El Salvador Air Force / Aérea Fuerza - Early History
On May 2, 1912, the French aviator Francois Durafour arrived in Salvadoran lands from Guatemala, in the plane "Deperdussin" with a "Gnome" engine of 50 horsepower. Three days later, he demonstrated his magnificent qualities as an aviator pilot at the Campo de Marte, now a playground. At the end of World War I, many experienced and enthusiastic pilots, scattered all over the world, making sensational aerobatic flight exhibitions that were liked by all spectators. These and many other causes succeeded in awakening in the generations of the years 1913 to 1923.
Dr. Quiñónez Molina, who had followed with great enthusiasm the role of the fledgling aviation in the development of World War I, made him known, through the exchange of impressions with veteran friends and military, the role that the aviation, in many of its activities. On his return from Europe, he found that the rise of aviation in these latitudes was greater, and thinking of the possibility of assuming the Presidency of the Republic, by participating in political life, had the idea of incorporating the air element as an integral part of the Army, because there were military pilots and government aircraft, but these did not belong organically to the armed institution but existed as private elements at the service of the Government.
Finally, on March 20, 1923, the dream of a people became a reality, when the President of the Republic, Dr. Alfonso Quiñonez Molina, only twenty days after assuming such an important position and aware of the importance he would have in the development of country, decreed the creation of the "Salvadoran Air Flotilla (FAS)", which would later be called "Salvadoran Air Force (FAS)." For Dr. Quiñónez Molina, the development of aviation in El Salvador was important, reason why he spared no effort to promote it. Thus, in the last months of his presidential term, he bought a fleet of six planes from France, 5 of them of the type "Hanriot H320Et2s" and a "Breguet Bre14A".
On December 8, 1931, Brigadier General José Trabanino was dismissed and in his place was appointed the second lieutenant and aviator pilot Juan Ramón Munés, as Chief of the Salvadoran Aviation Corps. Under the orders of Munés, the Military Aviation had its baptism of fire, when participating like aerial weapon in the communist uprising of the 22 of January of 1932, carrying out missions of reconnaissance, machine-gunning and bombing with homemade bombs, positions of the red army in Juayúa, Izalco, Tacuba, Salcoatitan, Nahuizalco, Sonzacate, Sonsonate, Ahuachapán, Santa Ana and La Libertad.
The experience occurred in January 1932, gave the guideline so that the Government of the general Maximiliano Hernandez Martinez looked for the perfection of the Corps of Aviation. The pilots were trained in techniques of machine gunning, bombing and aerial photography, as well as new air material was acquired. In order to stimulate and at the same time reward the merits and time of service of the members of the Armed Forces, the Government of General Hernández Martínez, promulgated on July 23, 1932, an "Military Upgrades Act", which created the Special Escalade of the Salvadoran Aviation, that in its military branch comprised from the rank of second lieutenant to the one of major captain.
Under the orders of Munés, the Military Aviation had its baptism of fire, when participating like aerial weapon in the communist uprising of the 22 of January of 1932, carrying out missions of reconnaissance, machine-gunning and bombing with homemade bombs, positions of the red army in Juayúa, Izalco, Tacuba, Salcoatitan, Nahuizalco, Sonzacate, Sonsonate, Ahuachapán, Santa Ana and La Libertad. The experience occurred in January 1932, gave the guideline so that the Government of the general Maximiliano Hernandez Martinez looked for the perfection of the Corps of Aviation. The pilots were trained in techniques of machine gunning, bombing and aerial photography, as well as new air material was acquired.
On April 2, 1944, an outbreak of insurrection attempted to overthrow President Hernandez Martinez. This movement was supported by the FAS, which participated in the machine-gunning and bombardment of positions loyal to the President with AT-6 aircraft. As a result of this action, many pilots were shot and others who ran better luck, managed to escape to Guatemala; thus disbanded, flight personnel and military aviation activities suspended for a period of approximately four years. As a result of the revolution of April 2, 1944, Major Hernán Baron was discharged as Head of the Salvadoran Military Aviation, on April 6.
As head of the FAS, the great Baron directed on December 12, 1944, operations against an invading force of Salvadoran exiles from Guatemala. For this mission, five AT-6 aircraft were assembled to carry out low-altitude bombardment and machine-gunning of the attackers. On December 5, 1944, Captain Francisco Alberto Ponce was appointed Interim Chief of Military Aviation, replacing Major Hernán Baron, who became a military attache in Washington, USA. By 1945, El Salvador witnessed a series of turbulent political events, which led to several coups.
In May 1957, El Salvador began managing the purchase of fighter jets through the "Military Assistence Sales (MAS)" system with the US, because it only had three T-34s and two armed AT-6s . Twenty Goodyear FG-1D Corsair aircraft were purchased, fifteen of which would be in operational condition and the rest would be for spare parts. These aircraft were repowered and delivered in mid-1957. Along with the Corsairs, five North American SNJ-4 and SNJ-5 were also acquired.
In March 1958, with the assistance of the USAF mission, the Salvadoran government authorized the purchase of five disassembled Vought F4U-5 aircraft that would be used as a source of spare parts to maintain the 20 FG-1D fleet , of which only four arrived in the country and were never assigned any type of queue number. Due to how expensive it was for the FAS to keep flying the entire fleet of Corsair planes, in mid-1958 10 of them were stored in the hangars. The first acrobatic squadron of the FAS was formed with five Corsair planes painted blue and white. This squadron was presented in air shows throughout Central America from the late 1950s to the early 1960s.
The 100 Hour War is historically important for world aviation, where fought the last air-to-air combat of airplanes hunting with engines of piston, specifically, "Mustang" and "Corsario". In addition, it was here, where the "Corsair" built by the Goodyear faced the Corsair built by the Vought. We will not delve into the causes that gave rise to this war, nor to the participation of the infantry, since it is not our responsibility, but we will tell the facts in which the Salvadoran Air Force (FAS) had a direct participation.
On July 15, 1969, everyone knew the truth; El Salvador had initiated the "War of Legitimate Defense" or "War of National Dignity." The newspapers of America, with headlines highlighted the news of the surprise attack of the Salvadoran aviation, also the broadcasters of the isthmus transmitted with luxury of details all by minor of the situation.
Te FAS managed to achieve the following basic objectives: Maintain the Honduran Air Force outside the area of operations of the infantry troops, which were able to maintain the occupied territories until their delivery to the OAS; To prevent the bombing of the Goascorán bridge, keeping it intact for supplies of Salvadoran troops occupying Honduran territory, and for its subsequent withdrawal when delivering the conquered territories to the OAS, through an action of political and non-military force.
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