Paraguay – aircraft on stamps  – Part I  

Hello and welcome again to a new series of aircraft on stamps.  A short series as I only have a few days before I will be on a plane myself, to Australia. So Paraguay it is. I thought Australia deserved more than a few  days of writing.

This first stamp is from a 1929 issue. I have no idea what aircraft it is or even if it is just an artist impression which is  most likely as it would have difficulty flying with no tail!!!!!! 

Interesting early aviation history –    and this below from the  introduction to Aerial Operations in the Revolutions of 1922 and 1947 in Paraguay: The First Dogfights in South America (Latin America@War) Paperback – January 4, 2019 by Antonio Luis Sapienza (Author) –  so with all credit and acknowledgement  to him

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 ‘Ñu-Guazú’ (a Guaraní name meaning ‘Big Field’).

Meanwhile, the rebels organized their own air base, first near the city of Villarrica, and later in Cangó.

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.

More tomorrow.  Have a lovely day.

Michael  cddstamps.com …. Please visit my online store https://www.hipstamp.com/store/cddstamps    where I have some interesting aviation related covers and stamps.