Jacinto Bondanza Castro
 |
Jacinto Bondanza Castro | |
|---|---|
 Jacinto with a group of pilots and mechanics of the new Aviation Corps, 1926 | |
| Born | October 11, 1900 Santa Tecla, La Libertad, El Salvador |
| Died | October 8, 1987 (aged 86) Santa Tecla, La Libertad, El Salvador |
| Allegiance |  El Salvador |
| Service | Armed Forces of El Salvador |
| Years of service | 1924-? |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | Salvadoran Aviation Corps |
Jacinto Bondanza Castro (October 11, 1900 - October 8, 1987) was a Salvadoran Aviator who helped develop what would become know as the Salvadoran Air Force (FAS).
Biography
[edit]Jacinto Bondanza Castro was born in the city of Santa Tecla, La Libertad to a Southern Italian immigrant father from Naples.
Jacinto had become interested in Aviation during a stay in San Francisco, California and on April 22, 1924 he and his friend Juan Ramón Munés entered Aviation school. On November 29, 1924, Jacinto graduated from the Ilopango Military Aviation School and on December 10, 1924 officially became the second aviator pilot in all of El Salvador and was also awarded the title of Second Lieutenant in the Army. [1]
Jacinto went on to play a crucial role in the early development of the nations Air Force and was frequently sent to California to obtain aircraft and support.
On New Year Day 1928, American Aviator Charles Lindbergh arrived in El Salvador on the Spirit of St. Louis during his goodwill tour of Latin America. Jacinto was honored with being Lindbergh’s personal Aide-de camp and was designated with Munés to escort him across the country.[2]
Family
[edit]Jacinto’s Paternal Grandfather was Don Vicente Bondanza (1839-1887), a Royalist from the Kingdom of Naples-Sicily who fled Italy and immigrated to Santa Ana as the Risorgimento intensified.
Jacinto’s brother, Carlos Alberto Bondanza was an Army Captain who developed Far-right leanings and attempted an unsuccessful Coup d’etat against the government and was sentenced to execution by firing squad. Somehow he was able to leave prison and was placed under region-arrest instead.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Orígenes de la Aviación y su comienzo en España", Aportaciones de la Cruz Roja al comienzo de la aviación sanitaria ., Dykinson, pp. 19–28, 2021-05-06, doi:10.2307/j.ctv1s7chn6.5, retrieved 2025-07-17
- ^ "CHARLES AUGUSTUS LINDBERGH my view... | Captain Billy Walker". 2016-12-14. Retrieved 2025-07-17.