Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Havana, April 15.- Cubans today remember the attacks on the island's airports in 1961, a prelude to the invasion of Playa Girón, an episode where the resistance and dignity of the people rose in the face of imperialist aggression.
On April 15, 1961, enemy planes camouflaged with the insignia of the Revolutionary Armed Forces attacked the Ciudad Libertad airport, the San Antonio de los Baños air base, and the Santiago de Cuba airport.
The events, which occurred at dawn, were intended to make international public opinion believe that an internal rebellion was taking place in the country shortly after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in January 1959.
Furthermore, the action sought to provoke fear and confusion, destroy the scarce and antiquated Cuban air force, to ensure impunity for an enemy incursion by land that occurred shortly after.
The bombings caused the death of seven people and 53 injuries, most of them civilians, due to the strafing of neighborhoods around Ciudad Libertad, in addition to material damage, although the attackers did not manage to destroy as many planes as they expected.
The bombings caused the death of seven people and 53 injuries, most of them civilians, due to the strafing of neighborhoods around Ciudad Libertad, in addition to material damage, although the attackers did not manage to destroy as many planes as they expected.
At the funeral of the victims of the air attack, the historical leader, Fidel Castro, declared the socialist character of the Revolution.
"What the imperialists cannot forgive us is that we are here; what the imperialists cannot forgive us is the dignity, the integrity, the courage, the ideological firmness, the spirit of sacrifice, and the revolutionary spirit of the Cuban people," Fidel Castro said at the massive event near the cemetery.
The attack was the prelude to the invasion of Playa Girón – territory located in the central province of Matanzas – where an armed brigade, trained and transported by the United States, arrived through the Zapata Swamp on April 17.
After 60 hours of fierce fighting, the mercenaries were defeated and surrendered at Playa Girón at dusk on the 19th and this action represented the first major defeat of imperialism in Latin America. (Text and photo: PL)
