Museum receives artifact donation from Mexican air force

 

Mexican air force Lt. Col. Daniel Mojica gives information about some of the artifacts to Terry Aitken during a donation ceremony of Mexican air force items from World War II April 29 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Aitken is the senior curator for the museum. (U.S. Air Force photo)

 

by Sarah Parke

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

 

5/1/2009 - DAYTON, Ohio (AFNS) -- The Mexican air force foreign liaison officer stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio presented National Museum of the U.S. Air Force officials here with World War II artifacts representing the 201st Mexican Fighter Squadron April 29.

 

Mexican air force Lt. Col. Daniel Mojica presented a pilot's uniform, hat and boots along with a reproduction of unit colors, insignia and research materials on behalf of the Mexican air force, called Fuerza Aerea Mexicana or FAM.

 

The 201st Mexican Fighter Squadron, or Aztec Eagles, the only Mexican military force to have served outside of their country's borders, were attached to the U.S. Army Air Forces 58th Fighter Group during the summer of 1945 in the Philippine Islands. They flew the P-47D Thunderbolt single-seat fighter aircraft for tactical air support missions. The squadron was composed of more than 300 volunteers -- 36 were pilots and the rest were ground support personnel.

 

The idea for the donation came about after the "Airmen in a World at War" exhibit opened in the museum's Air Power Gallery in 2007. The exhibit showcases uniforms, decorations and other artifacts from both Allied and Axis powers during World War II, including the United States, Britain, Brazil, Italy, Germany and Japan.

 

Additional research indicated that members of the Mexican air force also participated in the war. Mexico's joining the allied war effort was a reaction to German U-boat activities in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

On behalf of the museum, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Rafael Ramos communicated with the Mexican foreign liaison office at Wright-Patterson AFB about obtaining items associated with the Aztec Eagles to add to the exhibit.

 

"It took a lot of effort, but they were finally able to get a uniform," Colonel Ramos said.

 

The uniform contains original patches and pilot's wings with a corresponding hat and boots. Accompanying the donation was an official copy of the unit colors for the Mexican expeditionary air force especially produced for the exhibit. A print of the painting "Strike of the Aztec Eagles" by Jack Fellows signed by the surviving members of the 201st Mexican Fighter Squadron was also included.

 

"I am happy that we can donate these things to this wonderful museum," said Coloenel Mojica who worked with the Mexican air attache in Washington, D.C., and the ministry of defense in Mexico to bring these items to the museum.

 

"But, I think the remaining veterans of the 201st squadron will be the most excited," he said. "They were pushing for it and they will enjoy it when the exhibition is open."

 

"Although Mexico's contribution to the air war was limited, it was nonetheless very significant," said Terry Aitken, the museum senior curator. "Mexico joined with the other allied nations and fought bravely against the axis powers."

 

"We are deeply appreciative of this donation. These items will especially resonate with our visitors, many of whom are Hispanic," Mr. Aitken said. "We are eagerly looking forward to completing the exhibit because we want to show our visitors a part of history they may have never been aware of before and one of which we can all be proud."

I happened to read about Escuadrón 201 "Aztec Eagles" two nights ago while looking for WWII Philippine history. I thought it was great that this squadron joined in to support the Americans and the Filipinos in the Pacific. I realized they served overseas only for a very short time (June - November, 1945) but they still flew 96 combat missions in the Philippines & Formosa (Taiwan). And it's nice that they donated an Escuadrón 201 uniform, so that their service may be remembered.

 

~Rabbit

 

P.S. If anyone has pictures of Escuadrón 201's uniform, please post!

There is a great large color photograph in one of my books somewhere of Mexican pilots all grouped around before a mission. It is interesting because they are all in 100 percent American flight gear.

I love revisionist history...it can be so creative...

 

Here's what really happened:

 

Mexico nationalized the petroleum industry in 1938, without compensating the oil companies for the confiscation. The nationalization-without-compensation antagonized the US and for all practical purposes an embargo against Mexican oil was in effect.

 

Which didn't bother the Mexicans a bit, as they sold their oil to Germany and Japan until 1941.

 

The only reason the trade stopped was that the Axis could no longer pay for the oil. The Camacho administration then allowed for compensation to the US oil companies for the confiscations and the US then bought the oil the Axis couldn't pay for. Under US economic and political pressure, Mexico cut off diplomatic relations with the Axis after Pearl Harbor.

 

Mexico was forced into the war in June 1942, after the Germans began sinking Mexican-flagged oil tankers and directing espionage against petroleum facilities to prevent the US from getting the oil they couldn't buy.

 

The Camacho administration made lots of noise about getting in to the war and "gloriously defeating the ignoble enemy", Camacho himself babbling about personally leading the Army into combat, but did nothing until extreme pressure from the US and a faction within the Mexican military brought into existence the US & Mexico Defense Commission. Further pressure from this commission brought into being the Bracero Program (which would later be shamefully abused) and, eventually, the volunteers that were brought north and trained, clothed, and equipped by the US Army as the 201st Squadron.

 

The squadron did lose one member to combat, and their individual contributions should be remembered, but to wave them about as a symbol of Mexico's solidarity with anti-Axis forces is hypocritical to the point of ludicrousness. Mexico would gladly have followed Franco's example of "biased neutrality" had economics not forced them to the Allied camp.

Thanks Varangian... for filling in the blanks.