![]() Castro preserved Ray's body in a freezer for 17 years to prove that America was involved in the invasion. The families of the four who were killed were told that their loved ones had died in a test flight over the Caribbean. These four brave Airmen were shot down and killed in action as they led the way for the exiles they had trained. The Airmen who returned home were sworn in secrecy to not talk about where they had been. On ApPete Ray, Riley Shamburger, Wade Gray and Leo Baker volunteered to lead the attack on Cuba. The Airmen trained the Cuban exiles in secrecy in Guatemala and Nicaragua. The CIA wanted the Cubans to believe that it was Castro's pilots and aircraft attempting to overthrow him. The Airmen from 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Group were selected as they were the only remaining pilots flying the B-26. This year's ceremony was held on April 19th, the 55th Anniversary. The first ceremony was held in April 2012, on the 51st Anniversary of the Bay of Pigs invasion. This was the fifth year that the 117th Air Refueling Wing has performed a similar ceremony at Ray's grave site. Everyone in uniform saluted Ray's grave during the entire playing of taps. Taps began to play as the honor guard gave their three round volley. Metcalf walked to Ray's grave, laid a wreath next to it and raised a salute. The chaplain followed him by saying a prayer. Adams, a pilot from the 106th Air Refueling Squadron, addressed the crowd. On the hill behind them, was the Base Honor Guard standing at attention like statues with their rifles in hand. ![]() A group of about 30 Airmen were to my right. Herrera, a former Cuban exile, POW and survivor from the Bay of Pigs invasion, and his family. These four Airmen, along with approximately sixty other Airmen from the Alabama Air National Guard, were recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency to train the Cuban pilots how to fly the B-26 bombers to overthrow Fidel Castro. There were four of the Bay of Pigs survivors from the Alabama Air National Guard and their family members to my left. Pete Ray" where a wreath laying ceremony was about to begin. I looked for the grave marker that read "1st Lt. As I approached the grave site at Forrest Hills Cemetery near the airport, I could hear a bagpipe playing in the background. It was a warm and sunny afternoon in late April in Birmingham, Alabama. 117th Air Refueling Wing Public AffairsīIRMINGHAM, Ala.
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