Medardo R. Farías
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Medardo R. Farías | |
|---|---|
| 1st Inspector General of the Uruguayan Air Force | |
| In office 19 December 1953 – 1 March 1955 | |
| President | Andrés Martínez Trueba |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Hernán S. Barú |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 June 1898 |
| Died | 1 April 1960 (aged 61) |
| Education | Military School of Uruguay |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Uruguay |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1919–1957 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | Aeronáutica Militar General Inspection of the Uruguayan Air Force |
Medardo R. Farías (2 June 1898 – 1 April 1960) was a Uruguayan Army general and pioneer of Uruguayan aviation. In 1950 he was one of the drafters of the project that sought to create an independent Air Force in Uruguay, following the example of many other countries in the world that had confirmed the strategic importance of an independent military aviation, based on the lessons learned during the course of World War II.[1][2] After the realization of the project in 1953, he became the first General Inspector of the independent Fuerza Aérea Militar (Military Air Force), whose position today is equivalent to Commander-in-Chief of the Uruguayan Air Force.[3][4]
Farías was born on 25 June 1898, in Florida, capital city of the homonymous department in Uruguay. When he was 17 years old, he joined the Uruguayan Army via the Uruguay Military School, graduating as ensign of the Artillery Weapon in January 1919. Given his interest in aviation, however, in 1921 he entered the Escuela Militar de Aviación (Military School of Aviation), becoming part of the second course of pilots that was given by the school in the country. He received his military wings in 1923.[2]
Military career
Shortly after 1926, due to changes of assignment within the Uruguayan Army, Farías had to return to the Artillery Arm. In the meantime, away from the military aviation, he purchased a Curtiss JN and a Potez 36 with then Lieutenant Oscar Diego Gestido, who would become the 32nd Constitutional President of Uruguay in 1967, and the photographer Juan C. Gambarini.
Return to aviation
In 1932 Farías was finally able to rejoin the Military Aviation School, as an instructor and squadron pilot. During 1935, when he was holding the rank of major, he became part of the Aeronáutica Militar (Military Aeronautics), a first true military aviation organization of the Uruguayan Army. When he was there, Farías was appointed as Uruguayan Air Attaché to the Kingdom of Italy in 1937, where he had the opportunity to study with the Regia Aeronautica and become the first Uruguayan pilot to visit Eritrea in Africa. This also included a visit to the front lines during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.[2]
After his return to Uruguay in 1938, he became Chief of Aeronautical Base No. 1 in Carrasco and then became Director of the Escuela Militar de Aeronáutica (Military School of Aeronautics). He also proposed, and achieved, making August 10 the day dedicated in Uruguay to those who had fallen during service in the Uruguayan military aviation.[5]