Approved for Release: 2025/06/11 C07177588
AIR
HZP-A-8134
Chief, WH
Chief of Station, Panama
Operational
Herminio DIAZ Garcia
Juan Manuel DELGADO, aka El Frances
INFO: Chiefs of Stations, Havana, San Jose, Guatemala, Caracas, and Bogota
References: (a). PACY 3508 dated 12 November 1957
(b). PACY 3511 dated 14 November 1957
1. In reference (a) it was reported that Herminio *DIAZ Garcia (born in Havana, Cuba, on 3 September 1923) and Juan Manuel *DELGADO Chavez (born in Manacás, Cuba, on 24 November 1927), aka El Frances, had been serving sentences in Costa Rican prisons for having been involved in a plot to assassinate President FIGUERES and were about to be released. In reference (b) it was reported that they had passed through Panama on 12 November 1957 on route from San Jose to Barranquilla, Colombia.
2. DIAZ and DELGADO returned to Panama from Bogota on 16 November as passengers aboard AVIANCA flight no. 746 and DIAZ left for Guatemala the same day as a passenger aboard PAA flight no. 516. DELGADO was given a courtesy visa and permission to stay in Panama for one month by order of the Office of the President, in spite of the fact that the Director of Migration recommended that he not be allowed to enter, because it was felt that no concrete charges had been filed against him. (B-3) The following data (personal) were obtained:
Name
: Juan Manuel DELGADO Chavez
Sandalio Herminio DIAZ Garcia
Place of birth
: Manacás, Cuba
Havana, Cuba
Date of birth
: 24 November 1927
2 September 1923
Sex
: Male
Male
Marital Status
: Married
Married
Nationality
: Cuban
Cuban
Occupation
: Aviator (pilot)
Bookkeeper
Passport data
: Cuban passport no. 29166, issued at Havana on 8 September 1955
Cuban passport no. 11838, issued at Havana on 6 May 1954
3. Attached for Headquarters only are photographs of DIAZ and DELGADO's passports
Approved for Release: 2025/06/11 C07177588