US assistance, which followed the signature of the Rio Pact in 1947 and comprised technical advisers (who later helped to re-organise the service) and small numbers of aircraft, was very welcome. Deliveries included ten Vought F4U-5 Corsair fighters, later supplemented by radar-equipped F4U-5N and -SNL; eight Martin PBM-5A Mariner patrol amphibians for the Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Exploración (Naval Air Reconnaissance Squadron); twenty-three Stearman PT-17 primary training biplanes; and small numbers of Beechcraft C-45 and Grumman JRF Goose light transports, Beechcraft AT-11 crew-trainers, and Vultee BT-13 and North American AT-6/SNJ Texan trainers some of the latter, fitted with underwing racks for light bombs, serving briefly as coastal patrol aircraft.
A significant step forward was taken in 1958 with the purchase of the British light aircraft carrier HMS Warrior which became the ARA Independencia. Its first deployed unit was the F4U-5 equipped 2' Escuadrilla de Ataque, which thus became the first carrier-based squadron of any Latin American air arm.
In 1958, twenty ex US Navy Grumman F9F-2 Panther jet fighters – the Aviación Naval first jets – were delivered for use by the 1' Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Ataque;
ARA "Independencia"
ARA Independencia´s Air Group (Grupo de Aviación Embarcada)
and ten years later, an adequate tactical support force was formed with sixty Sud Fennecs (a ground-attack conversion of the North American T-28A), which were divided between the Escuela de Aviación Naval
ARA "25 de Mayo"
ARA 25 de Mayo´s Air Group (Grupo de Aviación Embarcada)
CAT SHOTS
AIR GROUP DECK ACTION
and the 2' Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Ataque. The latter unit eventually operated from the 16,000 ton ARA 25 de Mayo, formerly the Dutch aircraft carrier HrMs Karel Doorman.
replaced by Sikorsky HSS-1 and Sud Alouette Ill, followed by four Sikorsky S.61D4 (the export version of the SH-3D in US Navy service). Two Westland Lynx Mk.23 were ordered in 1972 (though delivery did not in the event take place until 1978), and in early 1980 an order was placed for three late-model SA.330 Pumas. The US supplied Douglas A-4Q Skyhawks were complemented by fourteen Dassault Super Etendard strike fighters, ordered in the first part of 1980, but not all delivered by early 1982, when many aircraft were lost in the Falklands conflict. See the appendix on page 285.
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