Argentina: Warplanes of the Second World War preserved

Warplanes of the Second World War preserved in Argentina‍

The aim of this website is to locate, identify and document Warplanes from the Second World War preserved in Argentina.  Many contributors have assisted in the hunt for these aircraft to provide and update the data on this website.  Photos are as credited.  Any errors found here are by the author, and any additions, corrections or amendments to this list of Warplane Survivors of the Second World War in Argentina would be most welcome and may be e-mailed to the author at hskaarup@rogers.com.

Aviones de combate de la Segunda Guerra Mundial conservados en Argentina

Argentina

During the early years of the Second World War, Argentina maintained close relations with the Axis powers while officially remaining neutral.  These close relations with the Axis irritated the United States, which cancelled weapons shipments to the country while increasing shipments to Argentina’s neighbour, Brazil, in an attempt to pressure the Argentine government to abandon its ties with the Axis.  Newly elected president Ramón Castillo drew Argentina closer to the Axis; in 1942 Argentina approached Germany with a request to purchase airplanes, weapons, and other equipment.  Argentine General Domingo Martínez claimed that President Ramón Castillo was concerned over the country’s relations with Brazil, with Argentina facing an ultimatum from the US.  The Argentine government feared a potential invasion by Brazil and Uruguay backed by the US.  Castillo was initially determined to resist, and openly joined the Axis, believing that Argentina’s geography would allow it to withstand war.  Upon Brazil joining the Allied powers in August 1942, Argentina declared itself a non-belligerent, while still negotiating with Germany for weapons.  Castillo believed that the Axis would triumph in the Second World War.

In 1943 a military coup overthrew the Argentine government.  A military junta was established, led by Pedro Pablo Ramírez.  In 1944 the United States government labeled the Argentine government as “fascist” and enacted financial and trade restrictions against the country, urging other countries to do the same.  British officials captured Argentina‘s envoy to Germany, creating a diplomatic disaster for Argentina.  In January 1944, under pressure from Britain and the United States, Ramírez agreed to break all ties with the Axis powers.  Argentine nationalists were alarmed by this concession and forced Ramírez to resign.  For the remaining year of the war, the United States continued to maintain sanctions against Argentina due to its pro-Axis leanings.  Argentina only declared war on Germany in 1945, about a month before the end of the war.  The close ties between Argentina and Nazi Germany proved controversial near the end of the war and afterwards, as Nazi personnel and capital began to arrive in Argentina in 1944.  (Wikipedia)

(aeroprints.com Photos)

(Francisco Infante Photo)

Avro Lincoln Mk. II, ex-RAF (Serial No. RE351), Argentine Air Force (Serial No. B-004).  Acquired in Dec 1947, this aircraft flew with the Regimiento 1 de Bombardeo (1st Boming Regiment) until it was withdrawn in Aug 1967 having logged 2,200 flight hours.  It is painted as (Serial No. B-010), Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica (MNA) de Argentina, Morón - National Museum of Aeronautics, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

(aeroprints.com Photo)

Douglas DC-3 (Serial No. TA-05), .Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica de Argentina, Morón.

Douglas C-47B-15-DK Skytrain (Serial No. 15349) ex-USAAF, later TG-53 in the Argentine Air Force, Reg. No. LV-BEH.

(aeroprints.com Photo)

Dinfia I.Ae. 22 DL (Serial No. E.a.-701), trainer designed by the Instituto Aerotecnico (AeroTechnical Institute) in 1943, with a wooden structure, which resembled the North American NA-16.  Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica de Argentina, Morón.

(aeroprints.com Photo)

Focke-Wulf Fw 44 (Serial No. E.e-122), Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica de Argentina, Morón - National Museum of Aeronautics, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Junkers Ju 52/3mge (msn 4043), formerly the Argentine Air Force's T-158 is being restored by volunteers of the Grupo Tecnico de Restauraciones Aeronauticas (GTRA), at the Museo Nacional de Aeronautica, Moron, Buenos Aires province. This aircraft is the last remaining example manufactured by Junkers in Dessau, Germany.

(aeroprints.com Photo)

Morane-Saulnier MS.502 Criquet (Serial No. LV-ZIV).

North American B-25J Mitchell (Serial No. 44-31173), "Huaira Bajo", Reg. No. LV-GXH, being restored to airworthy status at Hangar 63, General Rodriguez Airport, Buenos Aires.  In service with the USAAF, this aircraft was converted to a TB-25N trainer

(Julio Benitez Photo)

Vought F4U-5 Corsair (BuNo. 121928), Museo de Aviacion Naval, Bahia Blanca NAS, Argentina.

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