El Salvador Air Force / Aérea Fuerza - Civil War
The Salvadoran Air Force (FAS) played a rather modest role at the beginning of the civil war in 1981. Due to the limited human and material resources, their participation consisted of aeromedical evacuation missions and supplies to the terrestrial units, as well as limited narrow air support missions. But even with this lack of support, the Air Force demonstrated great potential in the conduct of operations.
On October 15, 1979, a coup d'état carried out by military youth overthrew General Carlos Humberto Romero and in place of a Revolutionary Government Junta. On this same date, the FAS Commandant takes over Lieutenant Colonel Juan Rafael Bustillo, who would serve as such during the next ten years. The year 1980 began with a climate of great social uncertainty and political instability as a direct consequence of the coup of October 15, 1979, as well as the daily actions of subversive groups that later formed the Front Farabundo Martí for the National Liberation (FMLN).
The insurgent anti-aircraft tactics were very primitive, but their concern to neutralize the aerial means was very great. On January 27, 1982, the FMLN launched an attack on the air base of Ilopango. The attack consisted of a "hand strike" (incursion) that caused the destruction of almost half of the aircraft.
Concern about increasing FAS's air capacity grew as a result of the attack on the Ilopango base. From 1982 began a period of transformation of the Air Force. Increased material resources; the maintenance and technification of the human element was improved and improved, thus increasing air capacity by more than 100%. This gave more thrust, speed and mobility to army operations. The transformation lasted approximately a year while continuously showing optimal results, even before finishing this stage. As of 1982, the capacity of flight with night vision gauges (NVG) was increased. Many students were trained abroad (mainly in the US), and more aircraft were purchased that would contribute to the total transformation of the FAS.
Among the types of aircraft purchased by the FAS was the A-37, a tactical bomber that added a high level of precision in the bombing; the O-2, a reconnaissance aircraft that gave flexibility to air operations, ordering and coordinating fires on Advanced Air Traffic Controller (CAA / FAC) missions, and UH-1H, a multipurpose helicopter, but mainly intended for the transport of supplies and personnel, equipped with two or four machine guns for their own protection.
One of the best features of newly acquired devices was the interoperability of their communications systems. The radio equipment allowed to maintain simultaneous contact with several units, mainly those of the army. This facilitated command and control, both in air and land units. This communication also greatly facilitated coordination at all levels and with all units involved in the battle, especially ground units.
The use of the A-37 allowed to concentrate a decisive fire power in the battle, in one or more points and in very precise form. The O-2 airplanes maintained a prolonged flight over the operational areas, allowing a thorough understanding of the tactical situation, in order to order the air fire (A-37) effectively. The UH-1H allowed the supply in combat zones, aeromedical evacuation and mainly, the disembarkation of combat of terrestrial units of the appropriate size, at a certain point (aerial assault). Air assault missions normally disembarked the troops at some distance from the target, which was taken by assault troops after saving that distance.
The largest contribution made by the FAS during the conflict can be expressed in three basic terms: Flexibility, Scope and Concentration of Fire. El Salvador is a very small and overpopulated country. The FAS demonstrated the ability to reach, in terms of minutes, any part of the country. This denied any opportunity to the FMLN to re-accumulate forces large enough to confront the army under similar conditions, forcing it to operate in small guerrilla warfare units with the concept of Prolonged People's War. The FAS was also able to adapt the experiences gained and articulate new doctrines and new types of operations, as well as their organization. In most cases, modifications were made to the aircraft to fulfill multiple types of missions. The concentration of fire provided by the Narrow Air Support missions provided the army with firepower in most battles. Although these effects were palpable at the tactical level, the importance of this tactical superiority became a demoralizing element for the FMLN and allowed sufficient time for the government to advance political and economic reforms.
In 1988 the Salvadoran Air Force had over 2,000 personnel, including an air defense unit, a security group, and some conscripts. The antiaircraft artillery battalion was equipped with twenty-four Yugoslav-made M-55 20mm guns and four self-propelled guns and was staffed with army personnel. From the mid-1970s to the late 1980s, the air force had acquired aircraft from Israel (French-made), France, Brazil, and the United States.
Although the air force suffered a major setback on January 27, 1982, when guerrillas attacked Ilopango Air Base outside San Salvador and destroyed 75 percent of the air force's inventory, the United States delivered replacement aircraft within weeks. With additional United States assistance, the air force built up quickly in 1985 and by late 1986 had a large helicopter force and a variety of other aircraft. Attrition continued to be high in the late 1980s, with a number of helicopters and other aircraft downed by guerrilla forces or mechanical failure.
In the late 1980s, the Salvadoran Air Force was organized into the Military Aviation School (Escuela de Aviacion Militar—EAM) and five squadrons: the Hunter Squadron (Escuadrilla de Caza), based in San Miguel; the Hunter Bomber Squadron (Escuadrilla de Caza Bombardeo), based at Ilopango Air Base; the Attack Squadron (Escuadrilla de Ataque) and the Transport Squadron (Escuadrilla de Transporte), also based at Ilopango; and the growing Helicopter Squadron (Escuadrilla de Helicoptero), with aircraft based at both Ilopango and San Miguel.
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