Killed after B-26 Crash
Baker is killed after surviving the crash of his B-26.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1961 in United States of America — Page 4
Explore 334 historical events and records for United States of America in 1961.
Historical records for United States of America in 1961
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 334 unique records.
334Unique records
4 of 9Page
32Named events on this page
22Named people on this page
7Places on this page
April
Killed during Final Air Mission
Gray dies when his B-26 crashes after being hit by Cuban fire.
Limited Air Umbrella Approved
Kennedy authorises limited fighter protection for the final exile B-26 mission.
Mad Dog Flight
Killed after surviving the crash of a B-26 bomber during the final Bay of Pigs air mission.
Mad Dog Flight
Killed when his B-26 bomber crashed into the ocean after being hit by Cuban air defense.
Mad Dog Flight
Killed after his B-26 bomber was shot down during the final air mission of the Bay of Pigs operation.
Mad Dog Flight
Killed when his B-26 bomber was shot down by a Cuban T-33 fighter.
Invasion of Cuba
The invasion force of Cuban exiles has been killed or captured by Castro
Public Responsibility Accepted
Kennedy states that responsibility for the operation rests with the President.
Survivor Search Continued
Dennison continues naval and aerial searches for scattered brigade survivors.
Cuba Study Group
President Kennedy asked General Maxwell D. Taylor, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Admiral Arleigh Burke and CIA Director Allen Dulles to form the Cuba Study Group, to report on lessons to learn from the failed operation
Cuba Study Group
Serves on the Cuba Study Group even as CIA leadership comes under criticism for the failed invasion
Cuba Study Group
Kennedy forms the Cuba Study Group to review the failed invasion.
Cuba Study Group
President Kennedy asked General Maxwell D. Taylor, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Admiral Arleigh Burke and CIA Director Allen Dulles to form the Cuba Study Group, to report on lessons to learn from the failed operation
Cuba Study Group Appointment
Robert Kennedy serves on the inquiry reviewing the failed operation.
Cuba Study Group Chaired
Taylor chairs the presidential inquiry into the planning and execution of the invasion.
Cuba Study Group Service
Burke serves on the presidential group examining the failed invasion.
Invasion of Cuba
President Kennedy asked General Maxwell D. Taylor, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Admiral Arleigh Burke and CIA Director Allen Dulles to form the Cuba Study Group, to report on lessons to learn from the failed operation
Taylor Inquiry Begins
Taylor begins examining decisions, intelligence and military assumptions behind the failure.
Marriage to Marina Prusakova
Oswald married Marina Prusakova in Minsk on April 30, 1961, after completing the required civil registration procedures.
Atlantic Fleet Support Arranged
Dennison directs Atlantic Fleet support positioned outside Cuban waters.
Bay of Pigs Policy Review
Robert Kennedy participates in administration discussions about the invasion.
Invasion of Laos
Kennedy suggests reconnaissance spying flights using Laotian markings
Joint Chiefs Review of Invasion Plan
Lemnitzer represents the Joint Chiefs during reviews of the operation.
Naval Planning Oversight
Burke oversees naval advice and support arrangements for the operation.
Task Group 81.8 Command
Clark commands the naval task group assigned to support and monitor the operation.
May
Area Redevelopment Act
The Act provides loans and assistance to regions experiencing persistent unemployment.
Lumumba University Application Rejected
Patrice Lumumba Friendship University rejected Lee's application because the institution was reserved for students from developing regions.
Bay of Pigs After Action Report
Lynch submits an after-action report describing the landing operation and the rapid deterioration of the invasion.
Landing After Action Report
Robertson submits his after-action account of the Bay of Pigs landing operation to the Taylor inquiry.
Freedom 7 Mercury
Shepard pilots Freedom 7 on the first crewed American suborbital spaceflight, demonstrating the basic Mercury spacecraft and recovery system.
Air Strike Cancellation Statement
Cabell gives Taylor a detailed statement explaining the circumstances surrounding cancellation of the D-Day air strike.
Death of Frank James Gary Cooper
Death of Frank James "Gary" Cooper
Death of Gary Cooper
Death of Gary Cooper
Intelligence Reorganisation Advice
Schlesinger advises Kennedy on intelligence organisation after the failure.
Moon Goal
Commits the United States to landing a man on the Moon.
Return to America Embassy Letter
The American Embassy received Lee's letter announcing his marriage and asking about possible prosecution if he returned to the United States.
Cuba Study Group Hearings
Testifies or is questioned during post-invasion reviews of CIA planning
Cuba Study Group Hearings
Defends CIA organization and planning before post-invasion reviewers
Operational Failure Investigation Expanded
Taylor's study group examines command, intelligence, air support and policy decisions that contributed to the Bay of Pigs defeat.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.