Air Force Museum gets Mexican donation

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A pilot’s uniform, hat and boots representing a Mexican air force unit that fought in support of U.S. forces during World War II in the Pacific have been donated to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

The articles represent the 201st Mexican Fighter Squadron, also known as the Aztec Eagles, which was the only Mexican military force to have served outside the country’s borders. The unit was attached to the U.S. Army Air Forces’ 58th Fighter Group during the summer of 1945 in the Philippine Islands, flying P-47D Thunderbolt fighters to provide tactical support.

The Mexican articles are to be added later this year to the “Airmen in a World at War” exhibit that opened in 2007 in the museum’s Air Power Gallery, museum spokeswoman Sarah Parke said Thursday, April 30. The exhibit showcases uniforms, decorations and other artifacts from both Allied and Axis powers during World War II.

In behalf of the museum, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Rafael Ramos communicated with the Mexican foreign liaison office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base about obtaining items associated with the Aztec Eagles for the exhibit. Lt. Col. Daniel Mojica, the Mexican air force liaison officer assigned to Wright-Patterson, presented the items to the museum.

Accompanying the donation was an official copy of the unit colors for the Mexican Expeditionary Air Force and a print of Jack Fellows’ painting “Strike of the Aztec Eagles,” signed by surviving members of the World War II unit.