--- title: "This is why Fidel Castro froze the body of an American airman" description: "The CIA denied recruiting civilians in the National Guard for air support and hit the field headquarters of Fidel Castro with Napalm." date: "2021-09-01" modified: "2022-10-24" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/fidel-castro-froze-the-body-of-an-american-airman/" categories: - "Air Force" - "Cold War" - "History" - "War History" --- # This is why Fidel Castro froze the body of an American airman ![]() Lieutenant Thomas "Pete" Ray, a member of the Alabama Air National Guard, was shot down during the disastrous 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. When he was found by Cuban soldiers on the ground, he was shot along with his flight engineer Leo Baker. Unlike Baker, Ray's body was frozen for the next 18 years. At the time of the invasion, the [CIA]() denied any American involvement. The agency also denied recruiting civilians in the Alabama Air National Guard to provide air support and hit the field headquarters of Fidel Castro with Napalm. But [survivors of the failed venture say they definitely were involved](). ![Thomas Ray frozen by Fidel Castro]() *Lieutenant Thomas "Pete" Ray* Fidel Castro wanted to prove the Americans were not only responsible but they were providing real support to the invasion. That's why he kept the airman on ice. But the U.S. government would not take responsibility and so could not repatriate Ray's body. The CIA would have to admit they were involved. Which meant they would have to admit their failure. Cuba told the world it had Ray's body, so the body was no secret. The Cubans, [according to the LA Times](), were puzzled. In December 1979, the cuban government learned that Ray's daughter was attempting to negotiate the release of her father's body. ![fidel castro froze airman]() Ray's body was held for 18 years. The CIA denied involvement in the Bay of Pigs invasion until 1998 when they admitted U.S. pilots were shot down. But the agency never owned up to knowing where Ray's body was. The LA Times forced the CIA to admit that Ray was one of theirs. The CIA waited until the events surrounding the death of Ray and other members of their secret air force were declassified. They also revealed that Ray was awarded the CIA's highest honor, the Distinguished Intelligence Cross, and his name was added to the Book of Honor in the foyer of CIA headquarters. ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()