Aeroposta Argentina

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The cover art of an Aeroposta Argentina schedule brochure, featuring a Junkers Ju 52/3m, with the motto "The southernmost line of the world".

Aeroposta Argentina S.A. was an early pioneering airline in Argentina established in the late 1920s, and a subsidiary of the French airmail carrier Aéropostale. It was created on September 5, 1927 as a subsidiary of the Aéropostale (formally, Compagnie générale aéropostale). In 1929 Aéropostale started expanding its airmail service within South America, and provided the first domestic air services on routes to Asuncion, Paraguay, Santiago de Chile, plus Bahía Blanca, Comodoro Rivadavia and Rio Gallegos in southern Argentina.

The task to open the new air routes was given to, among others, two well-known French aviators: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry as the director of the newly formed company based in Buenos Aires, and to Jean Mermoz, as the company's chief pilot. Saint-Exupéry conducted Aeroposta's inaugural flight on November 1, 1929, flying from an airfield at Villa Harding Green to Comodoro Rivadavia.^[1]

In the early days of commercial aviation, which was still in its infancy, its pioneers had to scout routes and sites for everything from potential emergency landing strips to gasoline depots. Saint-Exupéry's experiences in Argentina would inspire his novel Night Flight, winner of the Prix Femina literature award in 1929 and later made into a identically named Hollywood movie. That same year regular flights commenced to other Argentinian cities: Posadas and Mendoza. The following year service was further expanded to include Comodoro Rivadavia and San Antonio Oeste, closely followed by Río Gallegos.

In May 1949 Aeroposta Argentina merged with three other air carriers, A.L.F.A, F.A.M.E. and Z.O.N.D.A., ​​giving rise to a new airline, Aerolineas Argentinas.

Ancestral parent: Lignes Aériennes Latécoère

A Breguet 14 aircraft used on the Casablanca–Dakar route.

Founded at the end of the World War I, the "Lignes Aériennes Latécoère" was established in September 1919. The France–Morocco postal route became its first scheduled air service between Toulouse and Morocco, and which traveled along the cities such as Barcelona and ​​Alicante on the east coast of Spain. On that same time its founder, Pierre-Georges Latécoère, created the "Compagnie Generale d'Entreprise Aéronautique" and in May 1922, the "Société Industrielle des Avions Latécoère".

In order to extend the line between Casablanca and Dakar, Captain Joseph Roig departed on May 3, 1923 with a group of three biplanes, Bréguet XIVs which flew between Agadir, Cap Juby, Villa Cisneros, and Port Etienne, on the west coast of Africa. The arrived at their destination on 22 of that month.

According to the plan he had conceived during the war, Pierre G. Letécoére, Captain Joseph Roig sent to South America in May 1924 in order to consider extending the line between Natal (Brazil) and Buenos Aires. In this city, Joseph Roig meets with officials of the Department of Civil Aviation of the War Office and explained that the aim of the directors of the Compagnie Generale d'Entreprise Aéronautique was that Buenos Aires would become terminal site of a future South American airmail line between that continent and France, and later to become a clearinghouse of airmail between Argentina, and its neighboring countries.

President Dr. Marcelo T. Alvear was excited about the idea and gave his approval for the company to send a mission to civil aviation. This time, Captain Roig and his group of three biplanes Bréguet XIV Renault, made a reconnaissance flight from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires, landing on 14 January 1925, in El Palomar, accompanied by Paul Vachet pilots, Etienne Lafay and Victor Hamm and mechanics Gauthier, Estival and Chevalier. In unfavorable weather conditions in March 1925, they started back conducting aerial surveys between Rio de Janeiro and Pernambuco (Recife), that would be useful for future pilots of the Atlantic line. Two months later, in June 1925, established regular air mail service between Toulouse, Casablanca and Dakar was established.

In order to raise the capital required for the development of the line on the South American continent, Pierre Georges Latécoère travels to Rio de Janeiro on December 3, 1926, to meet with French businessman living in Brazil, Marcel-Lafont Bouilloux . Immediately, in January 1927 and accompanied by the Argentine aviator Vincent Almandos Almonacid, meet both in Buenos Aires with the President of the Republic, Dr. Marcelo T. Alvear and the urgent request submission of a contract that allows the country to service the proposed use Aeropostal with France.

Representative in his capacity as Trustee of the "Compagnie Generale d'Entreprises Aéronautiques" Vicente Almandos Almonacid writes and signs a document with the Director General of Posts and Telegraphs, Mr. Arthur Goyeneche, the February 8, 1927, establishing an agreement for the transport of mail by air within and neighboring countries, which would be ratified by the Decree of the National Executive 10 June 1927, signed by the President of the Nation Dr. Marcelo T. Alvear and his interior minister, José P. Tamborini. Meanwhile, negotiations between Pierre Georges Latécoère and [Marcel Bouilloux http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Bouilloux-Lafont Lafont] culminate when the latter purchase, April 11, 1927, 93% of the shares of "Compagnie Generale d'Entreprises Aéronautiques" to the tune of 30 million francs and takes over the company directorships, agreeing to buy Late 25, 26 and 28s manufactured by the "Société Industrielle des Avions Latécoère". As a result of the transfer of functions, at a special meeting held in the city of Paris on December 12, 1927, resolved to change the name of "Compagnie Generale d'Entreprises Aéronautiques" the new name of Compagnie Generale Aeropostale."

Birth of Aeroposta Argentina S.A.

A Latécoère 25, preserved in the National Aeronautical Museum of Argentina.

Surprisingly, on August 13, 1926 an Executive Order amended the Regulations for Navigation on the Argentine Territory, which did not allow the use of Argentine airspace by foreign companies and where the War Office should adopt positions Defense, civil aircraft to peaceful use. In order to conform to these Regulations, Vicente Almandos Almonacid proposes the establishment of a national corporation, a proposal that has the approval of the Chairman Dr. Marcelo T. Alvear and prestigious Argentine jurists.

The Constitutive Act of the Aeroposta Argentina S. A. was initialed by law, on September 5, 1927, with Argentina being an affiliate of the "Compagnie Générale Aéropostale," by Agustin Melian gentlemen, on behalf of Marcel Bouilloux-Lafont, Alberto Dodero, Gaston Fouvell Lleau Rigo, Alejandro Behety Menendez, Luis Nicol, Guillermo Padilla (Aeronautical Radio Head, Department of Civil Aviation), Raul A. Razzio, Emmanuel Sieyes and Mr. Almonacid, with headquarters on Calle Reconquista No. 240 of the Federal Capital.

On November 1, 1927 and Paul Georges Pivot line inaugurated Vachet Natal - Rio - Buenos Aires aboard the Latécoère 25 F-aioz enrollment, which would extend the March 1, 1928, when / wiki / Jean_Mermoz Jean Mermoz, aboard a 25 Laté loaded with 36 bags of mail, the airline inaugurated the world's longest (13,600 km), from Toulouse to Dakar connecting Buenos Aires-Natal by sea until 1935. This line was called "Mermoz line."

After considering several locations, choose a field Almonacid Pacheco, 35 km of the Federal Capital, where he built the airfield in 1928.^[2] In one corner of the field had 3 antennas of 30 meters high and housing material which had been built LPD Radio Station "General Pacheco", a powerful multimedia station which was later transferred to the Post and Telecommunications and from where communications were made first with the other bases, for at that time the aircraft had no radio and later with the company aircraft and ships overseas.

Buenos Aires to Asuncion, Paraguay route

There are two flights of exploration for studies of this route:

• On April 3, 1928, Peter Ficarelli off aboard a biplane Bréguet XIV-Renault 300 HP from Aerodrome General Pacheco, at 8:00 in the morning and after a stopover at the Aeroclub of Rosario (Argentina ), continues flight to Entre Rios, Corrientes, Chaco and Formosa, while taking note of the airfields and flying clubs that might be suitable as airfields.
• On October 31, 1928, Paul Vachet, Chief Traffic Company, part of General Pacheco airfield aboard a Breguet biplane XIV at 7.00 am carrying several copies of the newspaper La Prensa and arrives at airport [ [Asuncion, Paraguay]] at 18:00, defining the final layout of the air route from Buenos Aires to Asuncion, Paraguay.

On Tuesday, January 1, 1929, Argentina Aeroposta started mail services and passenger transport still without official authorization, at 6.00 that day left the airfield two monoplanes Late General Pacheco 25-Renault 450 HP:

• Paul and Peter Ficarelli Vachet aboard the no. 619, registration F-AIFX led to Ms. Lidia Vachet, engineer Padilla (company director) and the mechanic Gutierrez.
• The Aviator Leonardo Selvetti Argentina, accompanied by mechanical Ferrando and Mr. Di Sandro aboard the N º. 631, registration F-AIJZ, named "Colonel Bogado" carried a small number of letters and copies of the newspaper La Prensa.

After making the stopping place in Corrientes, both aircraft landed at the military airport of Campo Grande Paraguay, in the presence of authorities and large audience, but the correspondence had not been transported not released an official capacity for lack of authorization of government Argentina, these historic flights are considered "airmail trials."

Finally, after reforming the "Regulations on Navigation on the Argentine territory," the 27 February 1929 the national government gave the expected autorizacón and thus, Pedro Ficarelli departed aboard an aircraft Late 25 from the General aerédromo Pacheco on Friday at 6.00 March 22, 1929, this being the first official postal flight from Argentina.

Ficarelli Peter lost his life near Asuncion, Paraguay on August 16, 1929, after colliding with a mountain in the Late 25 No. 619, registration F-AIFX, amid a thick fog.

Buenos Aires – Mendoza – Santiago de Chile route

A Potez 25, F-AJDZ at Laguna Diamante.

In order to explore the best routes to cross the Andes, and the mechanic Jean Alexandre Memoz Collenot conducted the first test flights between Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile. They began on November 19, 1928 until on March 9, 1929 and flying to Mendoza aboard the Laté 25, No. 603, registered F-AIEH and had to land on the narrow ledge of a mountain range and then after making adjustments to their carburetor, managed to take off reaching the safely of Copiapo.

This experience convinced them that the aircraft best suited to make the link between Argentina and Chile, flying over the Andes, would be the Potez 25, because of its great qualities and ascension to buy 5 appliances, enrolled: F-AJDX (No. 1520), F-AJDY (No. 1521), F-Ajdz (No. 1522), F-AJZR (No. 2035) and F-AJZS (No. 2036).

Finally, on July 14, 1929, Jean Henri Guillaumet Mermoz conducted the first Santiago de Chile to Mendoza airmail flight in a Potez 25. He suffered an accident in a Potez 25, F-AJDZ, on June 13, 1930 in Laguna Diamante, but was rescued on July 20 of that same month, by the pastor Argentine Juan Garcia, who was decorated by the French President Jacques Chirac, with the Legion of Honor for this 71 years later.^[3]

Buenos Aires – Bahia Blanca – Comodoro Rivadavia route

Latécoère 28

In September 1928, the pilot and mechanic Peter Ficarelli Alfredo Vitolo, board a Laté 25 and using facilities that the Aero Club Bahia Blanca had in the place "The Mendoza", made the first reconnaissance flight to Comodoro Rivadavia. In February 1929, Paul Vachet continued exploration flights and began building the infrastructure of future scales.

Between October 29 and November 1, 1929, the final inspection flights were performed by the company's director Antoine de Saint Exupéry, accompanied by pilot Rufino Luro Cambaceres aboard a Laté 25, registration F-AIQF, along with the other pilots Prospero Palazzo and Richard Gross in another Laté 25, registration F-AIQL.

On November 1, 1929 the Buenos Aires - Bahia Blanca - Comodoro Rivadavia line opened, with stops in San Antonio West and Trelew. Without prejudice to the first flight was made by Antoine de Saint Exupéry aboard the Laté 25, F-AIQL, carrying as passengers for journalists from bahienses: Enrique Julio "La Nueva Provincia," Emilio J. Fence "The Atlantic" and Augustus Hunter "Morning", delivering and receiving mail in each of the scales, "the official inauguration flight" was given by Jean Mermoz, accompanied by Richard Gross pilot on board Late 28 aircraft that started in the early morning hours of the aerodrome of General Pacheco, carrying Captain Almandos Almonacid, Director of the Aeroposta Argentina, officials and journalists.

At Bahia Blanca, was replaced by Richard Gross Palazo Prospero, who was in charge of "line" to Comodoro Rivadavia. During the first six months, the head of the line was located in the area of ​​Villa Harding Green, Bahia Blanca, where they had built a metal hangar, two towers for the radio station, a weather station and a villa for office and attention to the passenger. The connection to Buenos Aires, Bahia Blanca was made by rail, from the Constitution Station, traveling all night to arrive at Bahia Blanca in the morning. In May 1930 he began operating from General Pacheco, becoming White Bay on a scale of travel.

Meanwhile, in March 1930, Mermoz flew the first transatlantic airmail in 21 hours aboard a pontoon equipped Laté 28 and carrying 130 kg of correspondence, on Wednesday 31 of that month Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Director of Operations of the Company, made the inaugural flight to Rio Gallegos in the Late 28 aircraft, registration F-AJLO, "El Pampero", carrying passengers as Chairman of the Aeroposta, Mr. Marcel Boilloux Lafont, the Technical Director of the Company, Captain Vicente Almandos Almonacid, and the Viscount Jacques Delalot (Havas Agency Director), Julian Pranville (official Aeropostale) and journalist The reason, Mr. Enrique Gutierrez, being accompanied by Luro Cambaceres in the Late 25, registration F-AIQF.

Prospero Palazzo and Caesar Brugo aviator, lost their lives on June 23, 1936, in Pampa de Salamanca, 60 km of Comodoro Rivadavia aboard the Laté 28 N ° 293, registration F- AJUX.^[4]

The National Aeroposta

Because of the Great Depression, Bouilloux Lafont, who ran a major banking consortium and transport companies, was irretrievably affected.^[5] Since early 1930, the French state refuses to release the loan approval that had been agreed in an agreement signed the previous year and the situation is aggravated by Coup September 1930 in Argentina and the revolution that would lead to power Getúlio Vargas in Brazil in October 1930. In December of that year, some ministerial changes that are occurring in France to renew the lease prevent you from operating and guaranteed by the State to get new loans. For the Compagnie Générale Aéropostale is the end, the 31 March 1931 the company is liquidated, which would later be absorbed into the group of companies that would later give rise to Air France in 1933, continuing the activities of Aéropostale.

The situation for Argentina Aeroposta was not very different, with the Argentine government also dening funds, and in June 1931 it ceased operations. However, the Director of Postal Services and the Director of Civil Aviation joined the claims of the press and the general public and finally convinced the President of Argentine's provisional government to authorize Aeroposta Argentina SA to resume their services.

By decree of 29 September 1931, the Company is subject to a lease and control of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the General Post and Telegraph, for the operation of the line between Bahia Blanca and Rio Gallegos, as an experimental and a period of six months, leasing the flight equipment and facilities that the Company had, in the amount of $7,000 per month. On the legal side was designated National Aeroposta, although at the enterprise level it was still called Aeroposta Argentina S.A.

Services were restarted on October 2, 1931, until May 31, 1932, when a new decree extends the authorization from the June 1, 1932 until December 31, granting for the first time, a fixed monthly allowance and the provision of fuel needed to account for YPF, while a third decree, that of March 24, 1933, fixed the operating agreement a term of 10 years, increased the amount of the grant and contemplated the possibility of extending the route to Ushuaia.

In October 1933, Rufino Luro Cambaceres made a reconnaissance flight and promotion by the Patagonia, explaining the authorities and population, the benefits of air transport for both mail and passenger, causing several southern regions of the requests sent to Buenos Aires for the line include its cities like scales.

In early 1935, Argentina Aeroposta purchase aircraft that Air France was obsolete and that had once belonged to the Aéropostale in September 1935 and continues the service until Rio Grande.

In November 1935 the bylaws of the company were amended, allowing the entry of a group share Argentina.

Honors

On January 2, 1979, the surviving pilots of Aeroposta Argentina, gathered to commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of its first flight. The attendees were:

• Virgil MIRA;
• Alberto POPE;
• H. POPE;
• Leonardo SELVETTI;
• Peter Artigau;
• Oscar SPARK;
• MARTIGNONI;

and Mrs. Ermenilda Almandós ALMONACID Almandós ALMONACID daughter of Vincent, founder of Aeroposta Argentina.

The Pueyrredón consortium

When, in 1936, new financial difficulties threaten the operations of the line, a new group of Argentine businessmen, headed by Dr. Ernesto Pueyrredón form a consortium which acquired 97% stake in the company, which ultimately rests with nationals. Officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and by Decree 99,184 of 1 February 1937, authorized the company to extend its flights departing from Buenos Aires and replaces the cash grant and fuel for a monthly contribution of $1.50 per every mile flown for the trip.

In this new contract, which provided for a period of 10 years, the Company must make a 50% discount in the price of tickets for Posts and Telegraphs and the Aeronautics Directorate, had seats available, and reserve up to 2 kg charging for official correspondence, to be carried free of charge and commitment to renew the existing flight material.

In a twist to Germany, bought the first three Junkers Trimotor Ju-52/3m, registered LV-AAB "Patagonia", LV-BAB "Pampa" and LV-CAB "Tierra del Fuego", plus spare parts, BMW engines and Lorenz and Telefunken radios, in order to modernize the operating aircraft equipment. German personnel are recruited for training in aircraft, operating from the aerodrome of Quilmes, where, in October 1937, started the first regular flights between Buenos Aires and Rio Grande, on board the "Patagonia", piloted by Paul Selvetti Rohlandt and Argentines, Gross and Irigoyen. This service also had the choice of scale in Blue.

In April 1938, another decree authorizing Aeroposta Argentina S. A. to combine the national and international operating with Air France and Condor Ltda Union in December 1939 decree changing the frequency Buenos Aires - Rio Gallegos and Rio Grande.

Pressure from the United States, its entry into World War II, to the closure of Syndicate Condor, Lufthansa subsidiary in Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, Aeroposta in this situation the opportunity to acquire two Junkers JU-52, the LV-AAJ "Ibaté" in Brazil, in April 1942 and LV-AAN 'Quichua' in Bolivia, in June 1943 and completed a fleet of five JU-52.

Competitors

Similar service was later offered by airlines created by the Argentine Air Force, which in the early 1940s established LASO (Línea Aérea Sud Oeste) and LANE (Línea Aérea Nordeste), which later became LADE (Líneas Aéreas del Estado) in 1945.^[6]

Another local airline in operation at that time was ALFA (Aviación Litoral Federal Argentino) and it was this airline that took delivery of the first DC-3s into the country. In 1946, ALFA and LADE merged to become FAMA (Flota Aérea Mercante Argentina) which was to be the first Argentine airline to fly intercontinentally. Competition in the international market was intense and so, in due course, the Argentine flag carrier Aerolíneas Argentinas was created.

This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in the Spanish Wikipedia. (March 2012) Don't speak Spanish? Click here to read a machine-translated version of the Spanish article. Click [show] on the right to review important translation instructions before translating. Google's machine translation is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. After translating, {{Translated|es|Aeroposta Argentina S.A.}} must be added to the talk page to ensure copyright compliance. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.

See also

• Aéropostale
• Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela

References

Citations

Bibliography

1. Memories of Aeropostal
2. Aeroposta Argentina - General Pacheco Web
3. Jorge Horat, The Forgotten Hero
4. National Library of Aviation - Air Force Argentina: (1) Larra, Raul, The conquest of the desert air, Ed Amphora, Buenos Aires, 1979. (2) Potenze, Paul, Argentina Commercial Aviation 1945-1980. Reporter Commercial Editions, New York, 1987.
5. Diploma - Signed on January 2, 1979 by Civil Pilots Survivors precursors that date, the Company Aeroposta Argentina founded the September 5 of 1927, initial flight on January 1, 1929. William A. Private Collection N. Tarapow

External links

• Aeroposta Argentina Museum (Spanish-icon)
• Forgotten Hero