Resolution - : 201ST MEXICAN FIGHTER SQUADRON MURAL PROJECT.

WHEREAS, LULAC is our nation’s oldest and largest Hispanic civil rights organization addressing education, employment and civil rights issues in the United States of America since 1929; and

WHEREAS, the 201st Mexican Fighter Squadron Mural Project Committee and El Mercado De Los Angeles, located at 3455 E. 1st East Los Angeles, California, has commissioned Artist/Muralist Jose Luis Gonzalez to produce a 9 feet by 12 feet mural, depicting the history of Mexico’s Escuadron 201. The painting will be displayed in fired tile for longevity accompanied by artifacts, pilot memorabilia and historical documents for public viewing; and

WHEREAS, the unveiling ceremony of this beautiful mural is scheduled in May 2011 at the El Mercado De Los Angeles exhibiting the heroic achievements of Mexico’s Esuadron 201’s pilots and ground crew who trained and fought for the United States in the Philippines in World War II; and WHEREAS, El Escuadron 201 (also known as the “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 WWII; 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 300 volunteers-36 experienced pilots and the rest ground crews who trained a Majors Field in Greenville, Texas on November 30, 1994 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.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the League of United Latin American Citizens will continue to fully and actively support the 20lst Mexican Fighter Squadron Mural Project with donations and moral support by LULAC’s national membership. The League of United Latin American Citizens will help and support a national effort in giving proper recognition for Mexico’s Escuadron 201’s courageous WWII combat actions in the defense of world freedom.

Approved this 17th day of July 2010.

Margaret Moran
LULAC National President