Home/ Resources / Projects / CIA Cryptonyms / bigram: AM / cryptonym: AMSATURALUS

Cryptonym: AMSATURALUS

Definition:

AMSATURALUS was the cryptonym for a joint CIA-AMDENIM-1 (Alberto Fernandez Hechevarria) project to establish ratlines into Cuba.

Status:

Documented

Discussion:

A dispatch in January of 1963 stated that "the three female radio operator candidates which A/1 identified for us will be arriving in the WAVE area from New Jersey in the near future for LCFLUTTER and further assessment which if successful will be followed by intensive training prior to working them into infiltration plans in connection with the AMSATURALUS Project to establish ratlines into the target country." The dispatch added that "it is hoped that the use of female agents will in part overcome the cover and survival problems which have plagued our other black infiltration problems."

A dispatch in May, 1963, mentioned that "the three female radop candidates AMTIME/1, AMINCH/1, and AMIRIS/1 who AMDENIM/1 had recruited in February 1963 were terminated after two months training during which time they failed to develop sufficiently to warrant further investment of time and money."

Sources:

104-10172-10129: DISPATCH: AMDENIM/1 PROGRESS REPORT 31 DECEMBER 1962

01/23/63: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, Task Force W: Page 3: ..."14. The three female radio operator candidates which A/1 (Alberto Fernandez Hechevarria) identified for us will be arriving in the WAVE (Miami) area from New Jersey in the near future for LCFLUTTER (polygraph - "lie detector" - testing) and further assessment which if successful will be followed by intensive training prior to working them into infiltration plans in connection with the AMSATURALUS Project to establish ratlines into the target country. It is hoped that the use of female agents will in part overcome the cover and survival problems which have plagued our other black infiltration problems."

104-10172-10122: DISPATCH: AMDENIM/1 PROGRESS REPORT 31 MAY 1963

06/28/63: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, Special Affairs Staff: Page 2: ..."4...The three female radop candidates AMTIME/1, AMINCH/1, and AMIRIS/1 who AMDENIM/1 (Alberto Fernandez Hechevarria) had recruited in February 1963 were terminated after two months training during which time they failed to develop sufficiently to warrant further investment of time and money..."