Bolivia Air Force Read more here: Bolivia Air Force [SIZE=-1]Bolivia Air Force[/SIZE] Current Title: Fuerza Aérea Boliviana Title in English: [SIZE=-1]Bolivian Air Force[/SIZE] Abbreviation: FAB [SIZE=-1][SIZE=+2]History[/SIZE] [/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]Narrative Summary: Military aviation started in 1916, when the Escuela Militar de Aviación was formed in La Paz, although it began operations only in 1923 with some French aircraft. The Cuerpo de Aviadores Militares Bolivianos (Bolivian Military Aviatiors Corps) was formed in August 1924. During the next years Bolivia got some aircraft from France and Great Britain. At the beginning of the 1930s tensions with Paraguay rose and Bolivia bought some new aircraft from Germany and the USA. In 1932 the War of Chaco began and lasted unitil 1935, when Bolivia was defeated and lost 11 aircraft during this conflict. During this time the air force was renamed Cuerpo de Aviación.[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]In 1937 a military mission of Italy came to Bolivia, but they did not bring aircraft with them. During the next years the air force got some additional aircraft from the USA. In November 1941 the Italian military mission was replaced by a mission from the USA and from 1942 Bolivia received training and transport aircraft through the Lend-Lease programm. The air force was reorganised in 1944 and became Fuerza Aérea Boliviana (FAB), but still under army control. After Bolivia signed the Rio Pact in 1947 the FAB received small quantities of training and transport aircraft from the United States. In 1957 the Fuerza Aérea Boliviana became an independent service.[/SIZE]
