Alpha 66

Alpha 66 was established by Cuban exiles after Fidel Castro gained power in Cuba. It received considerable funding from right-wing figures such as Henry Luce and Claire Booth Luce. In 1962 and 1963 Alpha 66 launched several raids on Cuba. This included attacks on port installations and foreign shipping.

Tony Cuesta and Eddie Bayo were both prominent figures in these attacks. Cuesta carried out raids on Cuba and was involved in the sinking of the Russian merchantman Baku. His activities were reported in Life Magazine in the spring of 1963.

In 1976 Antonio Veciana, the leader of Alpha 66, told the House Select Committee on Assassinations that he obtained operational guidance from a Central Intelligence Agency agent known as Maurice Bishop. Veciana claimed he received $253,000 from Bishop. In 1961 Veciana worked with Bishop on a plan to assassinate Fidel Castro.

Richard Schweiker, a member of the committee, speculated that Bishop was David Atlee Phillips. Schweiker arranged for Veciana and Phillips to be introduced at a meeting of the Association of Retired Intelligence Officers in Reston. Phillips denied knowing Veciana. After the meeting Veciana told Schweiker that Phillips was not the man known to him as Bishop.

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