 3

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## Page 4

SECRET

СИ

Memorandum to Mr. R. J. Gallagher

Re:

UNSUBS; SUSPECTED BOMBING OF

CUBANA AIRLINES, DC 8, NEAR

BARBADOS, WEST INDIES, 10/6/76

CHILBOM

185-789

SECREIA

pleasag

A confidential source abroad, [Ricardo Morales CUJ

former DISIP head Louis Posada. Posada is a Cuban exile

who is known for his anti-Castro activities and who has

reportedly assisted Orlando Bosch Avila, head of CORU, in

his terrorist activities. CORU was formed in June, 1976, by

five anti-Castro terrorist groups at a meeting in Santo Domingo,

Dominican Republic. Since that time, CORU has publicly claimed.

credit for numerous acts of terrorism, including bombings and

killings.

CORU is headed by Bosch and Frank Castro. This

source all but admitted that Posada and Bosch engineered the

sombing of the airline and that it was almost certain that

the Venezuelan Government yas privy to their aétivities,

Association of Legat, Caracas with Suspects

1d(4)

Legat, Caracas, became acquainted with Posada when

Posada was employed by DISIP ()After resignation from DISIP(S)

in 1973, Posada continued to contact Legat, Caracas, on rare

occasions, usually in order to obtain personalized service in

connection with visa requests.

Posada has referred relatives

and associates seeking advice regarding visas to Legat.

On 9/30/76, one of Posada's employees, Hernan Ricardo Lozano

sought visa to travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on 10/1/76.0

On 10/8/16, confidential source Morales, Supra, advised

that arrested subject,

Jose Vazquez

Garcia is

actually Hernan Ricardo Lozano, and that Ricardo and Lugo were

part of the support group in the sabotage operation against

Cubana Airliner.

According to this

source, the bomb was suppose

to go off prior to the takeoff. *

Legat, Caracas, advised that Ricardo Lozano became

known to him in June,

1974, when Ricardo sought visa assistance

for child.

of DISIP official. Legat led to believe that Ricardo

was an active member of DISIP.

Subsequently Legat became aware

reported ricardo has also represented himseif as newspaper

Ricardo was auxiliary member of DIstand in personal employL jJ

and photographer affiliated with the magazine "Vision.

SECRET

-3-

2-2173-73

DocId: 32294567 Page 4

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## Page 5

SECRET

Memorandum to Mr. R. J. Gallagher

Re:

UNSUBS; SUSPECTED

• BOMBING OF

CUBANA AIRLINES, DC 8, NEAF

BARBADOS, WEST INDIES,

10/6/76

CHILBOM

185-789

SECRETL

Ricardo contacted Legat approximately four times

after initial visitland on two occasions furnished Legat

data

on members

of Cuban Embassy which were obviously

obtained from DISIP files]e()

On 9/30/76, Ricardo appeared unannounced at American

Embassy and requested assistance in obtaining a visa to U.S.

since he had a photographic assignment for "Vision" Magazine

in Jamaica and planned a two-day stopover in Puerto Rico.

Ricardo stated that he intended to leave on 10/1/76 and

since a travel agency told him the visa process would take

three days, requested Legat's assistance. U

*Review of Ricardo's passport reflected that Ricardo

8/29/76,

recalled that the bombing of the Guyanese Consulate in

Port-of-Spain had occurred at approximately 10:15 a.m.,

on 9/1/76, and wondered in view of Ricardo's association

with louis Posada, if his presence there during that period

was coincidence.

(CORU publicly claimed credit for this

attack.) Legat informed Chief, Nonimmigrant Visa Section

(NIVS), he wished no special consideration for Ricardo, and

requested the issuance of a visa to him be considered on its

own merits.

On 10/1/76, at the request of Ricardo, Legat communicated

with Vice Consul who wished to know if Legat

believed Ricardo

would return to Venezuela after his visit in the U.S., or if

he was likely to remain there illegally. Legat informed the

Vice Consul he had no reason to believe Ricardo would not

return to Caracas. 4

in a conversation with an olliclal of DIsIP on 10/1/16,

Legat broached the subject of Ricardo and of the faint suspicion

that Ricardo may have been somehow involved in the bombing of

the Guyanese

Consulate in Port-of-Spain.

The DISIP official

related DISIP hadino reason to believe Ricardo was the caliber

of individual that would be utilized in such an operation and

than Ricardo was not knows to be involved " such activities

in spite of his association with Posada. f

SECRET

-4=

2-2173-73

DocId: 32294567 Page 5

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## Page 6

SECRET

SECRET

Memorandum to Mr. R. J. Gallagher

Re:

UNSUBS; SUSPECTED BOMBING OF

CUBANA AIRLINES, DC 8, NEAR

BARBADOS, WEST INDIES, 10/6/76

CHILBOM

185-789

Department of State (DOS) Reaction

Since the escalation of CORU terrorist activities,

DOS has sought the deportation of Bosch first from Nicaragua,

and now, because of this incident, from Venezuela.

ron the ident,

Bosch is

a Federal fugitive from the U.S., wanted for parole violation.

He was originally sentenced to a ten-year prison term in 1968

on charges relating to conspiracy, extortion and bombings.

On

12/19/72, Bosch was paroled after

serving four years.

Following

an interview with a news reporter in which he publicly admitted

sending letter bombs to Cuban Embassies, the U.S. Parole Board

issued a warrant for his arrest. Bosch

thereafter went

underground (Sm)

LOn 10/9/76, Venezuelan President Perez was contacted by

American Ambassador, Caracas, andfurged to deport Bosch. Perez

advised that Bosch had entered Venezeula clandestinely,

but was

now providing, intormation on the Chilean

Junta to the venezeular

Government. Perez stated thatpBosch claims to have carried out

several terrorist acts for the Chileans but was no longer in

their employ. Perez related Showever, that Guillermo Novo Sampol

and Ignacio Novo Sampol, two anti-Castro Cuban exiles living in

the U.s., are still working with the Chileans, and, in fact,

engineered the Letelier killing.

(This information had

previously been reported by confidential source, Morales

Navarrette, and similar information linking the

Novo brothers

vith letelyer's killing has been received from other sources..

Perez maderno decision on deporting Bosch, saying that while

he understood the concern of the U.S. Government, he would

study the matter and meet again with U.S. officials on 10/11/75(S)

Legat, Caracas, briefing Ambassador, Caracas, regarding

Novo brothers in order that further details of killing may be

obtained From Perez Jd d(S)

[On 10/10/76, confidential source, Morales Navarrette,

advised that Bosch

had already left Venezuela and complained

bitterly that the U.S. had requested the deportation of Bosch

inasmuch as he,

Navarrette, had been in the process of debriefing

Bosch for the Venezuelan Government. Navarrette noted with

some bitterness that the

U.S. was about two years late 15(/80(u)

SECRET

- 5 -

DocId: 32294567 Page 6

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## Page 7

SECRET

Memorandum to Mr. R. J. Gallagher

Re:

UNSUBS; SUSPECTED BOMBING OF

CUBANA AIRLINES, DC 8, NEAR

BARBADOS, WEST INDIES, 10/6/76

CHILBOM

185-789

SECRET

Lu its effort to have Bosch returned to the u.S., referring

to Bosch's arrest on 11/19/74 by DISIP and. of

their efforts.

to deport him to the U.S. at that time.

DISIP was informed

then that Bosch, as an alien, would not be permitted reentry

into the U.S. @this decision was concurred in by Department of

State and Department of Justice

Further Reports on CORU Involvemen

MM 1337-S, a CORU member, was told telephonically

on 10/6/76, by a Puerto Rican CORU member,.

that CORU was

cesponsible for the bombing of captioned airliner. Also,

source was contacted telephonically on 10/7/76, by CORU leader,

Frank Castro, who was then in the Dominican Republic. Castro

told source

that CORU should delay any news release regarding

this incident until public reaction can be assessed. Source

On 10/8/76, an anonymous female caller to the"'

Miami

Herald", daily newspaper took credit for the crash of the

Cuban Airliner in

the name of CORU. U

"El Condor" Organization Claims Credit

On 10/6/76, the "Miami Herald" received a telephone

call at 10 p.m., froman individual who said the "El Condor"

organization was responsible for placing the bomb.

This

call was received after extensive news coverage of the crash.U

There is no known "El Condor" organization in the Miami,

Florida, area, and the only previous use of the name "El Condor"!

to claim credit for terrorist activities was by anti-Castro

Cuban terrorist, Rolando Otero in "Military Communiques," he

issued after several bombings in Miami in December, 1975.

Otero is in jail in Miami awaiting trial on these charges. U

This claim is believed to be without substance;

however, it has caused Caribbean countries to speculate freely

that anti-Castro Cuban exiles in Miami were responsible for

the crash of the airliner.

i SECRET

- 6 -

DocId: 32294567 Page 7

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