FBI FILE REVIEW-ORLANDO BEACH AVILA
Agency: HSCA
Originator: FBI
From: PALMER, BETSY
Document date: 05/16/1978
Document type: PAPER-TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

10/2/201

AGENCY:

HSCA

RECORD NUMBER :

180-10102-10474

RECORD SERIES :

NUMBERED FILES

AGENCY FILE NUMBER : 013071

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM: PALMER, BETSY

TO :

TITLE:

FBI FILE REVIEW-ORLANDO BEACH AVILA

DATE: 05/16/1978

PAGES:

5

SUBJECTS :

AVILA, ORLANDO BOSCH

DOCUMENT TYPE: MEMORANDUM

CLASSIFICATION : Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS: 4

CURRENT STATUS: Redact

DATE OF LAST RE VIEW :

03/10/1998

OPENING CRITERIA :

COMMENTS :

Tabbed 229-1. Box 229.

v9.1

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MEMORANDUM FOR DIRECTOR

FROM: BETSY PALMER

DATE: May 16, 1978

SUBJECT: FBI File Review

- Orlando Bosch Avila

On this date, I reviewed the files on Orlando Bosch Avila

at the FBI.

Pertinent information

is outlined below.

File #149-5378

Section 1, Serials 1-16, January-February 1968

1.

Explosion aboard B-25 cargo

aircraft, Miami Inter-

national Airport, Jan. 20, 1968.

Ricardo Morales

Navarete arrested. His brother-in-law, Hector Montana

Cornilott also involved.

Also suspected, among others,

were Orlando Bosch and Francisco Rodriguez Tamayo.

Aircraft owned by Ramon Masco Rodriguez of Merida, Mexico.

"Cuban

¡ Power" claimed responsibility.

U.S. Attorney Donald I. Bierman advised, based on facts

and circumstances currently known, his opinion this is

a violation of Destruction of Aircraft or Motor Vehicles

Statute.

Section 2 - Serial: 17, January-March 1968

1. CIA has information on two of the

suspects, Andres Jorge

Gonzalez Gonzalez and Paulino Mario Guiterrez Vidal.

Furnished information on Bosch on January 26, 1968.

Ricardo Morales remains in jail as of March 1, 1968,

unable to raise $25,000.

bail, per Intelligence Unit,

Miami Police.

Not enough evidence to hold Hector M.

Navarrete.

Section 3 - Serials 18-25, February 1968 - February 1969

1.

Orlando Bosch and

Andres Jorge Gonzales identified as

responsible for aircraft bombing - both convicted in

Federal Court, Miami on other charges and now

serving

sentences. AUSA declines prosecution.

File #45-10801, May-December 1968

1.

Re: Unsub: Explosion in Engine Room of British Freighter

"Granwood" on High Seas, 25 Miles from Key West, Florida,

5/4/68

No known injuries -- carrying large rolls of newsprint --

British agent said vessel does not trade with Cuba and

had no reason to believe explosion other than internal

ship problems.

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FBI File Review - Orlando Bosch

5/16/78

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Bosch distributed leaflets (signed Ernesto) claiming

responsibility. In an interview on 7/16/68 with

Special Agent Eugene J. Flynn and Special Agent James

P. Tucker, Bosch denies knowledge of any of the bombings

in Miami

area.

File deals mainly with FBI efforts to obtain typewriter

on which

"Ernesto" letter written.

Report on explosion aboard Japanese freighter, "Asaka

Maru", in Tampa, May 30, 1968. Investigation says

logical suspects are Bosch's group.

On November 5, 1968, Bosch and eight others convicted of

conspiracy. Granwood bomoing entered as evidence 1r

his trial. Other bombings occurred in New Orleans,

Houston, Jacksonville, Mobile and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

File #45-10814, May 1968 - January 1969.

Deals

with

investigation into explosion aboard "Asaka Maru".

Nine convicted.

File #45-10815, June 1968-January 1969. Deals with

investigation of

explosion aboard Japanese freighter,

"Mikagesan Maru" in Galveston, 6/1/68.

File #45-10837 - 3 Sections. Investigation of explosion

aborad British Freighter, "Caribbean Venture" in

Miami on 8/8/68.

File #45-10848 1968

Section 1, Serials 1-14

1.

Attempt to dynamite British freighter, "Lancastrian

Prince" 8/28/68.

Airtel, 9/13/68 - Bosch has been acquitted in extortion

and other matters and continually retains competent

legal counsel. Rotating 24-hour surveillance on Gonzalez,

Sosa and Balan. Intensifying efforts to recruit

informants.

2.

Document 45-10848 - airtel dated 9/12/68, not

available for review except at FBI headquarters.

Bomb found on British freighter discovered by diver

from Dade County.

Had not exploded. Made of simulated

dynamite which had been passed to Bosch by the Miami

office through a cooperative source.

No publicity

given to recovery but anonymous call in Mexico City to

the AP there made reference to it.

FBI consistently

affirms Bosch is

"Ernesto".

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FBI File Review - Orlando Bosch

5/16/78

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File # 45-10848 (continued)

Section 2- Serials 15-56, September - November 1968

Further investigation of attempted bombing of

"Lancastrian Prince"

Section 3 - Serial 57

Simulated dynamite furnished to Ricardo Morales Navarrete

on 7/2/68.

Morales subsequently advised on 7/2/68 that

it was given to Bosch and (ENU)

Prieto.

FBI gives Morales an additional 50 lb. box simulated

dynamite on 8/13 for delivery to Bosch and again

on

8/14, 8/22 and 8/27.

Section

4

- Serial 58 - Open - August 1970

Bosch in Federal prison in Atlanta.

Confidential source

said Bosch has told his wife he will resume bombing of

Japanese and Spanish ships as soon as he is relased.

Awaiting results of his appeal to 5th Circuit Court.

File #45-10852, September 1968

Section 1, Serials 1-26

Explosion on Spanish registery vessel, "ss Coromoto"

September 12, 1968.

San Juan incident. Miami trying to

find whereabouts of Gonzales during this period.

•Section 2, Serial: 27 - further investigation of Coromot

explosion.

Section 3, Serials 28-open. Bosch arrested October 11, 1968.

File #45-10854

Section 1, Serials 1-46, September-October 1968

Attempt to damage Polish registery vessel, "polancia"

in Miami, September 16, 1968. Informant records conver-

sations of Bosch, Jose Diaz, Gonzales, Marcus Rodriguez.

Conversations general in nature.

Intends to use device

when in contact with Aimee Miranda, girfriend of Bosch.

Airtle 10/7/68 says principal source in this matter is

Ricardo Morales Navarrete.

Section 2 - Serial 47 - further investigation of "Polancia"

case.

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FBI File Review - Orlando Bosch

5/16/78

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File #45-10854 (continued)

Section 3, Serials 48-69, October 1968

Fingerprints on Lancastrian Prince were those of

Jorge Guiterrez Ulla. He is not a diving expert, so

it appears other members of Bosch's group went to New

Orleans with Ulla.

Section 4, Serials 70-144

Details of trial - testimony of Morales. Mr. Edward

Zehnder, Date County Public Safety Department, receives

letter of commendation from J. Edgar Hoover.

The Bureau

to pay Morales for his services. U.S. Attorney says

this will not affect any appeal.

File #105-165503

Section 1, Serials 1-36, April-August 1967

Frank

Angelo Fiorini and others reported plans to

blow up Cuban ship in Mexican port, possibly Veracruz.

Confidential source - abroad. Aldo Fernandez Miyar

sent

$200 by cable to Fiorini in Mante, Mexico. FBI believes

Bosch sent money and

used

Fernandez's name as he lives

near Bosch.

File #2-2173, Orlando Bosch Avila

Section 1 - Serials 1-46 - Cubana Airlines DC-8 Bombing, 10/6/76

Section 2 - Serials 44-49, Cubana Airlines Combinb

Section 3 - Serials 102-154

1. Cubana Airlines - CORU - headed by Bosch

CONDOR - takes credit - allegedly

same as CORU

2.

Ricardo Morales Navarrete of DISIP (Venezuelan

Intelligence appratus) says Guillermo and Ignacio Novo

Sampol responsible for deaths of Orlando Letelier, Jose

Elias dela Torriente y Aguria and Rolando Masferrer.

Orlando Bosch had nothing to do with Leterlier's murder

according to Morales.

Morales was a paid FBI informant for several years and

prime U.S. Government witness in trial of Bosch in 1968.

Section 4 - Serials 155-194 - Cubana Airlines

Section 5 - Serials 197 - 230 - Cubana Airlines

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FBI File Review - Orlando Bosch

5/16/78

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5

Section 6 - Serials 231 - Open - Cubana Airlines

File

#9-42758

Section 1, Serials 1-16 - September-November 1964

1.

Extortion of money for use of MIRR - November 1964

Letter postmarked 9/14/64 to Julio Cesar Iglesias

stated $100,000 needed to assassinate Castro and over-

throw Cuba and that rich Cubans had to pay.

Family

under surveillance.

Message of cooperation transmitted

through Roberto Gonzalez Mendoza who is unaware of his

designated role of go-between. Mendoza threatened if

he fails to cooperate.

Section 3 - Serials 33-55, January - March 1965

1. Also threatened: Alberto Vadia Mena, Coral Gables,

in November 1964. Charged with shots fired at his

were Raul Estevez and Alberto Jardines. Approached to

give money for his "protection" by a man calling himself

"Captain Arencibia."

Section 4 - Serials 56-90, March - November 1965

1. Victim - Arturo Bengochea, Sr.

Bosch apprehended in New Haven, Conn. on Nov. 25, 1965.

Also arrested, Marcelino Garcia Jimenez.

File #9-48130

Section 1, Serials 1-34, June - October 1968

1. Alleged threats to governments of Spain, Mexico,

England and Japan to suspend trade with Cuba or

suffer

consequences.

Signed: Ernesto, Delegate General,

Cuban Power. Letter to Sir Harold Wilson said that

the blowing up of a British cargo ship on 5 May was an

act of anti-Castro Cubans.

2.

Bosch has admitted in the past that he was "Ernesto".

Western Union employee identified Bosch as the

individual who delivered Spanish telegrams to his

office for transmittal.

U.S. Attorney plans to arrest Bosch on 10/4/68, charging

extortion in relation to telegrams.

3. On 10/3/68, Internal Security Division backed out of,

its commitment and insisted the USA proceed under a

lesser bombing

statute -- a misdemeanor. Situation

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FBI File Review - Orlando Bosch

5/16/78

Page 6

discussed with AAG J. Walter Yeagley, Internal

Security Division who, after checking, said he would

not alter the IS

position.

FBI says

their informant

would probably not testify against Bosch on the lesser

charges.

Section 2 - Serials 35 - Open - October - December 1968

1.

Bosch trial set for 11/5/68. On 12/13/68, Bosch

sentenced to be confined in the custody of the AG for

one year.

Bosch's Miami attorney - Melvin Greenspan

Bosch - DPOB - August 18, 1926, Cuba

FBI #

265 393

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