211th Squadron: Difference between revisions

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The squadron itself was a composite squadron that operated out of Leopoldville. All of the planes in the unit bore the Makasi bull emblem on the nose.<br>
The squadron itself was a composite squadron that operated out of Leopoldville. All of the planes in the unit bore the Makasi bull emblem on the nose.<br>
[[File:Makasi on a T-28.jpg|300px]]  [[File:Makasi 2.jpg|300px]]
[[File:Makasi on a T-28.jpg|300px]]  [[File:Makasi 2.jpg|300px]]  [[File:Makasi planes.jpg|300px]]


The first 3 B-26Ks arrived the night of 17 Aug 1964, having been flown in by US pilots from the 602nd Fighter Squadron. The Cuban pilots learned quickly, having some experience on the B-26 already, and flew the first combat mission on 21 Aug 1964.<ref name="Hagedorn"/> Four B-26Bs were originally slated to go to this operation. Of these, 1 was left behind in Okinawa, another crashed and burned in Aden, and the last two arrived in-tact in September 1964. <ref name="Hagedorn"/> The Cubans soon learned that the B-26Bs were no longer used by the Americans and were somewhat outraged over their arrival thinking them to be a deathtrap. One of the planes was never used again, instead becoming a source for spare parts. The other plane had benches installed in the bomb bay and was kept on standby as an emergency escape vehicle. Eventually, desperation and need forced them to refit the plane as a makeshift recon vehicle which the crew jokingly called "U-3" as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the U-2 spyplane.<ref name="Hagedorn"/>
The first 3 B-26Ks arrived the night of 17 Aug 1964, having been flown in by US pilots from the 602nd Fighter Squadron. The Cuban pilots learned quickly, having some experience on the B-26 already, and flew the first combat mission on 21 Aug 1964.<ref name="Hagedorn"/> Four B-26Bs were originally slated to go to this operation. Of these, 1 was left behind in Okinawa, another crashed and burned in Aden, and the last two arrived in-tact in September 1964. <ref name="Hagedorn"/> The Cubans soon learned that the B-26Bs were no longer used by the Americans and were somewhat outraged over their arrival thinking them to be a deathtrap. One of the planes was never used again, instead becoming a source for spare parts. The other plane had benches installed in the bomb bay and was kept on standby as an emergency escape vehicle. Eventually, desperation and need forced them to refit the plane as a makeshift recon vehicle which the crew jokingly called "U-3" as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the U-2 spyplane.<ref name="Hagedorn"/>

Revision as of 01:57, 28 July 2020

211th Squadron
Makasi.jpg
Air Force: Congolese Air Force
Group: 2nd Group
Active: 1964-
Theater Congo
Motto: Makasi (Strong)
Aircraft: C-46, T-28, B-26
COMMANDERS
Group CO: Joaquin "Pupy" Varela
MAIN BASES
Air fields: Leopoldville
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The Makasi Squadron was a composite squadron that operated out of the Congo as part of Operation Anstalt Wigmo. Formally, the unit was the 211th Squadron, 2nd Group, Congolese Air Force. [1] However, unofficially none of the people in the squadron called themselves that. They instead said they were "El Grupo Voluntario Cubano" or the Cuban Volunteer Group.[2] By June 1964 the Squadron had approximately 25 pilots, mostly Cubans. [2]

The B-26s were owned by the USAF, on loan to the CIA, based in the Congo, and flown by Cubans. The squadron had several other planes. Initially the squadron's maintenance was handled by Cubans. However, as the size and scope of the squadron grew the CIA formed a fake Belgian company called Anstalt Wigmo to handle the maintenance. They brought in over 100 European mechanics and armorers to keep the planes airworthy. [2]

The squadron's insignia, a bull, was taken from a popular local brand of beer called Unibar. The name Makasi coming from the Cuban pilots, meaning "Strong" in Lingali, the native language of the Congo. [3]

The squadron itself was a composite squadron that operated out of Leopoldville. All of the planes in the unit bore the Makasi bull emblem on the nose.
Makasi on a T-28.jpg Makasi 2.jpg Makasi planes.jpg

The first 3 B-26Ks arrived the night of 17 Aug 1964, having been flown in by US pilots from the 602nd Fighter Squadron. The Cuban pilots learned quickly, having some experience on the B-26 already, and flew the first combat mission on 21 Aug 1964.[2] Four B-26Bs were originally slated to go to this operation. Of these, 1 was left behind in Okinawa, another crashed and burned in Aden, and the last two arrived in-tact in September 1964. [2] The Cubans soon learned that the B-26Bs were no longer used by the Americans and were somewhat outraged over their arrival thinking them to be a deathtrap. One of the planes was never used again, instead becoming a source for spare parts. The other plane had benches installed in the bomb bay and was kept on standby as an emergency escape vehicle. Eventually, desperation and need forced them to refit the plane as a makeshift recon vehicle which the crew jokingly called "U-3" as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the U-2 spyplane.[2]


List of Planes

USAF S/N Registry # Start Date End Date Comments
B-26 Invaders
44-35890 35890 & FL-890 Sep 1964 1966 B-26B named "U3" used for recon. Scrapped at Kinshasa. [2]
A second B-26B was send to the Congo, but it was not used.[2] A third B-26B crashed and burned in Aden on 21 Aug 1964, and a fourth was left behind in Okinawa. [2]
64-17644 RF644 & FR-644 18 Aug 1964 Jan 1967 Named "Shit House Mouse"/"Cachita"
64-17645 RF645 & FR-645 18 Aug 1964 Dec 1966 Named "Rum Dum"
64-17646 RF646 & FR-646 18 Aug 1964 Mar 1967 Named "The Boogie Bogey"
64-17649 FR-649 Jan 1965 Oct 1966
64-17662 FR-662 & FM-662 Jan 1965 Feb 1967
C-46 Commandos
42-3577 9T-PLJ 1966 16 Apr 1969 C-46A-30-CU. Purchased from Transair Sweeden as a wreck after it crashed doing UN transports in the region. Returned to service. Crashed in the Congo River due to fuel starvation killing all 46 souls aboard. [4]
42-3580 9Q-CRP Dec 1967 1970 C-46A-35-CU. Purchased from Fairline Sweeden. Withdrawn from use and stored. [5]
42-96281 9Q-CWN Jun 1968 1969 C-46A-50-CU. Sold to Aero Suppliers Establishment. [6]
Some sources suggest a fourth C-46 was used.
T-28D Trojan
I don't know exactly how many T-28s were with the unit. I will list the data here as I come across it. A lot the information on the T-28s comes from photos.
FG-067
FG-282
FG-289
FG-516
FG-576
FB-809
FB-87?

List of Members

Garcia, Rene [2]
Ponzoa, Gustavo[2]
Peron, Juan C. [7]
Varela, Joaquin "Pupy" [2]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.t28trojanfoundation.com/congo.html
  2. ↑ Jump up to: 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Hagedorn, Dan and Hellstrom, Leif, (Midland Publishing, 1994), Foreign Invaders- The Douglas Invader in foreign military and US clandestine service. ISBN 1-85780-013-3. Pg. 149-155
  3. ↑ http://kosubaawate.blogspot.com/2016/01/leopoldville-1957-battle-of-breweries.html
  4. ↑ http://curtisscommando.e-monsite.com/pages/aircraft/s-n-42-3564-to-42-3577-curtiss-c-46a-30-cu-commando/commando-42-3577.html
  5. ↑ http://curtisscommando.e-monsite.com/pages/aircraft/s-n-42-3578-to-42-3683-curtiss-c-46a-35-cu-c-46a-36-cu-commando/commando-42-3580.html
  6. ↑ https://www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Registration/9Q-CWN/772015
  7. ↑ Personal Correspondence
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