British Combat Aircraft in Latin America

In the aftermath of World War II, Britain had some of the world's most advanced military aircraft, and the decision to start selling its modern warplanes to Latin America gave it an advantage over the United States who had been the main provider of planes to Latin American air forces until that point. This was one of the main reasons why so many South American air forces chose to buy British combat aircraft right into the 1970s.

In many South American countries, their first jet combat aircraft were British, while the Argentina's Avro Lancasters and Lincolns gave it the most potent bomber force in Latin America. BAC Canberras had five South American operators, and as the only jet bombers in use in the region, they saw action several times. Combat activity by British types include Argentine planes used during the 1955 revolution and ironically Argentine Canberras in action against British forces during the Malvinas/Falklands War. Exported British aircraft also saw action over the Bay of Pigs in Cuba, in the Peruvian conflicts with Ecuador, during the Chilean 1973 coup d'etat, as well as in various internal struggles.

Meticulously researched and featuring numerous illustrations, British Combat Aircraft in Latin America is a remarkable book and a fascinating study on a little known aspect of military aviation history. Though British combat types is now almost gone from the skies over Latin America, their legacy will last for a very long time.