98236. Identification Lab Examines Bay of Pigs Remains From Nicaragua

By Rudi Williams

American Forces Press Service



	WASHINGTON -- The Army Central Identification Laboratory in

Hawaii is examining bone fragments found in Nicaragua that could be

those of two fliers missing since the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion in

Cuba.

	"We have fragmented remains, but at this point we haven't

confirmed them as those of two individuals," said Johnny Webb, the

lab's deputy director. "It will take time to confirm them as two

individuals from that crash site. We have to go through the

identification process, which includes forensic anthropology and

dental examinations. It may require DNA comparison. We won't know if

we have remains of two individuals until the examinations are

complete."

	B-26 pilot Crispin Garcia Fernandez and navigator Juan de Mata

"Nabel" Gonzalez Romero crashed in the Nicaraguan jungle on April 19,

1961, during a flight supporting the U.S.-backed Bay of Pigs

operation. The crash site was so remote investigators and their

equipment were flown in aboard a Black Hawk helicopter, said team

anthropologist Bradley Adams. The only other access would have been by

riding a mule for a couple of hours from the nearest village.

	Arriving in Nicaragua March 15, the nine-member laboratory team

spent nearly three weeks excavating the area before uncovering what

might be remains of the missing air crew. The team also found wreckage

of the plane.

	"When we turned the plane over, there was an 'FA' on one of the

wings; the piece with the 'R' was missing," Adams said. "'FAR' refers

to the Spanish acronym for the Cuban armed forces."



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