Cryptonym: AMRUG-5
At 157-10014-10059, p. 34 of 154: SAC Warren de Brueys discusses the raid on Lacombe - he was in charge, claimed there was not enough evidence to arrest anyone.
Paneque was not given this crypt until late 1964.
104-10267-10011: NAME CHECK AND CONSOLIDATION REQUEST ON VICTOR
An index card for 4/29/59 refers to Major Victor Paneque aka Diego as "cit(izen) of Cuba, chief of rural police...scheduled to be eliminated".
104-10177-10175: SUBJECT REF IS AMRUG-5: BORN 22 SEPTEMBER 1918 IN HOLGUIN, CUBA
"Former member Castro forces who left Cuba clandestinely in 1960 following Raul Castro's purge of unsympathetic/rightist personnel within Cuba Military. During visit to Miami INS office in September 1960, subject gave address of Dr. Orlando Bosch as address in States. Became active with anti-Castro group in Florida and infiltrated into Cuba to set up anti-Castro forces prior to Bay of Pigs invasion. Participated in Cuban exile activities in New York area in early 1962 and later registered in ISR to Dept of Army in August 1962 (dropped without prejudice on 18 November 1963)."
104-10165-10266: MEETING WITH LUIS CONTE AGUERO AND VICTOR PANEQUE AKA COMMANDANTE DIEGO
9/16/60,meeting of DC/WH/4 Bernie Reichhardt with AMCORE-2/Luis Conte Aguero and Paneque. Paneque said he could provide information on "number and location of men in the Escambray, quantity and types of arms and ammunition, system of communication, etc., and how it might be possible to make contact with this group." Conte said he could provide proof of all the claims made by Paneque.
December 1960: Bosch tells FBI that Paneque is the military coordinator for MIRR, which he heads. His armed group in Cuba has 700-1000 men fighting Castro. Paneque is planning to enter Cuba and engage in sabotage.
Between Dec. 1960-March 1961: Frank Fiorini was working with Orlando Bosch's MIRR and attempted to work out an agreement between MIRR and Victor Paneque. Paneque and Fiorini worked together in an unsuccessful attempt to invade Cuba during Feb. 1961, returning to Miami on 2/26/61. Alan Weberman and Michael Canfield, Coup d'Etat in America, p. 96 (inside Frank Sturgis' Office of Security file): "By late 1960 Sturgis and Victor Paneque had formed the International Anti-Communist Brigade (IAB) and were flying supply missions to the guerrillas in the Escambray Mountains in the Las Villas province of Cuba from a secret base in the Bahamas. Paneque helped him locate the eighty or so members of Batista's army who had holed up there hoping to avoid the firing squad." "By late 1960 Sturgis and Vict
104-10177-10197: ADVISE SOONEST PRESENT WHEREABOUTS VICTOR PANEQUE
2/14/61 ZRPERUSAL slugline. Paneque wants to do a radio op in Oriente province. Not until he is LCFLUTTERed. Concern he is with Castro's G-2 intelligence service.
104-10221-10218: FRANK ANTHONY STURGIS
5/14/61, Jack Anderson interview with Frank Fiorini in Miami Herald: "I finally got fed up (with the other anti-Castro groups) and formed my own International Brigade, training in the Florida Everglades. In helping to set up an anti-Castro force inside Cuba, I collaborated with Victor Emmanuel Paneque, the legendary 'Diego' who directed the Havana underground for Castro. Diego is a short, stocky daredevil who wears a cigar in his mouth as a permanent article of dress. He fears nothing." (8/17/61 FBI memo by SA Leman Stafford.)
7/10/61, JMZIP memo from Director to JMWAVE: These two men were trying to obtain financing or support for proposed Cuban actions. Paneque knew the Naval officer but got no commitment from him.
104-10166-10335: DISPATCH: GYROSE/PM HUNGER STRIKE RALLY BY CUBAN EXILES 13 MAY 1962
3/14/62 memo from Chief, JMWAVE to Bill Harvey, C/TFW about Miami hunger strike rally. "Victor Paneque, the hunger strike organizer, was the first speaker...(he said it was done) to show JFK that Cubans are ready to die in exile if their right to defend Cuba from Communism is negated..." The last speaker was Laureano Batista, Paneque's nephew, he declared the hunger strike was a victory and that it could now end.
104-10518-10305 CABLE: OLD HANDS AT STATION CONFIRM JMMOVE THE ONLY AGENCY SPONSORED TRAINING CAMP
August 1963: "Old hands at the station confirm JMMOVE was the only Agency sponsored training camp." At page 6: "ZR" reference to Victor Manuel (Paneque) Batista - physical description provided and discussion about whereabouts after 1963. In a taped interview, CARLOS QUIROGA told Jim Garrison in 1967 that Victor Manuel Paneque y Batista (201-286382) was "in charge of a CIA training camp conducted for Cubans from Miami in Lacombe, LA". See https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=101682&relPageId=17 Also see http://maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=101677&relPageId=12
104-10177-10019: REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OR INVESTIGATIVE ACTION: MAJOR VICTOR PANEQUE BATISTA
8/13/64 Request for Approval from Michael H. Olejarz, WH/SAS/IOS. Case officer described as Cal Hicks. "Diego, Rene and Ricardo used as first names due to Subject's Clandestine Activities". 201-286382. Joseph Moughan's name was also unredacted.
104-10177-10013: VICTOR PANEQUE BATISTA
11/02/64: Memo from Bruce B. Cheever, DC/WH/SA to Chief, CI/OA: Subject: Victor Paneque Batista 201-286382: "In regard to your memorandum 5 October 1964, the FBI reports and Staff/D material relating to Subject were reviewed by Michael H. Olejarz and found to be non-derogatory. Handwritten note: Joe Moughan for (Bruce B. Cheever, DC/WH/SA)." - - - More information on Michael Henry Olejarz: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183902688/michael-henry-olejarz