Service history

1943

After 1943 Tiger Moths were no longer used for primary flying courses. Of the surviving 12 aircraft the different Air Bases had three machines each, whilst the EMAer secured the remaining six; and three of them were on overhaul from the beginning of the summer, plus No 604 which, having had an accident the previous April, was still under repair at the DGTAG&S.

Condition of Tiger Moth fleet,  January 1942  (FO= ready to flight  /  AOG= aircraft on ground)

Given that the aeroplanes assigned to the Air Bases were used only for communications duties and to maintain pilots in flying practice, we will focus our attention on the activities developed at the School.

At the beginning of the year, despite having only four aeroplanes the EMAer still had various missions assigned to the Tiger Moth fleet. Individual aircraft were prepared for specific tasks: Nos 601 and 607 were instrument equipped for night flight; 606 was fitted with cameras for photographic reconnaissance and 603 for target towing whilst 604 was maintained as reserve.

As the result of national elections a change of Presidency was realized on 1 March. As was already accepted practice, military celebrations included an air display.

During the previous week the aircraft destined for this were concentrated at Pando and flew extensively for formation training.

On the first day of the month 20 aircraft took off divided into two groups composed of eleven Fairchild PT-19A and nine DH82A Tiger Moths. In command of the first group and designated formation leader was the Director of the EMAer, Major Isaias Sanchez, flying 631, whilst Sub Director Major Gustavo Bernadou piloted 600 as the lead aircraft in the Tiger Moth formation.

de Havilland, Squadron during the air display of 1 March 1943

In January nine pilots from the National Navy had been entrusted to the school: Marine Guards Oscar Tagle and Enrique Falco, after undergoing instruction in the PT-19, moved rapidly on to the Tiger Moth in June. On 10 March M/G Falcon had one dual flight of half an hour and on the following day, after a ten minute circuit was sent off solo in 607.

The Course for the Junior Lieutenants who had joined the previous year, also occupied many hours in the Tiger Moths although by then and generally, the aircraft were flown almost exclusively by First Sergeants and pilot instructor Sergeants from the institute.

On 17 July after final exams a grand formation demonstration was held with 20 aircraft. Twelve PT-19As and three of the Curtiss SNC-1 were flown by the Jr. Lieutenants of the Application Course, followed by a squadron of five Tiger Moths piloted by junior instructors.

de Havilland, Squadron at the end of the course in 1943 at the EMAer

During the second semester of the year, almost all of the activity of the Tiger Moths based at Pando was under the command of these five. They maintained the training routines in the Tiger Moths with frequent local formation flights, towing the 'sausage' for firing practice by the Curtiss SNC-1 '.30mm' and carrying out the daily administrative missions as couriers and communicators.

Towards November, three of the five naval officers who had begun to receive instruction in July on the PT-19, finished this phase and moved on to the DH82A. They were M/G Julio Rico, Adhemar Torres and Julio Güimil, who would continue their training following the recess in December.