The decade of the 1930’s were turbulent in Latin America, with full-scale, nation-on-nation conflicts, internal strife and political intrigue rampant. All the while, the ravages of the ongoing world-wide depression saw many legacy aircraft design firms and manufacturers desperate to make sales to remain solvent. These factors merged to define Latin America as one of the few viable markets for sales, and the competition for these was often fierce, sometimes at the very fringes of ethics and in many instances engaged diplomatic manoeuvring to make the sale. But the aircraft involved were also, in many instances, near state-of-the-art, and with the lure of cash-on-the-barrel-head contracts, offers almost invariable exceeded the capacity of the market. The aeronautical press of the day, especially in the United States, followed all of this closely – sometime weekly – and serials such as “Flying Aces” and others splashed shelf appeal to news stands with flagrantly exaggerated artists renderings of what were actually real aircraft, but embellished with garish colours and in gallant poses. Thus, our selection of the title for this unique volume.

Many of the subjects in this catalogue of sorts, arranged in an easy, alphabetical arrangement by manufacturer for the benefit of readers, are illustrated accurately and in fine detail for the very first time. Others correct previously published accounts which have been found to be in error. There is, truly, something for everyone in this amazing combination of art and history. For devotee’s of the immortal Waco biplane series, for the first time, some order has been presented where heretofore numerous outrageous myths had gained currency. The legendary Curtiss and Curtiss-Wright stable is fully covered, and at last, some order has emerged from the chaos of previous accounts.

The author’s, in a unique collaboration, went to great lengths to authenticate the colours, markings and engineering details of each-and-every aircraft illustrated. In many instances, the colours used by the many national air arms cannot be conclusively linked to FSN standards, as locally produced paints were employed – often mixed, one time only, on the spot. When certainty could not be achieved, the authors also qualified their illustrations as “Provisional” often having had to reply on verbal or period, hand-written descriptions of the colours used. In the words of co-author Hagedorn, “these are real airplanes – with round engines, propellers and, usually, two wings.” The likes of which we will almost certainly never see again, but which once graced the azure skies of one of the world’s most diverse, and, during the decade of the 1930’s, poorly documented regions.