JMWAVE, CIA intelligence station in Miami, United States
JMWAVE was a CIA intelligence station based in Miami, operating from Building 25 at the former Richmond Naval Air Station. The facility served as the command center for operations against Cuba and maintained a network of hundreds of cover companies throughout South Florida to support its work.
The station was established in 1961 and served as the CIA's primary base for operations against Cuba through 1968, including planning for the Bay of Pigs invasion. It represented one of the largest intelligence operations ever conducted by the agency outside of direct military command.
The station employed thousands of Cuban exiles who became part of the fabric of Miami's community. These workers formed a network that reshaped the social and economic life of South Florida during that era.
The site is located on the grounds of the former Richmond Naval Air Station in Miami and is not open to the public. Visitors can view the historical location from the outside to understand its role in Cold War history.
The station controlled one of the largest private naval fleets ever assembled in the Caribbean, second only to the United States Navy and Cuban forces. This unusual maritime presence allowed the agency to conduct surveillance and operations across the surrounding waters.
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