![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bolivia |
Current Title: | Fuerza Aérea Boliviana |
Title in English: | Bolivian Air Force |
Abbreviation: | FAB |
Narrative Summary:
Military aviation started in 1916, when the Escuela Militar de
Aviación was formed in La Paz, although it began operations only in 1923
with some French aircraft. The Cuerpo de Aviadores Militares
Bolivianos (Bolivian Military Aviatiors Corps) was formed in August 1924. During
the next years Bolivia got some aircraft from France and Great Britain. At the
beginning of the 1930s tensions with Paraguay rose and Bolivia bought some new
aircraft from Germany and the USA. In 1932 the War of Chaco began and
lasted unitil 1935, when Bolivia was defeated and lost 11
aircraft during this conflict. During this time the air force was renamed Cuerpo de
Aviación.
In 1937 a military mission of Italy came to Bolivia, but they did not bring aircraft with them. During the next years the air force got some additional aircraft from the USA. In November 1941 the Italian military mission was replaced by a mission from the USA and from 1942 Bolivia received training and transport aircraft through the Lend-Lease programm. The air force was reorganised in 1944 and became Fuerza Aérea Boliviana (FAB), but still under army control. After Bolivia signed the Rio Pact in 1947 the FAB received small quantities of training and transport aircraft from the United States. In 1957 the Fuerza Aérea Boliviana became an independent service.
In 1973 the FAB entered the jet age, when they received T-33A from the USA. A reorganisation took place in 1986, when three Brigadas Aéreas were formed, each with a different number of Grupos Aéreos. A fourth Brigada Aérea was formed in 1990.
Today the FAB
is organised in four Brigadas Aéreas.
Key Dates: | ||
1916 | The Escuela Militar de Aviación was formed. | |
August 1924 | The Cuerpo de Aviadores Militares Bolivianos was established. | |
1932-1935 | War of Chaco | |
1944 | The Fuerza Aérea Boliviana was formed. | |
1957 | The Fuerza Aérea Boliviana became an independent service. | |
1986 | I - III Brigadas Aéreas were established. | |
1990 | IV Brigada Aérea was established. |
Current Status:
Future Plans:
Units of the Air Force are fully operational.
No information available.
Markings
National Insignia:
Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
Unit/Base Aircraft Code System(s):
Current
--- Historical
Serial numbers consist of a three-digit number prexfied FAB, while TAM aircraft have
two-digit numbers prefixed by TAM.
Coding system not used.
Aircraft
Aircraft Designation System(s):
Current Aircraft Inventory:
All-Time Aircraft Used List:
None.
Table of Current Service Aircraft
Alphabetical Order ---
Chronological Order
Organisation
Main Headquarters:
Current Organisational Structure:
Current Order of Battle:
Historical Orders of Battle:
Historical Order of Battle
(as at 1934)
Historical Order of Battle
(as at 1944)
Historical Order of Battle
(as at 1947)
Historical Order of Battle
(as at 1954)
Historical Order of Battle
(as at 1962)
Historical Order of Battle
(as at 1974)
Historical Order of Battle
(as at 1987)
All-Time Flying Units List: (only units,
which are not included in the Orders of Battle)
Grupo Aéreo de
Cobertura "Cap. Alberto Peredo"
Grupo de Seguridad
y Defensa de Instalaciones Aéreas (GSDIA)
Av. Montes 734, La Paz
Today the Fuerza Aerea Boliviana is organised in six Area Brigades (Brigada
Aérea) with a different number of Squadrons (Escuadróns)
each.
Table of Current Order of Battle
Air Bases
Current Air Bases:
The Bolivian Air Force currently operates ten mayor airbases.
Military Air Bases Listing
All-Time Air Bases Used List:
Military Air Bases Listing
More Information
Books:
Armed Forces of Latin America (Adrian English) Latin-American Military Aviation
(John Andrade) Texan and Harvards in Latin America
(Dan Hagedorn)
Latin American Fighters (Iñigo Guevara y Moyano)
Aircraft of the Chaco War 1928-1935 (Dan Hagedorn / Antonio L. Sapienza)
Scramble Military Serials - Americas 2007
World Air Forces Directory (Ian Carroll) Military Balance (IISS)
Magazines:
World Air Power Journal 31, p.144-146
Websites:
Fuerza Aérea Boliviana (official
homepage)
^ Top of Page | << Last Page | Index Page | Next Page >> | Site Search |
First Created: 25 December 2005 - Last Revised: 25 June 2013 | ||||
Copyright © 2005 Erich Klaus. e-mail: erich.klaus@a1.net |