Mexican Air Force
| Mexican Air Force | |
|---|---|
Mexican Air Force symbol
|
|
| Founded | June 19, 1913 |
| Country |
 Mexico |
| Allegiance |  Secretariat of National Defense |
| Type | Air force and army aviation unit |
| Size | 11,770 personnel Approx. 363 aircraft. |
| Part of |
 Mexican Army
|
| Nickname(s) | "FAM", "Fuerza Aérea Mexicana" |
| Motto(s) | Honor, Valor y Lealtad "Honor, Valor & Loyalty" |
| Colors | Green, white, and red |
| Anniversaries | February 10 |
| Engagements |
Mexican Revolution World War II Chiapas revolt Mexican Drug War |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Carlos Antonio Rodríguez Munguía |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Low visibility roundel | .svg) |
| Fin flash |  |
| Guidon |  |
| Flag (unofficial) |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | PC-7, PC-9M, MD 500, T-6C+ |
| Bomber | T-6C+ |
| Electronic warfare |
Embraer R-99, P-99 |
| Fighter | Northrop F-5 Tiger |
| Patrol | UH-60, MD 500 |
| Reconnaissance | C-90A King Air, Sabreliner 75A, Fairchild C-26 |
| Trainer | PC-7, PC-9M |
| Transport | EC-725, Mi-17, Mi-8, Arava, C-130, Boeing 787, Boeing 757 |
The Mexican Air Force (FAM; Spanish: Fuerza Aérea Mexicana) is the primary aerial warfare service branch of the Mexican Armed Forces. It is a component of the Mexican Army and depends on the National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA). Since November 2013, its commander is Gen. Carlos Antonio Rodríguez Munguía.
The official predecessor of the Air Force was the Army's Auxiliary Aerial Militia Squadron (Escuadrilla Aérea de la Milicia Auxiliar del Ejército), created during the Mexican Revolution in April 1913 by the Secretary of War and Navy General Manuel Mondragón, who authorized pilots Miguel Lebrija and Juan Guillermo Villasana to bomb targets on Campo de Balbuena, in Mexico City.
On February 5, 1915, the leader of the Constitutionalist Army, Venustiano Carranza, founded the Arma de Aviación Militar (Military Aviation Arm), which would become the current air force. Its first commander was Lt. Alberto Salinas Carranza.
In 1925, due to the shortage of airplanes caused by World War I, Mexico set up the National Aviation Workshops (TNCA) to design and build its own airplanes and aeroengines. When U.S. Colonel Ralph O'Neill was hired to revamp the Mexican Air Force in 1920, he reported to General Plutarco Elías Calles that most of the aircraft available had to be replaced since they were obsolete and worn away. Therefore, Mexico acquired some British Avro 504K and Avro 504J airplanes, which later would be made in Mexico with the name Avro Anáhuac. In addition, in May 1920, Mexico acquired thirteen twin-engine bombers Farman F.50.
Between the years 1923 and 1929, Mexico found itself immersed in a wave of violent territorial, religious and military armed rebellions, which required the Air Force to quickly deploy its forces and provide air support wherever the federal army requested them. Some of these conflicts, that were decided mostly by the assertive use of the Air Force, are mentioned below.
...
Wikipedia