Boeing Stearman Model 75, part five. The Stearman in America, part two. Canadian, Colombian, Cuban and Dominican users

 

The Boeing Stearman PT-13/17 Kaydet is an American double winged two-seater basic trainer that was developed during the 1930s and was exported to various countries around the world, among them, the following ones:

• Canada: The first Canadian user of the Stearman was Trans-Canada Airlines, which bought three Model 73 (PT-13) in 1937 and used them for surveying new routes and pilot training. They were employed until two years later, 1939 and sold soon later.
  However, the most known Canadian usage of the Kaydet was the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), which employed three-hundred PT-17 (locally known as PT-27) bought by the Royal Air Force (RAF) under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in spring 1942. The Stearmans were to be used by the No. 3 Flying Instructors' School in Arnprior, Ontario and four additional elementary flying schools in the Canadian prairies. 
  However, they were initially delivered without winter and night-flying equipment (an enclosed canopy) and in November 1942 they were returned to the United States Army Air Force in exchange for the Fairchild Cornell. 
  Other RCAF's units which used the Kaydet were Test and Development Establishment of the RCAF and No. 36 Elementary Flying Training School in Alberta. 
  
  
• Colombia: In 1942 the Colombian Air Force (CAF) acquired an unknown number of PT-17 Kaydets to employ them at their Military Aviation School as basic trainers. They were employed in this role for many years, until 1954 when they were gradually replaced by the much modern Beech T-34 Mentor. The last PT-17 serving with the CAF was retired in 1957. Many were sold to private aeroclubs and some are fly worthy nowadays.
  
  
• Cuba: The Cuban Army Air Corps (CAAC) bought seven Stearman Model A73B1 (a Model 73 powered by a Wright R-790 Whirlwind engine) which were delivered between July 1939 and March 1940. Later, when the United States entered the war in December 1941, Cuba was sold a total of 48 trainer aircraft as part of a lend-lease system, in order to watch the entrances to the Gulf of Mexico against German U-Boats, as a total of four Cuban merchant ships were sink, killing a total of 56 Cuban sailors. 
  Among those 48 aircraft, were six PT-17s (numbers 38-39-40-41-42 and 43) delivered in July 1942 and three additional N2S-4 (numbered 44-45-46) in June 1943. 
  They all were flown under Aviation School located presumably in Rancho Boyeros. 
  
  
• Dominican Republic: The Dominican Military Aviation Corps employed a total of 25  PT-17s during the 1950s. They were replaced by more modern types such as the Beech T-34 Mentor. 
  
  

Sources:

1st https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing-Stearman_Model_75

2nd https://canadianflight.org/content/stearman-a75n1

3rd https://www.vintagewings.ca/boeing-pt-27-stearman

4th https://www.warplane.com/aircraft/collection/details.aspx?aircraftId=6

5th https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2649381015292344&id=1414675768762881&set=a.1415050675392057&locale=ms_MY (translated)

6th https://www.urrib2000.narod.ru/Mil1-4.html (translated)

7th https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuerza_Aérea_de_República_Dominicana#Antiguas_Aeronaves (translated)

de Havilland Vampire. Part Six. More American Users

 

The de Havilland Vampire is a British jet fighter aircraft designed and developed by the de Havilland aircraft company. It was used by many countries all around the world, among them the following ones:

• Dominican Republic: In 1952 the Dominican Cuerpo de Aviación Militar (Military Aviation Corps) sought to buy 25 ex-Swedish Vampire F.Mk.1 (known as J-28A in Sweden) via Henry Wallenberg, a Swedish broker. The Vampires were shipped to Santo Domingo at the end of 1955. 
  Although the J-28A/F.Mk.1 was basically a fighter the Dominicans modified them to a fighter-bomber role by adding their own electric bomb release gear. The Dominicans were so impressed by the Vampire that they sought for more J-28As, but, as they all had been disposed of, they had to switch to 17 surplus ex-Swedish J-28Bs/FB.50, which were shipped to Santo Domingo in early 1957. 
  Some of those Vampires saw action during June 1959 when some Cuban revolutionaries attempted to land on the Dominican island. 
  Some were used later in 1965 during the Dominican Civil War. The Vampire was in active service with the Aviación Corps first and the Dominican Air Force later until 1974.
• Mexico: The Fuerza Aérea Mexicana (FAM - Mexican Air Force) began a modernization process in 1960 and, for that purpose, they acquired 15 Lockheed T-33A jet trainers and 15 Vampire F.Mk.3 from the Royal Canadian Air Force. The Vampires were delivered between February 1961 and 1962. In service with the FAM, they were painted green overall with yellow bands in the tail booms and drop tanks, making them to be commonly known as 'Aguacates' (Avocados). 
  The first unit to be equipped with the Vampire was the Escuadrón Aéreo de Pelea 200 (Fighter Aerial Squadron 200). Two ex-Royal Air Force Vampires T.11 were also bought in 1962 to be employed as trainers. Most of the Vampires were in active service with the FAM until 1970, when they were placed into storage. Some were later handed to an aerial school in Zapopan to be employed as ground instructional airframes. 

Sources:

1st https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Vampire

2nd https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_DH.100_Vampire (translated)

3rd Hall Park Books - Warpaint 27 - De Havilland Vampire

Vought OS2U Kingfisher, part two

The American floatplane Vought OS2U Kingfisher was supplied to many foreign countries, among them the following ones:

• Argentina: It seems that, in 1944 one Uruguayan Kingfisher got lost during a flight and had to force land in the Argentinean city of Mar Chiquita. It seems that the aircraft was interned and the crew was returned to Uruguay. However, other sources claim that nine machines were supplied to Argentina in 1942. As the text mentions to Argentine Kingfisher are scarce and there isn't graphical evidence, the drawing should considered as speculative.
• Chile: The Chilean Air Force got their first Kingfisher in 1942 and were assigned to Grupo Nº2 (Group Number 2). They were employed for recon and patrol duties and were active until 1957, when they were written off. One of them was used by Teniente 1º (1st Lieutenant) Arturo Parodi Alister to fly over Deception Island, in the Antarctica for half an hour in recon and aerial photograph missions as he and his Kingfisher was part of the Chilean expedition that set up the first Chilean permanent base in Antarctica.
• Cuba: The Cuban Air Force received in July 1942 three Kingfisher in order to perform anti-submarine patrols. They were assigned to the Cuban Navy and served well until the late 1950s. They saw action in the Cuban Revolution too, as they were used for anti-guerrilla operations by the government forces. One Kingfisher was captured by the rebels on 7th December 1958 and was used for bombing the besieged encampment of the garrison in La Maya, making them to surrender. Once the revolution was over and somewhat consolidated, the Kingfisher was written off.
• Dominican Republic: Three machines were sold to the Dominican Republic, most probably in 1942 and were used in the patrol and reconnaissance roles. They were active until the late 1950s when they were written off. As there isn't graphical evidence of their service with the Caribbean country, the colours and registration should be taken as speculative.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_OS2U_Kingfisher

2. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_OS2U_Kingfisher (translated)

3. https://aeropinakes.com/wordpress/1958/05/21/los-primeros-aviones-de-la-far/ (translated)

4. https://www.fach.mil.cl/images/boletin/historico_diciembre18.pdf (translated)

5. http://www.pilotoviejo.com/os2uhistoria.htm (translated)