Aircraft of the Chaco War: 1928-1935

Dan Hagedorn & Antonio L Sapienza

Schiffer Publishing , 1997, $45.00

When one wants to get esoteric, then Dan Hagedorn is the one to read.  If ever there was an expert on Central and South American Aviation, he is it. I've been reading his books for years and have always found them to be interesting and well written.  His co-author for this book is Antonio L. Sapienza, who probably knows more about Paraguayan aviation than anyone else. Together they have written a book on one of the most important American wars of the early 20th Century.

The Grand Chaco region is an area of jungle wilderness between Paraguay and Bolivia. The war is important as it was "the first modern conflict in the Western Hemisphere, fought between two established nations in which aircraft played a significant part" (page 6). Basically it was fought because Bolivia needed access to the ocean via the Rio de la Plata, and that access route through the Grand Chaco was part of Paraguayan territory.  Of course the rumor of gold in the area helped as well.

Well, you say, what of it? It is just two small South American countries fighting each other over land. Yes, but the big interest is the wide variety of aircraft that were used by both sides during the conflict. As it normal during a war, both sides try to buy the most modern and the most available weapons for their cause.  During this time the League of Nations, like the UN of today, prevented the direct sale of arms to the two combatants.  Much of the interest in the book is not only the aircraft, but the ways they were to arrive at their destination, many by quite devious means.

But it is the aircraft and the rare photos that are the big draw of this book. For instance there are photos of Potez 25s, Junkers K.43's,Fiat CR.32sCurtis D-12 Falcons, Sikorsky S.38s and other weird and wonderful aircraft.  All types used in the conflict as well as several 'might have beens' are shown.

While this book may not be for everyone, I can highly recommend it to those who like to model and read about the lesser know aircraft. Oh, yes.. who won? Read the book!!