David Taylor on Rip Robertson

David Taylor on Rip Robertson

From what I understand BBC reporter David Taylor is working on a story - possibly for a documentary film, about the legendary CIA Agent Rip Robertson.  

About David - David C. Taylor

Robertson was the epitome of the agency's so-called "Cowboys," as portrayed by Doonsbury as "Havoc," who ran havoc where ever he went. 

Robertson helped train the Cubans for the Bay of Pigs invasion, and won their hearts by being one of two Americans to go ashore with them. 

Skpartacus on Rip Robertson

William Robertson also went on the Operation Tilt mission with William Pawley, John Martino and Richard Billings. 

https://images.app.goo.gl/PzBLyXXA4vxydxP1A

 

According to Taylor, he is investigating Robertson's participation in the Tilt mission, and has interviewed Billings, one of the participants. Billings was shown a photo of the crowd at Dealey Plaza, and identified one of the onlookers as Rip Robertson

 Google Image Result

I don't buy anyone's identification of people in photographs. 

He is also mentioned, along with Carl Jenkins, in the Dino Brugoni NPIC memo from during the Church Committee hearings in 1975. When eight NPIC technicians learned that the Church Committee was investigating CIA and Mafai plots to kill Fidel Castro, they came forward and said that they worked on a number of plans to kill Castro, in particular the Pathfinder Plan to kill Castro as he drove by in an open jeep on the way to the duPont estate at Veradero, which he frequently did. The NPIC employees said

they supported that plan by obtaining maps, aerial and satalite photos, blueprints and photos, and that the Pathfinder Plan folder was kept in their section of the JMWAVE station instead of the Operational File, where it belonged, giving it special status. 

In addition, they mentioned that Rip Robertson once led a maritime raid on Cuba in a speed boat with machine guns, driving close to shore and shooting up a house that allegedly belonged to Castro's brother. 

This raid was not approved, and indicated Robertson's willingness to ignore the chain of command and act as a rogue agent. 

While I am glad Taylor is focusing on such an interesting character who is at the right place at the right time - JMAVE - early 1960s, I notice that Taylor has received awards and commendations from the CIA, much like Max Holland and Priscilla Johnson McMillan, so I don't trust he will venture into the areas I am most interested in. But I hope to be proven wrong.