The Bay of Pigs invasion began 62 years ago on April 17, 1961, in what would ultimately be a failed attempt by US-backed Cuban exiles to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro. Brigade 2506, an invasion force of anti-Castro Cuban exiles, landed at the Bay of Pigs beach on the south coast of Cuba. They were quickly overwhelmed by Castro’s armed forces, and the invasion force was crushed two days later. Of the 1,400 members of the Brigade, more than 100 men were killed, and nearly 1,100 were tak