The Jug

In 1944, along with the rest of the Allied forces landing back into the Philippines, the first Mexican Armed Forces unit ever to serve outside of Mexico since the 1800s landed. 201st Squadron of the Mexican Expeditionary Air Force, or Escuadron Aereo de Pelea 201 de la Fuerza Aerea Expedicionaria Mexicana flew P-47D Thunderbolts. These massive aircraft, the biggest single engined single-seat fighter used by any air force in WW2 were aptly nicknamed Juggernauts. And the Mexicans knew how to fly them.

Its an interesting story for me, a Filipino. The Mexicans, like the Filipinos, were under Spanish rule for as long as 350 years. Both countries shares such similar histories. And with the Japanese taking over the Philippines in 1941, it seemed right that the Mexicans were assigned to the US 5th Air Force to help retake the archipelago. Its like long lost brothers coming to the rescue.

The fact wasn't lost to me when I picked up Revell's massive 1/32 P-47D kit. It was the biggest thing on my shelf until the 1/32 Corsair and the 1/32 P-38 Lightning came along (but that's another story). But it was an impressive beast to build, and I could hear Pancho and Ricardo whistle a long whistle staring up at the monster. The British commented upon seeing the Jugs that the best way to avoid German fighters while flying a P-47 was to duck down and run around inside. And more than a few of the USA's Jugs came home with just bits left for a tail, but still landing in one piece.

So here's a tribute to the monster P-47. And to the amigos from Mexico who helped the allied cause in the Philippines. It felt like a homecoming for a lot of the pilots, they say, when the 201st landed in Luzon. I bet it really was.