Air Wars Between Ecuador and Peru, Volume 2 Book Review

By David L. Veres

Review

Peruvian historian Amaru Tincopa continues chronicling Air Wars Between Ecuador and Peru in Volume 2 of his multi-part survey from Helion – 17th in the publisher’s superb “Latin America@War” range.

Humanity hoped that January 1942’s “Rio de Janeiro Limits, Peace and Friendship Protocol” would finally end territorial disputes between Peru and Ecuador.

But while it became a signatory to the agreement, Ecuador soon dismissed the Protocol in a series of subsequent policy and diplomatic declarations. And both countries actively pursued air force rearmament and modernization efforts.

Several border clashes ensued. And by early 1981, Peru and Ecuador again proved primed for war.

Available in North America from Casemate and subtitled “Falso Paquisha! Aerial Operations over the Condor Mountain Range, 1981”, contents competently chart the preparations and conflict in seven picture-packed chapters.

Dozens of rare photos season the intriguing, 72-page study. Eighteen superb color profiles by Tom Cooper sample the swath of warplane warpaint. And maps add geographic clarity to commentary.

Extended captions, 18 tables, and an abbreviations list further illumine remarks. And references and endnotes neatly conclude coverage.

Tincopa brilliantly recaps key actions – including related ground phases. The dogfight between Peruvian and Ecuadoran A-37s – as well as the Peruvian operation to retake PV-22 “Falso Paquisha” – proved especially absorbing.

Diplomatic mediation by the Organization of American States (OAS) finally produced a ceasefire agreement, 5 February 1981. But low-level clashes continued. And both air forces again rearmed.

That set the stage for the next round of fighting – which the author details in Air Wars Between Ecuador and Peru, Volume 3. Line-up behind me for that.

Roundly recommended!

My sincere thanks to Casemate Publishing for this review sample!