Manuel Avila Camacho, President of Mexico reviewing 201th squadron personnel prior to their departure to Phillipines.

Escuadrón 201 (3)

FAEM Mexican officers before a mission (www.yosoypuebla.com)

Escuadrón 201

Captain Miguel Moreno Arreola of Esquadron 201(January 5, 1921 –December 2, 2005) Captain Moreno was born in the state of Durango during the turbulent aftermath of the Mexican Revolution. As a boy he was inspired by a chance encounter with famous aviation pioneer Francisco Sarabia. He entered the Military Aviatoin School at Monterrey, where he met presidents Manuel Avila Camacho and Franklin D. Roosevelt at their summit conference in March, 1943. He received his wings in June, 1944 and joined Fighter Squadron 201, acompanying the unit to the United States for training. He deployed with the Squadron to the Philipines in March, 1945 and flew 25 close air support combat missions over Luzon in P-47s as an element leader plus Very Long Range missions to Formosa. It was he who chose the Disney character "Pancho Pistolas" as the official unit logo; he also designed a monument to his fallen comrades that still stands in Manila. When the Mexican Expeditionary Air Force returned to Mexico City on November 18, 1945, Captain Moreno carried its Battle Flag into the national plaza to be presented to the President.(rudeerude)

Captain Miguel Moreno Arreola of Esquadron 201

"Lisi" a P-47D-30-RA s/n 44-90209 of the Escuadron 201

"Lisi"

Captain P A Pablo Rivas Martinez second in command of the 201st(MEXICAN EXPEDITIONARY AIR FORCE), demonstrating combat tactics. He disappeared while ferrying a P-47 on July 19, 1945.(rudeerude)

Second in command

Escuadron 201 pilots surround a "senorita".(rudeerude)

Happy pilots

The proud men of Escuadron 201 "Aztec Eagles" parade in Mexico City November 20,1945.Marching through the streets as throngs of their countrymen greet them with a hero's welcome.(rudeerude)

"Aztec Eagles" parade

Captain Radames Gaxiola Andrade stands in front of his P-47D with his maintenance team after he returned from a combat mission.(rudeerude)

Returning from a combat mission

Escuadron 201 ,58th FG pilots prior to flying a combat mission in the Philippines. The Mexican aircrews are using standard issue U.S. flight uniforms and equipment.(rudeerude)

Escuadron 201

This is a Nort American T-6 Texan trainer plane of the 201 Squadron FAEM

another 201 plane

Picture taken in Mexico, near the volcanos, after WWII.
of  P-47 Thunderbolt,PZT 1016  nicknamed &quot;Panchito Pistolas&quot; in honor of one of &quot;los tres amigos&quot;, a Walt Disney's film. It is a  mexican rooster with a pistol. Donald Duck and Jose Carioca ( a brazilian parrot ,i think) are the other guys.
Mexican combat pilots of the 201 squadron FAEM taken action in Luzon and Taiwan almost at the end of the pacific war (6/04/45), first into 5th. USAF an later into 13th. (sorry, i don't know the right name). They was on duty and in Mexico they  are a great heroes. My uncle was a former 201 pilot but don't have action in WWII
Pancho is a familiar mexican form to say Francis (..may be frank) and panchito means little francis or frankie.
Other planes of the 201 have nicknames too, but Panchito Pistolas was most popular...and  the boss' s plane

panchito pistolas P-47

Pilots of the 201st FS,58th FG"Aztec Eagles" lined up in front of P-47's.FAEM(Mexican Expeditionary Air Force) Luzon, PI - July 1945(rudeerude)

201st FS,58th FG "Aztec Eagles"

P-47D-23-RE loaned from the USAAF flown by Lt.David Ceron Bedolla of the 201st FS,58th FG in the Philippines,1945(rudeerude) 

P-47D 201st FS

201st FS,58th FG, FAEM(MEXICAN EXPEDITIONARY AIR FORCE). Luzon PI - July 1945(rudeerude)

201st "Aztec Eagles"

Pilots of the 201st FS,58FG, FAEM(MEXICAN EXPEDITIONARY AIR FORCE), fly in formation,1945(rudeerude)

"Aztec Eagles"

Mexican pilots (Escuadrón 201) in Phillipines

Escuadrón 201 (4)

Pilots of 201st

P-47's 201st

Warming up for a mission

Ground crew at work

Flight line

201st Pilot Rey Guillardo

201st squadron in OD

201st Eagle squad ground crew loading a 1000 lb bomb

201st Eagle squad

&quot;Pancho Pistolas&quot; logotipo del escuadron 201 pintado sobre el ala de un Zero japones

Mexican Forces

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