| Fuerza Aérea Mexicana |
By Santiago Flores
The Fuerza Aérea Mexicana was founed during the revolutionary period, when different revolutionary factions used aircraft
for aerial reconnaissance and bombings on ships as well as enemy positions. The majority of the pilots being American
mercenaries.
The first naval air combat on the American continent occurred in 1914 in Mexico. The Air Service, later known as the Mexican
Air Force, established its first airfield at Balbuena, just outside Mexico City. Aviation workshops producing aircraft of national design as well as engines were also established. The Air Force participated in many campaigns through the 1920's and
1930's in support of the army in putting down many rebel factions and armed bands, flying a number of Mexican, American,
French, English general purpose aircraft (DH DH-4B, Douglas O-2M, Farman F-50, Bristol F2B, Chance Vought
Corsairs O2U-2M, TNCA Serie B etc.)
During WW II the FAM undertook anti-submarine patrols using armed AT-6 Texans and Vought Kingfishers.
During the second half of the war the 201st Mexican Fighter Squadron of the Mexican Expeditionary Air Force, fought
in the liberation of the Philippines in 1945, flying Republic P-47D Thunderbolt fighterbombers, that would later serve
in the post war air force as the sole pure fighter of the FAM. During the 1960s the FAM received its first jet aircraft
in the form of the Lockheed T-33A and the DH Vampire Mk3, forming the first jet squadrons.
The seventies saw the beginning of the phase out of the majority of the lend-lease aircraft that served the FAM.
In recent years the FAM has undergone a major reorganization to meet the needs in the war against
drugs and in humanitarian roles. In the late nineties many Russian built helicopters were procured.
A decision concerning the fate of the Northrop F-5E/F fighters and the surviving T-33s has yet to be taken.
Recently six Hercules transport aircraft were bought and delivered
from either the United Kingdom and Israel, boosting the FAM's heavylift
capacities. Two additional Arava transports were also bought in 2002.
On the helicopter front, four Bell 412EPs were delivered during the
same year. A recent order for four ex-Israeli CH-53-2000 marks the
switch from Russian to American equipment. With the arrival of three
EMB145s the FAm now has a considerable airborne early warning capacity,
demanded in its ongoing counternarcotics battle.
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Photo: Carlos de Anda
Photo: Carlos de Anda
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Fuerza Aérea Mexicana
FAM Order of Battle 