Victoria in Victoria County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
201st Fighter Squadron, Mexican Expeditionary Air Force (the Aztec Eagles)
Arriving in Laredo in July 1944, the 300 volunteers traveled to Randolph Field, San Antonio, before relocating to Foster Field, Victoria, in August. Training took place here and at nearby auxiliary fields. After graduation in October 1944, the squadron deployed to Pocatello Air Base in Idaho but returned to Texas (Majors Field, Greenville) due to bad weather. The unit later reported to Brownsville for final aerial gunnery practice. Mexico's President Manuel Ávila Camacho pushed for the squadron's deployment to the Pacific, partly for his admiration of U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, but also because he felt it could help liberate what he termed a people with "A continuity of idiom, history and traditions."
The squadron arrived in the Philippines in April 1945, joining the U.S. 58th Fighter Group of the Fifth Fighter Command, Fifth Air Force. During its service, the unit conducted many successful attacks on Japanese forces, flying 96 combat missions. The only Mexican military unit to see overseas combat during the war, the Aztec Eagles remain a source of pride for two neighboring nations.
Erected 2007 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 13906.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1945.
Location. 28° 50.857′ N, 96° 55.474′ W. Marker is in Victoria, Texas, in Victoria County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Bachelor Drive and Hanger Drive. The marker is located in the central section of the Victoria Educational Garden. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 333 Bachelor Drive, Victoria TX 77904, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Foster Field Memorial (here, next to this marker); Foster Army Air Field (a few steps from this marker); Foster Field (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Foster Field (approx. 0.3 miles away); First Presbyterian Church of Victoria (approx. 5 miles away); Camp Victoria (approx. 5.3 miles away); Victoria (approx. 5.3 miles away); William Robert Smith (approx. 5.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victoria.
Also see . . . 201st Fighter Squadron (Mexico).
The 201st Fighter Squadron (Spanish: Escuadrón Aéreo de Pelea 201) is a fighter squadron of the Mexican Air Force, part of the Mexican Expeditionary Air Force that aided the Allied war effort during World War II. The squadron was known by the nickname Águilas Aztecas or "Aztec Eagles", apparently coined by members of the squadron during training. Source: Wikipedia(Submitted on February 23, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 23, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 494 times since then and 95 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 24, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.