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Mexico Aircraft
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Pre WW2
Mexican Aircraft WW2
Aircraft By TypeFighter Aircraft
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Bomber, Ground Attack and Torpedo Aircraft Douglas A-24 Dauntless Transport, Reconnaissiance and Communication Aircraft North American AT-6 Vought 02U-1 Corsair Seaplanes Vought Sikorsky OS2U-1 Kingfisher Training Aircraft Fairchild PT-19 Fleet 10A North American AT-6 Ryan ST Tezuitlan Vultee BT-13 Vultee BT-15 |
The Mexican Air Force in World War Two
Mexico declared war on the Axis powers after the sinking of two Mexican oil-tankers (Potrero de Liano and Faja de Oro) by German U-boats in May, 1942. The USA and Mexico had had an agreement in place for unlimited reciprocal use of airfields and facilities since April 1941 and after Mexico had declared war the USAAF established a number of training bases in Mexico to train personnel. Basic pilot training was done at Guadalajara after which the students moved to USAAF schools for advanced training. By July 1944 enough Mexicans had been trained to form three squadrons.
One of these, Expeditionary Squadron 201, had finished training and was commissioned for active service in February 1945. Arriving in the Philippines in March, it commenced operations as a part of the Fifth Air Corps USAAF flying Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. It continued to operate against Japanese forces in the Philippines, and later over Formosa, until the end of the war. The Squadron was commended by General McArthur, and because it was a highly visible example of Mexico’s war effort, it received a hero’s welcome when the personnel returned home in November 1945. |