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Resolution
ESCUADRON 201 WHEREAS, El
Escuadron 201 (also known as “The Aztec Eagles”)
was a Mexican Fighter Squadron, part of the
Fuerza Aerea Expedicionaria Mexicana (FAEM-Mexican
Expeditionary Air Force”) that aided the Allied
war effort during WW II; and
WHEREAS, the Aztec Eagles were
attached to the 58th Fighter Group of the United
States Army Forces during the liberation of the
main Philippine Island of Luzon in the summer of
1945; and
WHEREAS, the pilots flew P-47D
“Thunderbolt” single-seat fighter aircraft
carrying out tactical air support missions; and
WHEREAS, Escuadron 201 was
composed of more than 200 volunteers-36
experienced pilots and the rest ground crews who
trained at Majors Field in Greenville, Texas on
November 30, 1944 for advanced training in
combat air tactics, formation flying and
gunnery; and
WHEREAS, in June 1945, the
squadron initially flew missions with the 58th
FG’s 310 Fighter Squadron and flew more than 90
combat missions, totaling more than 1,900 hours
of flight time. They participated in the Allied
effort to bomb Luzon and Formosa to push the
Japanese out of those islands. During their
fighting in the Philippines, 5 pilots died (one
was shot down, one crashed and three ran out of
fuel and died at sea); and
WHEREAS, when the 58th Fighter
Group left the Philippines for Okinawa on July
10, the Mexicans stayed behind. They flew their
last combat missions as a full squadron on
August 26, escorting a convoy north of the
Philippines. The 201st returned to Mexico City
in November 1945; and
WHEREAS, the 201st Fighter
Squadron was commended by General Douglas
MacArthur,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, the United States of America and the
Legislature honor Escuadron 201 by awarding the
fighter group the Congressional Gold Medal, the
highest civilian award bestowed by the federal
legislature. The Congressional Gold Medal,
equivalent to the Presidential Medal of Freedom,
is awarded to individuals or groups for singular
acts of exceptional service and lifetime
achievements,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT,
awarding such a prestigious medal will instill
pride in the members of Escuadron 201 and give
proper recognition by the United States to the
Mexican pilots and their ground crews for their
contribution and their losses in defending the
United States in WWII in the Philippines in
1945.
Approved this 14th day of July
2007.
Rosa Rosales
LULAC National President |
