(3 May 2005)
1. Wide shot of ceremony at Angel of Independence
2. Mid shot of veterans
3. Close up officer playing bugle
4. Various of squadron 201 veterans at ceremony
5. Veterans with Mexican flag
6. Banner of a military school
7. Pan shot of bands of several military schools at ceremony
8. Daughter of veteran placing a medal around his neck
9. Medal
10. Captain Miguel Moreno Arreola, pilot of Squadron 201 with Mexican officer
11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): Captain Miguel Moreno Arreola, pilot with Squadron 201:
"The most important medal for me is this one, the one that the Mexican government gave us for our participation in World War II. I also have an air force medal given to me by the USA, also three medals for the liberation of the Philippines, and for our participation in the liberation of Philippines from Japanese forces."
12. Various of ceremony
13. Various of veteran signing visitors record at the Angel of Independence
14. Various of veterans' march towards the Zocalo
STORYLINE:
A dozen veterans of Mexican Fighter Squadron 201 gathered in the centre of Mexico City to commemorate 60 years since they returned from service in the Pacific during WWII.
During the ceremony, the highest-ranking officers of the squad placed a wreath at the foot of monument, the Angel of Independence.
The veterans later led a march towards the Zocalo (central square) accompanied by several military bands.
In early 1942, Nazi U-Boats were sinking Allied ships off the coast of the United States.
As years went on, the Kreigsmarine had expanded its operations to include the Gulf of Mexico, and began sinking Mexican ships as well.
Following the sinking of two oil tankers, Portero de Llano and Faja de Oro, by German forces in May of 1942, Mexico entered the war.
Under President Manuel Avila Camacho, Mexico broadened its relationship with the United States which led to the formation of the Mexican Fighter Squadron 201.
Among the 300 men were 38 pilots and 250 ground crewmen.
Also known as the "Aztec Eagles", the Mexican Fighter Squadron 201 received training in an American air base for a period of five months.
After completing training on the P-47 planes, they were assigned to the Pacific Theatre of operations.
The operations in the Gulf of Mexico were the first combat assignment for "Squadron 201", a unit that later went on to join the United States' 5th Air Force as part of the 58th Fighter Group in the Philippines.
This cooperative venture with the United States' military is Mexico's only foreign deployment of combat forces in its history.
Twenty men from Mexican Fighter Squadron 201 received US Air Medals as well as the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation from the Filipino president in 1952.
Other medals awarded were the Mexican Medal of Valour, World War II Victory Medals, and the Mexican Medal of Valour.
Those medals are still treasured today by the veterans.
Relations between the United States and Mexico strengthened during the second world war with the implementation of agreements such as Squadron 201.
World War II marked the first time the two countries had combined both their industrial and armed forces to fight a common threat.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
