Edward B. Ferrer

Ferrer was a former Cubana pilot who flew C-46s and C-54s during the Bay of Pigs invasion. He provides a complete record of exile air operations. There are some poor quality, but interesting, photos. (For example, two types of eight-gun noses are shown on the exile B-26s.)
Besides the well-known aircraft types used in the invasion, Ferrer mentions USAF Constellations with the insignia painted out. These were operated between the US and the Central American bases. He also recounts encounters with USN A-4s from the Essex, both marked and unmarked.
He describes the exile air force’s acquisition of F-51 Mustangs from Nicaragua as the invasion collapsed. There were no qualified fighter pilots in the exile air force, but one pilot read the manuals overnight and took a F-51 up the next day. Since the Mustangs did not have the range for a return mission, the plan was for this Mustang to accompany the B-26s. When his fuel ran out, the pilot was to bail out over territory held by the exile Brigade. This is reminiscent of British Hurricat pilots in WWII, who bailed out or ditched their aircraft near the convoys that they were protecting. When the Brigade surrendered, this mission was canceled.
Ferrer’s memoir begins with a recounting of his life in Cuba. Of interest to aviation buffs is an account of a Cubana Constellation flight to Argentina to pick up Ché Guevara’s family.… (mer)