kennedy thought it the perfect location to conceal american involvement ♪ but felix rodriguez and theresident changed more than just the landing site. ♪ april 1961, phase one of the three-day operation. american b-26 aircraft, piloted by cuban exiles took off from central america, their mission, come castro's airfield to destroy his air power. in havana, 18-year-old anthony was rocked by the blasts. >> i was getting ready to go to school. and it was like thunder. >> back in washington, jfk watched the operation unfold. as seen in this note pad from the president 's desk, he was clearly on edge. >> the president real ieed, my goodness, i can't keep the secret. i'm just going to wash my hand of the operation. >> kennedy cancelled the air support for the brigade. >> the air was controlled not by the exiles but the remnants of cuba's air force. >> 6:00 a.m., 17 april, phase two of the operation. 1300 men of brigade 2506 slog to shore. >> our boats came here in to the bay of pigs, landed here. secured this terrain. we controlled the air, established government and from there take over. >>