211th Squadron
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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.
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
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".
The squadron itself was a composite squadron that operated out of Albertville. All of the planes in the unit bore the Makasi bull emblem on the nose.
They had:
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. |
| 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. |
| 42-3580 | 9Q-CRP | Dec 1967 | 1970 | C-46A-35-CU. Purchased from Fairline Sweeden. Withdrawn from use and stored. |
| 42-96281 | 9Q-CWN | Jun 1968 | 1969 | C-46A-50-CU. Sold to Aero Suppliers Establishment. |
| 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. | ||||
| FG-516 | ||||
| FG-576 |