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Cryptonym: QKMAGNET

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Definition:
The US Coast Guard.
Status:
Probable
Discussion:
"At a time when the FBI, the Coast Guard and Customs were stopping most exile activities against Castro, Manolo Ray's JURE operated freely...James Hosty, the FBI agent assigned to Oswald in Dallas, said: "...(JURE) was the group they were going to use when they were going to overthrow Castro...the Customs men were going after the ones that weren't part of hte operation. (But) Customs was working with JURE." Lamar Waldron, Ultimate Sacrifice, p. 161, quoting an A.J. Weberman interview with Hosty in 1993.

See 12/5/63, WAVE 8536, ref DIR 86251, 1993.08.04.16:35:00:870028 - Contents ref discussed local QKMAGNET to insure against repetition. Responsible individual was highly capable and in past of great assistance to WAVE most distressed over this inadvertent error on his part and fully cognizant gravity of matter. Assurance given QKMAGNET understands classifications and will strictly adhere thereto. (Chief of Station) comment: Re Coast Guard pickup of group and inadvertent release of detailed info to SMOTH/British intelligence. For lifted redactions, see within...http://www.jfknumbers.org/~ramon/jfk/NARA-Releases/20170725/Searchable-PDFs/3369-RELEASED_WITH_DELETIONS/(17)%20104-10075-10146%20through%20104-10098-10186.pdf

See 104-10069-10350, p. 3: "QKMAGNET cited them for having no safety equipment and no registration."
Sources:

124-10226-10290: No Title

Nov. 1958 - Lorie, Pedro Diaz Lanz and Fiorini purchase a C-46 airplane in Fiorini's name. Eleven Cubans, including Gustavo Arcos, and Fiorini are arrested with the C-46 and American-made arms. (See LITAMIL-1 for more on this event.) By Nov. 1959, Fiorini was on the "notice of prevention of departure" list of INS. (p. 41)

124-10281-10093: No Title

4/5/63 field information report UFG-2643: "...Some boats in the Southern Florida area...might be used by various exile groups in carrying out raids against Cuban targets, or for supplying raider groups based on keys in the Caribbean...those boats which are followed by an asterisk are those which are on a watch list being maintained by Customs and the United States Coast Guard: ...JUANIN II* was docked at Keystone Point...a 24 foot vessel* owned by Laureano Batista Falla (AMPALM-2)...as of 3 April was at the Anacapri Marina...Santa Elena*...a supply vessel for the Alpha-66 and the...SFNE (Second National Front Escambray). The master is Jose Garcia Alvarez, and she is docked at the Anacapri Marina...According to Jorge Nobregas, aka Coco, the Susan Ann* and the Susan Ann II* are for sale. The Susan Ann is at the Marathon Boat Works...and the Susan Ann II is at the 8th Street boat slips..."

104-10221-10282: CABLE: FRANK ANTHONY STURGIS, ALSO KNOWN AS FRANK FIORINI

7/23/62 cable OUT 57734 from TFW/CI Richard Tansing x 5874 to Director of FBI, DIA, Dept. of State Security, ACSI, ONI, OSI...reference is made to OUT 55026, dated 7/16/62, "reference reported that subject, according to a fairly reliable source who has been involved in previous leaflet operations against Cuba has scheduled his next overflight for 26 July 1962. This same source has reported additional information as follows on subject's recent activities. On 6/21/62 subject delivered to Pedro Diaz Lanz an quantity of weapons including 57 mm recoilless rifles several automatic weapons and a considerable amount of ammunition." Authenticating officer CI/LIA Cal Tenney; Releasing officer William Harvey. Marginialia on first page says "CARDED", meaning that the information was recorded on a card.

104-10048-10202: ANTI CASTRO ACTIVITIES

8/13/62 cable from TFW/CI x 5874 to Director of FBI, DIA, Dept. of State Security, ACSI, ONI, OSI: "On 13 August 1962 a fairly reliable source reported he had been contacted by Alexander Rorke" and his friends Frank Sturgis and Oscar Mestre - "we're all set to do something" - they had an aircraft and needed a boat...on 31 August Rorke told his source he had something to do with the shelling done in Havana the previous week by the DRE...The above information is being made available to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, to the Bureau of Customs, to the Bureau of International Programs of the Department of Commerce, and to the U.S. Coast Guard."

104-10226-10216: FYI QKMAGNET INVESTIGATIONS INTO MISSING VESSEL AND PBPRIMERS REPORTED REF ATTRACTING INCREASING ATTENTION AND WILL PROBABLY HIT PRESS SHORTLY

12/19/62 cable from JMWAVE to Director, slugline GYROSE: "FYI QKMAGNET investigations into missing vessel...QKMAGNET actively investigating in attempt determine true status Sigma II, but unwilling confront and board Sigma II without request Higher Authority. QKMAGNET aware Sigma II and Revenge of no (CIA) interest...Mr. Annable, father of one missing (American) arriving Miami 13 Dec and is ringing all available bells in effort get some action...on basis info obtained from Spencer Meredith...Annable felt may be possible (CIA) interest in incident...related traffic suggest HQS initiate action obtain policy approval for QKMAGNET Board and investigate Sigma II...Chief of Station comment: HQs approved operation against Cuban vessel." Marginalia reveals the words "UR" and "Harrison".

1994.04.26.09:52:30:780005: Reel 52, Folder M - ELOY GUTIERREZ MENOYO

1/4/63 cable from REDACTED, TFW/CI, ex. 4323 to FBI, DIA, Dept. of State Security, ACSI, ONI, OSI: Alexander Rorke and others went to Anguila Key with Capt. Arce ("Cuco") at helm of Violin III. Concealed in a cove was Sigma II with Gutierrez Menoyo and crewmen. They proceeded to Cuba, dropped off arms and ammunition, seen by Coast Guard who did not intercept them. "The above information is being made available to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, to the Bureau of Customs, to the Bureau of International Programs of the Department of Commerce, and to the U.S. Coast Guard."

124-10224-10192: No Title

2/1/63, cable from Director of CIA to Director of FBI, DIA, Dept. of State Security, ACSI, ONI, OSI...reference is made to OUT 57734 re Frank Fiorini (note: 104-10221-10282); on 1/31/63 "another office of this agency received the following information from the M & M Dredging Company: 'Pedro Diaz Lanz now on Cay Sal and four of his boats passed Cay Sal this morning.' The direction of the boats was not given, but it was assumed that they were going south. The above information was given to representatives of the US Coast Guard...The above information is being made available to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, to the Bureau of Customs, to the Bureau of International Programs of the Department of Commerce, and to the U.S. Coast Guard."

104-10075-10139: JMWAVE CABLE RE AMWORLD AML STATING SHIP HAD PICKED UP 7 SURVIVORS FROM "THE CHIEF" WHICH REPORTED SUNK NEAR DRY TORTUGAS

11/21/63 cable WAVE 8002 from JMWAVE to Director: "On evening November 20 AMYUM-19/Cesar Baro told Guertler that AMWORLD-2 received message from AMWORLD AKL stating ship had picked up 7 survivors from "The Chief" which reported sunk near Dry Tortugas. AMYUM-19 advised have ship inform QKMAGNET and handle in normal manner. QKMAGNET patrol vessel to rendezvous with AKL and transfer survivor (to) QKMAGNET (and) not report (and) not advised of (CIA) interest in AKL."

104-10076-10408: JMWAVE CABLE RE NAME TRACE FINDINGS

12/13/63 cable WAVE 8977 from JMWAVE to Director: Spencer Meredith is president of Cuban Rescue, Inc. Subject found wreckage of Sigma II on 12/11/62. Meredith well known re sinking of Revenge about a year ago. Boat supposedly sunk by machine gun fire, but never recovered. "It was definitely established during QKMAGNET investigation that subject gave false information to QKMAGNET and other authorities...QKMAGNET has no definite bio info on Meredith but investigation of "Revenge" brought out that he lived with family in Varodaro, Cuba at time of Castro takeover...QKMAGNET describes Meredith as highly unsavory character who not to be trusted." See 104-10076-10417: 12/13/63 cable WAVE 8986 from JMWAVE to Director, ref WAVE 8977: "Check of QKMAGNET records" shows number of boat was former Sigma III boat "Pura Mercedes". Francisco Perez Rojas co-owner, Cuban national police officer in Chile. His father was Antonio Perez Quesada who was maritime guide for Comandos L-66 raiding party that shelled Soviet vessel Baku on March 28, 1963.

104-10308-10062: DISPATCH: OPERATIONAL/ UNSUCCESSFUL EXFILTRATION ATTEMPT

5/25/64 dispatch from Chief of Station, JMWAVE to Deputy Chief, WH/SA: "AMLEO-3 informed his c/o (case officer) that he had recently heard from his wife...she planned to participate in an exfiltration attempt...AMLE0-3 requested the c/o to alert QKMAGNET to this attempt...AMLEO-3 later claimed that he was the organizer of this aborted attempt.

104-10274-10252 CABLE: APPROX 1600 HOURS 23 JUNE QKMAGNET RECEIVED FOLLOWING INFO FROM MR. AL TERRABACCIO

6/24/64 cable from JMWAVE to Director: Al Tarabochia, the Miami police detective that worked for Senator Eastland's SISS, also described as a "regular QKMAGNET contact". Note his name is mangled in this report as Terrabaccio - or is it an alias?

104-10180-10312: CABLE: AMSWIRL/1 REPORTED THAT ON 11 JULY 64 AT 1230 HOURS LOCAL

7/12/64 cable from JMWAVE to Director: AMSWIRL-1/(Customs agent Cesar Diosdado) reported: "...QKMAGNET intercepted both vessels (leaving from Key West to Cuba - planning to infiltrate AMBANG-1/Manolo Ray)...QKMAGNET unit queried its HQS by radio...boats were released and allowed (to) continue. However, QKMAGNET warned that unclassified radio traffic had taken place and if boats continued towards (Cuba), they might be met with hostile reception party...both boats when released, reversed their direction and returned toward Key West."

Contributors:
Bill Simpich

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