Uruguay: Warplanes of the Second World War preserved

Warplanes of the Second World War preserved in Uruguay

The aim of this website is to locate, identify and document Warplanes from the Second World War preserved in Uruguay.  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 Uruguay would be most welcome and may be e-mailed to the author at hskaarup@rogers.com.

El objetivo de este sitio web es localizar, identificar y documentar aviones de combate de la Segunda Guerra Mundial conservados en Uruguay. Muchos contribuyentes han ayudado en la búsqueda de estos aviones para proporcionar y actualizar los datos en este sitio web. Las fotos son tan acreditadas. Cualquier error encontrado aquí es del autor, y cualquier adición, corrección o enmienda a esta lista de sobrevivientes de aviones de combate de la Segunda Guerra Mundial en Uruguay sería bienvenida y se puede enviar por correo electrónico al autor a hskaarup@rogers.com.

Uruguay Air Force (la Fuerza Aérea Uruguay)

Aviones de combate de la Segunda Guerra Mundial conservados en Uruguay

The Uruguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya, abbreviated FAU) is the air branch of the Uruguayan Armed Force.   Initially part of the National Army, the current FAU was formed as an independent branch on 4 Dec 1953.

Aircraft flown by the Uruguayan Air Force in the 1930s and 1940s were mainly European and included the Potez XXV, A.2 TOE, the SPAD S.VII and S.XIII, the de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth, and the IMAM Ro.37.  Gradually, the UAF transitioned to American aircraft such as the Beech AT-11, Douglas C-47 Skytrains, Waco JHD and North American AT-6 Texan trainers, and North American B-25J Mitchell bombers.  North American F-51D Mustangs followed in the early 1950s.

Montevideo Aeronautical Museum

The Museo Aeronautico Coronel Jaime Meregalli, was founded in 1941 and is dedicated to preserving Uruguay's aviation heritage.  It has changed location several times, and is currently located  at Carrasco International Airport, roughtly 27 km from Montevidea, the capital of Uruguay.  It has a collectoin of 30 aircraft and numerous aviation artifacts on display.

In its early days, the museum held only personal pioneer objects, badges and uniforms.  Later, when a law was passed to create the Aeronautical Museum, the collection was transferred to the Municipal Cylinder on 18 Aug 1954 under the direction of Colonel Jaime Meregalli.  On 4 Dec 2013, new facilities were inaugurated at Air Base I, at the Carrasco International airport.  The director is Colonel Fernando Colina and the Deputy Director is Lieutenant Colonel Marcelo Pilón.  The Aeronautical Museum began in 1941 at the Captain Boiso Lanza Military Aerodrome, with an exhibition showcase which displayed a series of insignia of Uruguayan and foreign military pilots, and civilian aero clubs, under the direction of Colonel Jaime Meregalli.

After returning from missions in the United States, in 1949, Meregalli ran into difficulties in obtaining a place to continue the exhibition.  On 27 Nov 1952, Executive Power Resolution No. 11,698 was issued in the Bulletin of the Ministry of National Defense No. 3364, which designated a commission to study the creation of an Aviation Museum in Uruguay.  This Commission had been promoted by the General Directorate of Military Aeronautics.  On 4 Dec 1953, General Medardo Farías, an enthusiastic supporter of establishing an aviation museum, made a significant contribution by authorizing that one be established in the hall of the building attached to the headquarters.  At that time it was located on Uruguay Avenue corner Yi, in the city of Montevideo.  On 18 Aug 1954, by Resolution of the Executive Power number 14.272 (MDN Bulletin No. 3696), Jaime Meregalli was appointed as director of the National Aviation Museum.  He was allocated the aviation-related objects that had been preserved with the Aeronautical Exhibition held in Montevideo in 1941 and integrated them with those of the Uruguayan examples that had been displayed in the Aeronautical Exhibition of Buenos Aires in 1946.

Aircraft  that served in the Second World War that are on display in this museum include:

(F-5 Reporter Photo)

Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan, ex-USAAF (Serial No. 42-37235), came to Uruguay in 1947.

(USN Photo)

Curtiss SNC-1 Falcon trainer, USN (BuNo. 6421).

(F-5 Reporter Photo)

Curtiss Falcon SNC-1 (Serial No. E-205), built in 1942.  This aircraft is one of just four still in existence.

de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth (Serial No. 3619), Reg. No. 17 (1937-1941), Reg. No. B2-604, one of 18 purchased by Uruguay in 1935 to replace the country's fleet of Avro 504K primary trainers.  It is being restored.

(Lux Valens Photo)

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (Serial No. 510).

(F-5 Reporter Photo)

Douglas DC-3, Reg. No. CX-BDB.

Fairchild PT-26 being restored.

(Sot.virk. Niilo Helander Photo)

Focke Wulf Fw 44 Stieglitz, Reg. No. CX-AEI, Reg. No. CX-AEI, being restored.  An Fw 44 is shown in Finland, 22 July 1943.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Lockheed 18 Lodestar (Serial No.).  An example is shown in National Airlines markings.

(F-5 Reporter Photos)

North American B-25J Mitchell (Serial No.)

(F-5 Reporter Photos)

North American T-6G Texan (Serial No. 373), FAU, airworthy.

(F-5 Reporter Photo)

Piper AE-1 (Serial No. S-503), J5 Cruiser.

(Walter Mittelhoser Photo)

Potez 25, French twin-seat single engine biplane mulit-purpose fighter-bomber.  Photo is of a Potez in French service in 1932.

(F-5 Reporter Photo)

Ryan PT-22 trainer (Serial No. E-620).

(F-5 Reporter Photo)

Stinson 108-3 Voyager, Reg. No. CX-ALL.

Carrasco/General Cesáreo L. Berisso International Airport is the main international airport of Uruguay.  It also is the country's largest airport and it was located in the Carrasco neighborhood.  The region later formed part of Canelones, located in Ciudad de la Costa.

Capitán Corbeta C. A. Curbelo International Airport, formerly called Laguna del Sauce International Airport.  This airport serves Punta del Este, Uruguay, located in the adjoining municipality of Maldonado.  It is operated by Consorcio Aeropuertos Internacionales S.A.

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