José Quiñones Gonzales

José Abelardo Quiñones Gonzáles (April 22, 1914 – July 23, 1941) was a Peruvian military aviator and posthumously became a national hero for his actions at Zarumilla (Batalla de Zarumilla), during the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War, also known as the War of '41 (Spanish: Guerra del 41).

José Abelardo Quiñones Gonzáles
Quiñones in a Military portrait
BornApril 22, 1914
Pimentel District, Lambayeque, Peru
DiedJuly 23, 1941 (27)
Quebrada Seca, Ecuador
OccupationPeruvian Air Force Military Aviator
NA-50 "Torito", similar to that flown by Lieutenant Quiñones on July 23, 1941.
Monument in San Isidro, Lima

Combat History

Lieutenant Quiñones was a fighter pilot of the 41st Escuadrilla (Squadron), Peruvian Air Force, and was part of a section carrying out a low-level strafing/bombing attack against Ecuadorian forces at Quebrada Seca on July 23, 1941. During the raid, Quiñones' aircraft, a North American NA-50 "TORITO" (North American P-64), was mortally hit by ground fire from a battery of Ecuadorian anti-aircraft artillery.

According to Peruvian accounts, instead of parachuting to safety, Quiñones chose to make the supreme sacrifice by crashing his damaged aircraft onto the Ecuadorian position, rendering the battery out of action. This version of events has been subsequently called into question by Ecuadorian military authorities, who have stated that there were no anti-aircraft guns in the area.[1]

Posthumous

Following his death, Quiñones was promoted to the rank of Air Force Captain and he was declared a national hero by law on May 10, 1966.[2] Named in his honour is the FAP Captain José Abelardo Quiñones González International Airport near his town of birth in Chiclayo. When the new currency of Peru was introduced in 1991, Gonzales appeared on the 10 sol Banknote. He was also the subject of the banknote of 500 soles de oro issued in 1976.

References
  1. "Jose Quiñones - Peruvian Kamikaze Hero".
  2. (in Spanish) Law N° 16126, May 10, 1966
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