Rivas, Santiago British Combat Aircraft in Latin America

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 2, 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 Argentinas 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 detat, Dominican Vampires, Mosquitoes and Beaufighters in internal struggles.

After the Second World War, Britain was happy to sell the most modern equipment to the region, which gave it an advantage over the USA, which had previously been the main supplier of aircraft to Latin American air forces. This was one of the main reasons why many air forces bought British fighter aircraft until the 1970s. British-made aircraft flew combat missions, for example during the Argentine revolution in 1955 and, ironically, the Argentines used British BAC "Canberras" against the British forces during the Falklands War in 1982. Furthermore, Cuban "Sea Furies" were used during the Bay of Pigs invasion, Peruvian "Canberras" in the course of conflicts with Ecuador and Chilean Hawker "Hunters" during the coup d'état in 1973.