In the first half of the 20th Century, there were several
revolutions in Paraguay, starting in 1904, then 1908, 1911-12,
1922-23, 1936 and finally 1947. In 1922, a huge internal crisis in
the Liberal Party led to a bloody revolution and for the first time
in the history of the country, both sides decided to use aerial
power against the enemy. There were not any airplanes available in
Paraguay at that time, and very few pilots, just three, so both the
government led by President Eusebio Ayala, and the revolutionaries
led by a couple of Army colonels, Chirife and Mendoza, searched for
foreign pilots and planes in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Many First
World War veterans emigrated to Latin America in search of a better
life, either opening flight schools or offering their services in
local conflicts. That is how some of them came to Paraguay with
their own aircraft, which were bought by either the government or
the revolutionaries. The three Paraguayan pilots offered their
services to the government, which soon established the first air
base near the capital, in a wide open field called `Nu-Guazu' (a
Guarani name meaning `Big Field'). Meanwhile, the rebels organized
their own air base, first near the city of Villarrica, and later in
Cango. The main types used by both sides were the Ansaldo SVA5 and
SVA10, but the government also managed to purchase a Breguet XIV,
an Armstrong Whitworth FK.8, a SPAD S.20 and a couple of SAML A.3.
Inevitably the first dogfights took place, and also bombing raids,
strafing enemy troops, and recce missions on both sides. Finally,
in mid-1923, the revolutionaries were defeated and one of the
consequences was the foundation of the Military Aviation School. In
contrast, the Revolution of 1947 lasted just a few months but it
was as bloody as the previous one, if not more so. The government,
supported by the Colorado Party, fought against the
revolutionaries, composed of almost 70% of the Army, Navy and Air
Arm, supported by the Liberal, Febrerista and Communist parties.
Regarding the Air Arm, it split in two, but at the beginning most
of the aircraft in flying conditions were used by the
revolutionaries, whose main base was the city of Concepcion, in the
north of the country. Soon, the government air arm had some
aircraft in flying condition although most of the Italian types
purchased in 1939 were out of service. Only Lend-Lease trainers
such as PT-19, BT-13, AT-6 types were used for recce and light
bombing raids, using mortar ammunition. Some weeks later, the
loyalists managed to repair some Caproni AP-1s to be flown against
the rebels. There were a few dogfights but no aircraft were shot
down in them, although some were lost due to AA fire. In the end,
the government could defeat the revolutionaries, mainly because of
the lack of tactical organization in the rebel forces. This is the
first in-depth account of them with data, pictures, maps and
profiles, some of them never published before.
General
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