Latin American pilots

Nacho · 30 September 2009, 06:11 PM

During WW1, were there any Latin American pilots in service?

Dario_Silva · 3 October 2009, 05:49 PM

Nacho
Throughout the war, from inception to completion even after the war, Latinamerican pilots were involved, I mean, a personal pilot, in bomber airplanes, training airplanes, fighter and others.
Latinamericans served in all belligerent countries, particularly I have found in all countries, except Turkey, Belgium and Austria-Hungary. (In aviation).
There were pilots who were only born in Latin America countries, other foreign parents, who decided to accept the call of the homeland of his parents, and also, a number of men, having no connection with any of the fighting countries, decided to volunteer to fight.
These pilots were from many Latin American countries. Those who contributed most were those who received greater European immigration.
Many of them never returned, others only were Europeans born in these lands, and there is another group, though European, come to Latin America with their lives after the end of the war, in different activities, most often not related to aviation.
There were pilots in good numbers in France, Italy, Germany, England, and only one (not confirmed) in the U.S.
There are many familiar names, brilliant performance.
Maybe the list is bigger than I possess. But I am still investigating, many years, with the help of many friends, acquaintances, through this forum.
I hope the comments are useful.
Greetings!
Dario

Nacho · 3 October 2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dario_Silva

Nacho
Throughout the war, from inception to completion even after the war, Latinamerican pilots were involved, I mean, a personal pilot, in bomber airplanes, training airplanes, fighter and others.
Latinamericans served in all belligerent countries, particularly I have found in all countries, except Turkey, Belgium and Austria-Hungary. (In aviation).
There were pilots who were only born in Latin America countries, other foreign parents, who decided to accept the call of the homeland of his parents, and also, a number of men, having no connection with any of the fighting countries, decided to volunteer to fight.
These pilots were from many Latin American countries. Those who contributed most were those who received greater European immigration.
Many of them never returned, others only were Europeans born in these lands, and there is another group, though European, come to Latin America with their lives after the end of the war, in different activities, most often not related to aviation.
There were pilots in good numbers in France, Italy, Germany, England, and only one (not confirmed) in the U.S.
There are many familiar names, brilliant performance.
Maybe the list is bigger than I possess. But I am still investigating, many years, with the help of many friends, acquaintances, through this forum.
I hope the comments are useful.
Greetings!
Dario

you wouldnt happen to have the names and or some information on any of these pilots?

GMU · 3 October 2009, 09:44 PM

I know a few.

Carlos Meyer Baldó : Venezuela

Tobías Bolaños : Costa Rica. Yes, Costa Rica. Was injured in France and returned to Costa Rica to develop local aviation. A current local airport bears his name.

Although not Latin American, Oswals Boelcke´s family had very strong connections to Argentina. I believe (read it somewhere) many family members live in Argentina and are Latin Americans. There is an Osvaldo Boelcke in Argentina.

Nacho · 3 October 2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMU

I know a few.

Carlos Meyer Baldó : Venezuela

Tobías Bolaños : Costa Rica. Yes, Costa Rica. Was injured in France and returned to Costa Rica to develop local aviation. A current local airport bears his name.

Although not Latin American, Oswals Boelcke´s family had very strong connections to Argentina. I believe (read it somewhere) many family members live in Argentina and are Latin Americans. There is an Osvaldo Boelcke in Argentina.

I believe it was Boelcke's father who had the ties with the Argentine people. And I think that Oswald was a scholar there for a while

ivstefano · 15 November 2009, 03:03 PM

I have more names-
Argentina-

Alexander Beck and Thomas Colwil-Jones were flying for Britain - both scored 11 victories (should check on it) while Eduardo Oliveros scored 9 while flying for Italians,
From Ecuador

Cosimo Rennella Barbatto scored between 5 and 7 for Italy,
Mexican

Ralph Ambrose O'Neill was flying for Americans and scored 6
and
Carlos Otto Meyer Baldo from Venezuela scored 5 for Germany...
Cheers!

ONEALM · 19 November 2009, 09:04 AM

Carlos Emanuel Arias, 218 Sq. RAF, Parents both born in Panama, but Carlos was very likely born in N.J.

john_g · 20 November 2009, 11:29 PM

Sidney Stuart Hume 66 squadron RFC from Argentina, he also had a brother Roland Cunningham Hume 70 squadron, who might have been born in Argentina as well.

See my Hume write up

john_g

66 Squadron

john_g · 21 November 2009, 12:01 AM

Roland C Hume was not a brother, but a cousin and had an address in B.A. Argentina.

john_g

Kalt · 21 November 2009, 01:53 AM

Other Argentinians pilots and observers/gunners were:

- Vicente Almandos Almonacid (Pilot and engineer, French Foreing Legion)
- Gerónimo Wilmart (Nieuport 24 pilot, Esc.N.155)
- Bernard (Bernardo) Artigau (Born in France but arrived to Argentina as a little child and soon become a Argentine citizen. After the war he returned to Argentina and played a key role in the development of the local aviation)
- Maximo von Fremery (German Air service)
- Mario Scherff (German Air service)
- Raul Simonini (Italy)
- Rafael Cappo (Italy)
-

Bertram Hutchinson Smyth. (Bristol fighter gunner)

A great number of members of the large Argentine-British comunity fight for their parents homeland, the same happened during WWII.

Recent investigations estimate that around 90.000 argentine citizens fought in WWI.

Regards,

Claudio