104 10180 10215

104-10180-10215

DISPATCH

LASSIFICATION SECFT

TO Chief, Special Affairs Staff

PROCESSING

FROM Chief of Station, IAVEL/COPY

SUBJECT Operational/CYPOCE/AIRECALEN/FOX WT Operator Candidate Inside Target Area. ACTION REQUIRED REFERENCES

Action Required: Request for Headquarters Review of Files - Para 5.

  1. In the fall of 1960 AMIRE 1 (Peter J. DI CERVENO) recruited in Havana a WT operator candidate, whose name he cannot recall at this time. This candidate was spotted and first contacted by AMPANIC-1, who passed the lead over to AMIRE 1. AMPANIC-1 first contacted the candidate on the porch of the old Mercedes Benz Agency at Palecon and Principe Streets, and AMIRE 1 then contacted subject in the latter's apartment in the fourth floor of a building located in the middle of the block on the East Side of Fenocal Avenue (Infanta) Between (Valle and San Jose Streets. This building had a store in the first floor, was painted a pinkish beige, and the apartments were very small (one bedroom and bath, living-dining room combina- tion and a small kitchen). Subject was at the time working in a hardware store and living with his wife and a small child. Subject was about 33 years old, 5'10 tall, 160 lbs., wore thick glasses, light complexion, light hair, protruding facial features)

  2. Subject had experience as a professional WT operator and worked a clandestine WT set for the Organizacion Autentica (OA) against the Batista regime. AMPANIC-1 was a member of the (OA) and spotted subject through a leader of the (OA) for whom Subject worked in the underground.

  3. Subject was trained for a week or so by AMELEN-1 in a safehouse located at 39 San Rafael Street which had been obtained for that purpose by APTOX-1. APTOX-1 attended the training sessions as a lock-out, but neither APTOX-1 nor AMELEN-1 knew the identity and address of the trainee. Training included the clandestine operation of a RS-1, the use of signal plans, the use of pads in coding and decoding, and personal security. Training was conducted in the fall of 1960 after recruitment of Subject and with the approval of CO George D. SCOWCROFT, who was AMIRD-1's CO at the time and to whom full reports were turned in on the (Continued)

Distribution: 3 - Headquarters

DATE TYPED 24 Jan. 63

DATE DISPATCHED 25 Jan. 63 DISPATCH SYMBOL AND NUMBER UFCA-7439

CLASSIFICATION SECPET HEADQUARTERS FILE NUMBER 19-120-33-54/3

CONTINUATION OF DISPATCH SECPET

UFCA-7439

training and the identity of the candidate. Subject was never activated and was kept on stand-by for possible use at a later date. For that purpose Bona fides were established by AMIRE 1 and reported to his CO. Subject was not supplied with a WT set and no signal plans nor pads were issued to him.

  1. AIRE 1 recalls Subject was very secure in his clandestine contacts and operations. Despite established bona fides, AMIRE 1 had considerable trouble in gaining Subject's confidence and three preliminary contacts were necessary before getting down to business. Subject was last contacted by AIRE-1 at Subject's apartment described above, in January or February 1961. At this time Subject was still willing and ready to work.

  2. It is assumed that Headquarters files on the activities of AMIRD-1, AMCLEN-1 or APTOX-1 will contain copies of the training reports and information reported by AMIRE 1. We would appreciate Headquarters assistance in ascertaining Subject's identity and present whereabouts in order to determine if he could still be used operationally inside target area. AMPANIC-1 has been terminated by JMWAVE PA Branch because of weakness in his personal security, and it is believed best not to contact him on this matter if possible.

END OF DISPATCH