Cryptonym: ZRRIFLE
Flawed Patriot, by Bayard Stockton, Chapter 8
Chapter 8 of this book is devoted to Project ZR/RIFLE. From page 152: "The ZRRIFLE project name first appears, as far as is known, in May 1961, six months before Harvey was given the Castro assignment..."
The Road to Dallas, by David Kaiser, p. 77
from the book: Within the CIA, the new assassination program, code-named ZRRIFLE, was officially listed as an FI/D operation...
Jeremy Gunn's finding aid prepared by the CIA's Analysis and Review Staff: "Executive Action - CIA assassination task force. Headed by (Bill Harvey). It was covered as an FI/D operation. McCone testified he never knew of Executive Action/ZRRIFLE while at CIA."
The Church Committee's Interim Report on CIA assassination plots delves into ZR/RIFLE at some length, and is an invaluable resource for understanding the "executive action" program.
104-10103-10318: HANDWRITTEN PAPER CONCERNING PROJECT ZRRIFLE
William Harvey's handwritten notes on project ZR/RIFLE is among the few documents about the project which were committed to paper. Ironically, it contains the admonitions "No projects on paper except for cover" and "never mention word assassination." It also contemplates the need for false documentation within CIA files to protect the operation from exposure: "Cover: planning should include provision for blaming Czechs or Sovs in case of blow" and "Should have phony 201 in RI to backstop this, documentation therein forged and backdated. Should look like a CE [CounterEspionage] file." Investigators of CIA records beware.
Paper on the ZRRIFLE files: PAPER ON THE ZRRIFLE FILES
This one-page excerpt has some interesting historical information about the project.
157-10004-10068: SUMMARY CHRONOLOGY OF ZRRIFLE/QJWIN ACTIVITIES
ZRRIFLE was run out of the cryptological counterintelligence shop (Staff D) in the Bureau of Foreign Intelligence. Here can be found summaries of many of the key ZRRIFLE documents.
104-10425-10009: MEMO FOR: AUTHORIZATION OF ZRRIFLE AGENT ACTIVITIES
2/19/62 memo from Richard Helms to William Harvey provided specific authorization to hire QJWIN and others for project ZRRIFLE. It requests that "this activity be handled on an EYES ONLY basis."
104-10185-10016: NO CONTACT DURING ROZENEY ABSENCE CONTEMPLATED AT PRESENT
6/21/62 cable from REDACTED, FI/D to Luxembourg, slugline RYBAT ZRRIFLE: "...Request you arrange prior (to) your departure that station secretary can pass on simple message to QJWIN if necessary. Understand Rozeney ETA HQS 16 July. Since Fagg will be absent please contact Presland (note: William Harvey) directly on arrival re QJWIN." Marginalia says "PSM - WKH". According to Harvey's biographer Bayard Stockton, "PSM" means "Please See Me". WKH are Harvey's initials. For other incidents of "Please see me" - often by Harvey, see July 1960 memo of Pepin Fernandez aka "Lucas" as new internal MDC coordinator in Cuba - 104-10271-10052; 1/13/61 memo to Martha Tharpe before Bay of Pigs - 1993.11.10.08:36:26:340005, p. 128; July 1961 REDSKIN memo has marginalia "Anita, PSM, whk" - 104-10219-10200; during Feb. 1962 and the onset of MONGOOSE - 104-10174-10068, p. 174;
157-10004-10068: SUMMARY CHRONOLOGY OF ZRRIFLE/QJWIN ACTIVITIES
1976 summary: "ZRRIFLE is ostensibly a program to recruit criminals for teams which could break into foreign embassies to steal codes. However, there is evidence in the files that this purpose, though useful to the Agency, was in reality a cover for another operation. From other sources, it appears the real purpose was at least kidnaping and possibly murder. ZRRIFLE was run out of the cryptologic counterintelligence shop (Division D) in the Bureau of Foreign Intelligence. It began sometime in late 1960/early 1961, and lasted until at least mid-1963, although payments to its principal agent QJWIN were continued into mid-1964."
1993.06.28.18:55:52:120330: LETTER FROM GERALD P. HEMMING REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY FO
In an FOIA/PA request to Naval Investigative Services, Gerry Hemmming asks for documents referring to "Operation ZRRIFLE from 1961 through and including 1965, specifically all memoranda or information which refer to the murder of a Castro Cuban spy at Guantanamo Naval Base, wherein were involved the following US military personnel, including but not limited to: (A) Captain Arthur J. Jackson, USMC; (B) 1LT William A. Szilli, USMC, and others."