Cryptonym: QDCHAR
104-10177-10039: POA CANCELLED
This page connects Marcos Diaz Lanz with his 201 file number, 201-259716.
104-10260-10282: ROUTING RECORD SHEET: DISPATCH: OPERATIONAL DEBRIEFING OF QDCHAR
This document connects the same 201-259716 file number with QDCHAR.
Marcos Diaz Lanz's birthday was 5/20/28, born in Havana, Cuba. He was formerly Assistant Chief of the Cuban Revolutionary Air Force and in charge of the air base in San Antonio, Havana, Cuba. See p. 73: He served under his brother Pedro who was the chief, and defected eight days after his brother's defection.
104-10261-10040: CABLE RE: ON NIGHT 11 JULY STANLEY ZAMKA USING ASSUMED NAME OF
7/11/59: "Stanley Zamka using the assumed name of Delgado contacted Captain Alfredo Guerra Aguiar, purported close friend of both Pedro and Marcos Diaz Lanz. This was channel mentioned by air att...on July 13 Marcos wife applied for US visa which (was) denied. Zamka interviewed her in office airatt...No commitments were made to her."
104-10167-10132: QDCHAR ESCAPE
"On July 17, QDARBOR telephoned me that he had just been contacted by an individual named Dick O'Connell from Havana, who said that he had a message from Havana for QDARBOR from QDCHAR...I met with QDARBOR and QDALUM after QDARBOR had talked with O'Connell...when he could not reach QDALUM, who is mentioned in the message, O'Donnell called QDARBOR. O'Connell informed QDARBOR that if they wish to make contact with (Diaz Lanz) it should be through Jorge and Virgilio Villata, who could be reached at 3-4720 or 3-6763, Havana..." Then this document refers to QDARBOR and QDALUM going from Miami to Havana in the late afternoon of July 18 and returning to Miami on July 19, saying plans were ready for the operation. As planned, Marcos Diaz Lanz' escaped from Cuba on July 25, 1959 by boat, arriving in Tampa on July 27, with references to QDARBOR and QDALUM. He was then to be escorted to Washington, DC the same afternoon by Joseph Brannigan, but the plan was changed and instead he was interrogated in a Tampa safehouse by Earl Sadelly and Ben Evans. (See 104-10167-10137 - the Hillsborough Hotel) On the 29th, Diaz Lanz was escorted to Miami by Sadelly, where he stayed in QDALUM's apartment. On the 31st, Diaz Lanz had an INS hearing and was then taken to Ricardo Lorie's home in Key Biscayne. Stanley Zamka/David Morales was in touch with Diaz Lanz's wife in Cuba and reported that she said she was not worried about her ability to get the family out of Cuba and to the US. Also see 104-10167-10127, p. 4 of 4, 8/13/59 report of meeting with QDCHAR/Marcos Diaz Lanz by Patrick Karnley/Bernie Reinhardt: "QDCHAR is presently living in Frank Fiorini's house at 2030 SW 60th Court, Miami..."
104-10167-10161: CABLE RE ESCAPE OF MARCOS DIAZ.
7/18/59 memo from Tom Flores to Havana: "Dick O'Connell connected with Cummings Diesel Co., Havana and stringer for Hava Times contacted Mr. James Byers and Craig Williams American friends Diaz Lanz brothers Miami 17 July. O'Connell brought note from Marcos Diaz addressed to Frank Fiorini requesting he and Sergio Diaz arrange his escape from Cuba. Note given O'Connell by Virgilio and George Villata. Villatas told O'Connell Marcos has been moving from one hiding place to another, now in a church, but running out of hiding places. Byers and Williams agree to withhold note from Fiorini pending (CIA) decision on matter. HQS desires assist Marcos escape. Propose send Byers or Williams, both cleared (CIA) contacts, to Havana 18 July to act as cut out for station in op. Name of traveller and ETA will be cabled..."
104-10167-10159: CABLE RE ZAMKA TRAVEL.
7/19/59 cable from Havana to Director: "Contact made by Zamka (David Morales) with Byers and Williams. They plan call on George and Virgilio Villata. They returning Miami evening 19 July. Station recommends following action. Merton (Jack Stewart) fly Tampa 20 July (as recvd) lay on exfiltration with AMCOO (Delia Failde) as in previous cases with target date 25 July. Either AMCONCERT (Pancho Varona) or AMCLATTER (Bernard Barker) take delivery of body without knowledge of true identity and transport body to ship. HQS take whatever action necessary prevent subsequent publicity in (US) as this would seriously prejudice US government interests (in) this area. HQS provide pseudonym for body use. Fiorini not be made witting under any circumstances as station considers him untrustworthy." John Newman writes in "Where Angels Walk Lightly" that this operation involved David Morales smuggling Pedro Diaz Lanz out of Cuba. See 104-10261-10037, the plan was for QDCHAR to use the alias Mariano Jiminez Gomez on the MV Roatan. Bernard Barker/AMCLATTER got him on the boat.
This document concerning Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo makes reference to Marcos Diaz Lanz as Pedro's brother.
104-10167-10149: CABLE RE EVACUATION OF MARCOS DIAZ LANZ.
"Marcos placed on board MV Roatan at 0900 hours 25 July. Zamka observed departure of boat which left Port Mariel at 1245 hours 25 July. ETA Tampa 0800 hours on 27 July...On night 24 July subject briefed by Zamka who used assumed name..."
104-10167-10236: MARCOS JOSE DIAZ LANZ
On July 29, 1959, Marcos Diaz Lanz was under the supervision of Bernard Reichhardt. By August 7, Tom Flores reported to Reichhardt reported that Diaz Lanz had moved into the home of Frank Fiorini, who he trusted completely. Flores said that the CIA did not propose to conduct any operations with Fiorini. Also see 124-90076-10017, p. 5, 8/3/59: "Marcos Diaz Lanz, former Inspector General of the FAR, related that Alfredo Guerra is the Chief of Intelligence in the Cuban Prime Minister's office, that this intelligence unit is superior to the Cuban G-2, and that Guerra's reports go directly to Fidel Castro. Diaz said that Ralph Botello Lopez is Chief of that organization in Miami."
"Info 11/64 indicates MDL operating as arms dealer under alias 'Pedro Garcia' and was member of Minutemen in Yahala, FL...stated that if LBJ was re-elected Pres, this group planned to revolt..." See p. 8 - Marcos Diaz Lanz was also known as AMOT-6.