There were several airstrikes planned and several made.
Some were not made and some were delayed. You need to at least admit that
the first airstrike was not 100% effective and left several Castro planes
operational. For that reason a second airstrike was require to remove
Castro's remaining planes. By now you should know that it was authorized
by Kennedy and was sent using the Alabama National Guard pilots. They were
shot down because the US Navy jets were not there to protect them from
Castro's planes. That was the second airstrike. The one that Kennedy
authorized. The problem was that someone in the CIA sent the US Navy jets
at the wrong time 6:30 AM Cuba time. The B-26s left Nicaragua shortly
after 3:30 AM and would arrive 3 hours later. 6:30 Nicaragua time. But
that is 7:30 Cuba time. The B-26s were easily shot down by Castro's T-33's
which the CIA did not even know were armed. Even Bissell said in his oral
history that he was never able to get to the bottom of the confusion over
the time zones.
Here is the cable the CIA sent authorizing the 6 US Navy jets to fly
passive air cover. NB the time the cable was sent and the authorized hour
of air cover.
140. Telegram From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Commander in Chief,
Atlantic (Dennison)
Washington, April 19, 1961, 3:37 a.m.
//Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series,
Cuba, Subjects, Taylor Report. Top Secret; Exclusive; Flash. Also sent to
CTG 81.8. A chronology maintained in the Office of the Chief of Naval
Operations indicates that the instructions in this telegram resulted from
a conference at the White House. (Naval Historical Center, Area Files,
Bumpy Road Materials) The conference cited in the chronology was the one
listed in the President's appointment book as having begun at 11:58 p.m.
on April 18 and concluded at 2:46 a.m. on April 19. No participants are
listed for this off-the-record meeting on Cuba, and no other record of the
meeting has been found. (Kennedy Library, President's Appointment Book)
JCS 994369. Bumpy Road. Exclusive to Adm Dennison and RAdm Clark from JCS.
1. TG 81.8 to furnish air cover of 6 unmarked aircraft over CEF forces
during period 0630 to 0730 local time 19 April to defend CEF against air
attack from Castro forces. Do not seek air combat but defend CEF forces
from air attack. Do not attack ground targets. Pilots carry as little
identification as practicable. If necessary to ditch, ditch at sea.
2. CEF transport aircraft, to include C-46, C-54 and possibly C-130 types,
are scheduled to air drop supplies to CEF forces in beachhead from 190630R
to 190730R./1/ Friendly B-26's are scheduled to attack Castro tanks and
forces in vicinity of beachhead during same period.
/1/6:30 to 7:30 local time.
3. U.S. Col. Robertson will land on beach by small boat during same
period for consultation with CEF commander.
4. CEF very short of supplies and are being requested by other agencies to
break out from beach as soon as practicable either as organized force or
as small bands of guerillas. If this is not possible it may become
necessary to evacuate CEF forces at last resort. Should this be necessary
will probably use CEF ships but have Phibron 2 in position about 30 miles
from beach by 191300R/2/ prepared to conduct evacuation from Blue Beach or
other designated beach at 191700R/3/ using unmarked amphibious craft with
crews in dungarees so that they will not be easily identified on beach. If
evacuation by U.S. ships ordered furnish air cover to protect landing
craft and keep amphibious shipping not less than five miles from beach so
as not to indicate U.S. ships are involved. What is latest time you will
need executing order to evacuate at 191700R?
/2/1 p.m. local time.
/3/5 p.m.
5. Make frequent reports after operation begins.
6. New subject. Furnish air cover to CEF ships more than 15 miles from
coast as practicable./4/
/4/At 6:30 a.m., Clark cabled to Dennison: "Will devote my entire
resources to execution JCS 190837Z [JCS 994369]." (CTG 81.8 telegram
191130Z to CINCLANTFLT; Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road
Materials)
http://www.justmaps.org/maps/images/thematics/timezones-map.gif