British Combat Aircraft in Latin America - Hardcover

Rivas, Santiago

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1902109570 ISBN 13: 9781902109572

Publisher: Hikoki, 2019

Synopsis

This book covers the story of all the British military aircraft that served in Latin America since 1940. Though the presence of British combat types is now almost gone from the skies over Latin America, its legacy will last for a long time.

After World War II, Britain was happy to sell the most modern equipment to the region giving it an advantage over the United States, hitherto the main provider of planes to Latin American air forces. This was one of the main reasons why many air forces chose to buy British combat aircraft up to the 1970s.

In many countries Gloster Meteors or de Havilland Vampires were the first jet combat aircraft, while the Argentina’s Avro Lancasters and Lincolns was once the most potent bomber force in Latin America. BAC Canberras had five South American operators, were the only jet bombers in use in the region and saw action several times. Combat activity by British types include Argentine planes used during the 1955 revolution and ironically Argentine Canberras in action during the Malvinas/Falklands War against British forces, Cuban Sea Furies over the Bay of Pigs, Peruvian Canberras in the conflicts with Ecuador, Chilean Hunters during the 1973 coup d’etat, Dominican Vampires, Mosquitoes and Beaufighters in internal struggles.

About this title

From the Back Cover

In the aftermath of World War II, Britain had some of the world’s most advanced military aircraft, and the decision to start selling its modern warplanes to Latin America gave it an advantage over the United States who had been the main provider of planes to Latin American air forces until that point. This was one of the main reasons why so many South American air forces chose to buy British combat aircraft right into the 1970s.

In many South American countries, their first jet combat aircraft were British, while the Argentina’s Avro Lancasters and Lincolns gave it the most potent bomber force in Latin America. BAC Canberras had five South American operators, and as the only jet bombers in use in the region, they saw action several times. Combat activity by British types include Argentine planes used during the 1955 revolution and ironically Argentine Canberras in action against British forces during the Malvinas/Falklands War. Exported British aircraft also saw action over the Bay of Pigs in Cuba, in the Peruvian conflicts with Ecuador, during the Chilean 1973 coup d’etat, as well as in various internal struggles.

Meticulously researched and featuring numerous illustrations, British Combat Aircraft in Latin America is a remarkable book and a fascinating study on a little known aspect of military aviation history. Though British combat types is now almost gone from the skies over Latin America, their legacy will last for a very long time.

About the Author

Santiago Rivas specializes in Latin American aviation and defence matters, both historic and recent and manages the main defence and aviation archive in Argentina providing material for more than 40 magazines around the world. He has published 13 books in six countries and took part in many others.

Edition details

• Publisher: Hikoki
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1902109570
• ISBN 13: 9781902109572
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 624