On January 20, 1943, Peruvian pilots who had just received their wings at Ccorpus Christi Air Training School in Texas visited New York City.

[The Associated Press]

On January 20, 1943, Peruvian pilots who had just received their wings at Corpus Christi Air Training School in Texas visited New York City. Lieutenant Eduardo Montero, senior cadet of the group (front row far right), is welcomed by U.S. Army Air Forces Captain Eddie Rickenbacker (left), a famous fighter ace who shot down 26 enemy aircraft during World War I.

“Peace-time aviation will bring Americas closer together than ever before,” Capt. Rickenbacker said to the new Peruvian pilots.

JULY 23: Peruvian Air Force Day to honor national war hero josé Abelardo Quiñones Gonzáles.

Peruvian Air Force by the years -

January 28, 1919 - Creation of the Military Aviation Branch as part of the Peruvian Army

December 9, 1919 - Creation of the Peruvian Naval Aviation Branch as part of Peru’s War Navy

May 20, 1929 - Creation of the Peruvian Aviation Corps as a unit of the Peruvian Army and Navy

October 2, 1931 - The Peruvian Aviation Corps is renamed the Peruvian Aeronautical Corps (CAP)

October 27, 1941 - Creation of the Ministry of Aviation

[ISTOCK]

July 18, 1950 - The CAP is renamed the Air Force of Peru (FAP)