Del Pino joined Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement at the age of 17, in December 1955.
In early 1958, he returned to Cuba and joined Fidel Castro's guerrillas in the mountains of Sierra Maestra.
[1] As a result of the decisive role of Cuban pilots during this historic event, president Fidel Castro declared them "Heroes of Playa Giron".
In October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, General Rafael del Pino was assigned to assist President Fidel Castro in all matters regarding the Air Force.
He decided to flee on May 28 of that year, flying in an Aero Caribbean twin engine Cessna 402 to Key West, Florida, with all of his family.