[SIZE=3]
YEAR-TO-DATE SUMMARY[/SIZE]
January 2
The Chilean Air Force announced today that it has restarted the crop-dusting operations carried out last year against drug plantations in eastern Bolivia. The operation is again being carried out by specially-equipped ENAER Coatis, but due to the issue of mercenary air opposition, escort by Chilean F1E and F2E fighters is being carried out. Long-ranged Caracara fighter-bombers and reconnaissance aircraft additionally ranged over the region at will.
Several Bolivian aircraft belonging to the Fuerza Aerea Boliviana allegedly attempted to take off from their airfield near Sucre, but Chilean fighters flying overhead convinced them to return to their airfields. No incidents were reported.
The FACh's spokesman, in his official press brief, said: "Bolivian drug lords not only peddle their illegal and dangerous drugs around the world, but they use the profits to recruit and equip rebel groups operating against Chilean and Bolivian nationals alike. While our course is extreme, we must act to ensure the safety and good order of the whole region."
January 4
The Fuerza Aerea de Chile announced that they have attacked an improvised runway in the Department of Cochabamba that was being used by aircraft defending the drug plantations in Bolivia. No claims for destroyed mercenary aircraft were made, but the airfield was reportedly heavily-cratered by Caracara bombers and rendered unusable.
Bolivian President Stiles, when inquired to comment about the renewed Chilean aerial campaign, commented "Perhaps if they let up the treaty restrictions, I could strengthen the army enough to crush these drug lords... but what am I supposed to do, send them a testy letter?"
January 14
The first of the Chilean Navy's new Chance-Vought F4U Corsairs were delivered today from the ENAER Sur factory in Puerto Montt. The new fighter, licensed-built in Chile under the "F4E-1 Corsario" name, is by far the fastest, most powerful aircraft ever operated by the Armada, and with a maximum speed of 417 miles per hour, is in fact faster and more powerful than any aircraft operated in Chile today.
The Armada's spokesman indicated that the naval leadership hope to have two Corsario squadrons operational by the annual ABC Naval Exercises in March or April.
January 16
Word has been received that Presidente Stiles of Bolivia has survived an attempted assassination. No further details are available at this time.
January 17
Further details have emerged about the attempted assassination of Bolivian President Stiles yesterday. The president was returning from a meeting with senior officers of the Army and Police, with the topic likely being the "national crisis" with the Bolivian drug lords. While exiting his car, two of the president's own bodyguards attempted to gun him down, while six more gunmen attacked from the street in a well-coordinated assault. One of the president's bodyguards lept between the president and his would-be killers, saving Stiles' life at the cost of his own. The president's other bodyguards quickly moved to intervene, and President Stiles himself, long known as a man of action, wrestled the gun away from one of the attackers.
President Stiles spoke early this evening to the national and international press, saying "The police say they are 'looking into this terrible incident', but we all know who is responsible. Senor de la Vega, you tried to send me a message yesterday. I have received your message; now receive mine. I am going to crush you and use the dust of your bones to flavor my breakfast."
January 21
The Fuerza Aerea de Chile reports that a major defeat has been dealt to the mercenary pilots attempting to interdict Chilean drug-spraying operations in Bolivia. Spokesmen for the FACh report that eight mercenary fighters attempted to attack a pair of ENAER Coati spraying aircraft, only to meet four escorting F2E fighters of the FACh. In a wild melee, three of the mercenary aircraft were downed, while the Chilean fighters suffered no losses.
February 19
General Augusto Duartes, the military governor of the Special Territories of Chilean Bolivia, held a special public forum in Santiago to speak about reconstruction efforts in occupied Bolivia. This forum was open to all members of the public who wished to attend, including foreign ambassadors and press, and a healthy crowd turned out to listen and ask questions about the program. General Duartes and a number of his aides spoke in several sessions covering approximately six hours, addressing the topics of security, reconstruction, and economic growth. Also present, though he did not speak, was retired general Francisco D'Alarch, who developed and implemented the current strategy for the occupation and reconstruction of occupied Bolivia.
See full story
March 3 through March 7
The Chilean Navy hosts the ABC-41 Naval Exercises off the coast of southern Chile.
March 9
The Chilean Navy has temporarily grounded all F4E-1 Corsair fighters from carrier operations, "pending immediate modifications". A spokesman for ENAER offered further information, noting that the aircraft would be receiving modified landing gear and high visibility hoods, to match the F4E-2 variant currently prepared for series production.
March 12
The first M41 medium tank was handed over to the Army today for acceptance trials. The Army acknowledged that "over a hundred" tanks were on order.
March 25
The Chilean congress voted today to privatize the
Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado (the Chilean national railway). The motion found widespread support in Congress, and President Vizcarra said to the press "While the government may apply their revenue to develop new railways, the actions of private industry will do more to promote the strong and sustainable growth of a viable railway network."
According to the motion passed by Congress, 35% stock of the EFE will be devolved to employee ownership over the next three years, with the stocks to be distributed on the basis of seniority and outstanding performance. Another 35% will be retained by the government until at least 1946. The remaining 30% of stock will be sold at a public offering.
March 31
Firefighters battling a forest fire outside the city of Osorno received a welcome break today when autumn storms swept in from the Pacific, dousing the entire region with eight centimeters of much-needed rain.
April 7
The ferry MS
Puerto Eden owned by Naviera Magallanes S.A. was welcomed into service today. The large new ferry will begin service from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales via Puerto Eden.
April 14
With the beginning of winter, the Chilean military has terminated crop-spraying operations against drug plantations in Bolivia. The government speculated that these efforts, though expensive for the Chilean Air Force to carry out, were extremely effective at disrupting or destroying drug plants before they could be harvested. With the onset of winter, efforts now return to intercept smugglers trying to bring processed drugs out of Bolivia.
See full story
April 16
Sources within the Chilean government have confirmed that, if the privatization of the Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado goes according to current expectations, the Chilean government may be willing to follow it with privatization of other government-held organizations.
April 17
The city of Puerto Montt (enjoyed / suffered) the performance of fity-two bagpipers of the Puerto Montt Piper Regiment. The group, formed in 1939 from amongst the city's ethnic Scottish population, has begun performing in the city's civic ceremonies, to the (delight / horror) of the populace.
April 19
The F4E Corsair was cleared for carrier service again today after Naval pilots finished a series of tests aboard CNS
Chiloe. ENAER is in the process of upgrading all F4E-1 models to the F4E-2 standard. The F4E-2 incorporates a bubble canopy, new landing gear, and a stall strip on one of the wings, designed to eliminate the problems which have vexed F4E pilots in carrier service. Similar problems have hindered the US Navy's adoption of the Vought F4U, and ENAER consulted closely with Chance-Vought in the development of the modifications. Current production aircraft coming out of ENAER are now all built to the F4E-2 standard.
May 9
Experts of the Chilean Navy observed today the first flight of the British Blackburn B.44 flying-boat fighter. The Navy has reportedly been interested in the aircraft, originally to be developed jointly by Britain and Germany, but the project has seen difficulties with the withdrawal of German interest. Some uncertainty still remains about whether or not the British will complete the aircraft's development, or if the Navy will purchase it.
May 27
The coast defense ship
Almirante Gideon was officially decommissioned and handed over to the Argentine Navy today.
May 28
The decommissioned destroyer
Guardia Marina Gonzales was expended as a target today, being sunk by the submarine CNS
Flach.
May 30
The LSI(M)
Ministro Zentento was launched today at Valparaiso.
June 3
The Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María has announced that it has opened negotiations to purchase a Z3 computer from Germany's Conrad Zuse.
June 4
The Chilean Army lost a court case brought against them by a Bolivian national, Mr. Rodrigo Munoz, who has alleged that the Chilean Army has held his brother, Colonel Alfredo Munoz, in a secret prison without trial since early 1937. The Chilean Army has denied the claim, but investigation by journalists has cast serious doubt on the credibility of the Army's denials.
The court mandated that the Army release all classified information regarding Colonel Munoz to prove that he is not being secretly imprisoned.
The Bolivian government, meanwhile, has tried Colonel Munoz
in absencia for treason, conspiracy, kidnapping of a government official, incitement to rebellion, extrajudicial executions, and a variety of other charges stemming from his stint as the warlord ruling western Bolivia following the 1936 Cochabombas Earthquake. Many foreign journalists believe that Colonel Munoz was captured by Chilean paratroopers in the 1937 raid which freed Bolivian President Stiles, who Munoz kidnapped in a bid to take over the Bolivian government. If this is the case, then Rodrigo Munoz's lawsuit will likely result in the Colonel's extradition to Bolivian custody, rather than his release.
No information was immediately released by the Chilean Army, which merely stated that they had to "find and research all materials on Colonel Munoz in order to comply with the court's order."
June 6
In response to the decision by Chilean courts in
Munoz vs. the Ejercito de Chile, the Chilean Army admitted they imprisoned former Bolivian warlord Colonel Alfredo Munoz following his disappearance sometime in 1937, an event attributed to a secret operation by the Chilean paratroops. The Army's press release noted that "Munoz was not the target of any Chilean operations, and his imprisonment by the Ejercito de Chile was short-term until a proper solution could be found." According to the Chilean Army, Munoz was handed over to the Republic of Bolivia in early 1938, but in 1939, Munoz was tried in absencia by the Bolivian government on charges of high treason, leading an armed rebellion, and other serious charges, receiving the death penalty.
There was no immediate response from the Bolivian government, but Mr. Rodrigo Munoz, the Colonel's brother, alleged that the revelations made by the Chilean Army were "patently ridiculous lies, intended to cover up their continued complicity in the secret imprisonment of another country's citizens".
June 9
In response to the growing "Munoz Scandal", the Bolivian government broke silence and admitted that the Chilean Army handed over Colonel Alfredo Munoz to the Bolivian government on May 7th, 1938, whereupon he was held in custody by the Bolivian Army. The Bolivian government planned to put him on trial, but within weeks of his return to Bolivian territory, Munoz disappeared from his cell, and efforts to find him have since proven fruitless. The revelation, if true, comes as an embarrassment for the Bolivian government.
June 12
At 10:31 local time, seismologists in southern Chile reported an earthquake in the Aisen region of Chile. The quake was measured by seismologists using the recently-adopted Richter magnitude scale, being reported as a Richter 5.2 event. No known casualties are reported as of this time, but some light damage was reported in Puerto Aisen and the regional capital of Coihaique. The region is very lightly populated and experts predict that casualties will be low to minimal.
Following the initial reports of the earthquake, a Chilean Navy aircraft carrying out training flights in the region reported a "large volcanic-style cloud" in the region. Further investigations are underway.
June 13
Yesterday's R-5.2 earthquake in southern Chile has been conclusively linked to the eruption of the Cerro Hudson volcano, which continues erupting today. The mountain, named for a famous Chilean hydrographer of the 19th century, is remote and not well-studied, although aerial photographs of the glacier occurred last year. The Chilean military photographed the erupting volcano from the air and has requested the evacuation of the immediate region, although the eruption is not expected to cause major disruptions due to the remoteness of the area. A scientific group from the University of Chile is reportedly forming to study the relatively unknown volcano.
The earthquake recorded yesterday in the Aisen region has seen several injuries from falling objects or broken glass, but no deaths have been reported at this time. However, several aftershocks were reported, reaching 3.9 on the Richter scale. Although some property damage is recorded in Coihaique, most structures are designed to survive much larger earthquakes, and the damage appears limited to lightly constructed or elderly buildings. Although there was concern about reported tsunamis in the Pacific, Easter Island and French Polynesia reported sea level changes of no greater than twenty centimeters.
It is not known at this time if the eruption of Cerro Hudson was caused by the earthquake, or if the earthquake was a side-effect of the eruption.
June 16
The eruption of Cerro Hudson continues today as a a number of scientists have started arriving to study the volcano from the air. The eruption has melted part of the glacier lying over the caldera, and appears to have caused at least one major lahar as a result.
June 19
Scientists continue studying the erupting Cerro Hudson volcano from the air, although a small team has walked overland to set up an observation post some miles away. The danger on the ground is known to be fairly significant due to the incidents of at least two major lahars caused by glacial runoff, and aerial observation appears to offer the safest way to study the eruption.
June 20
The Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María announced that they have purchased a German Z3 computer for an undisclosed sum. The computer, the first of its kind in South America, will be used by the UTFSM's engineering doctorate program, primarily in conjunction with the two cyclotrons used by the physics department.
June 26
Austral Obras Mecánica unveiled their plans to construct several test engines fueled by natural gas.
June 30
Two famous French astronomers, Odette Bancilhon and Alfred Schmitt, have reportedly arrived in Chile on the liner
Independencia to conduct a one-year study program at the Chajnantor Atacama Observatory Complex. According to the latest reports, development of the observatory complex continues unabated, and with the recent completion of a new 20m radio-telescope, and the start of construction on a newer, larger radio-telescope.
July 2
The eruption of the Cerro Hudson volcano is said to be diminishing in intensity, although a major lahar in the vicinity of the volcano, the third observed to date, indicated that there is still no small amount of danger due to the eruption.
July 7
Today the Ferrocarril Magallanes received all three ordered 2-8-2+2-8-2 Beyer-Garratt meter-gauge locomotives ordered from Société Franco-Belge. The locomotives were delivered to Punta Arenas by the MS
CSAV Helsinki.
July 11
The heavy cruiser
Constitucion and a number of support ships left Talcahuano today to conduct naval exercises. No further information is available at this time.
July 18
The destroyer leader (or frigate)
Angamos was completed today at the ASMAR naval yards in Talcahuano. The ship will begin a series of sea-trials prior to its commissioning by the Chilean Navy.
July 24
Scientific observers have reported that the eruption of the Cerro Hudson volcano has largely ended.
July 26
The Chilean Navy's spokesman commented that a task force led by CNS
Constitucion is homeward bound from the Atlantic Ocean after completing two days of underway replenishment exercises with the French Navy. The Armada's spokesman said the exercises went smoothly and were a substantial success.
July 29
The Chilean government has gifted a pie to all the ambassadors in Santiago. The pies are twenty centimeters across, weight 0.7 kilograms, and come in a variety of flavors.
July 30
The Ferrocarril Magallanes, one of the world's most southerly railways, announced that it would begin railbus passenger service between Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales in the next week. Freight service to the coal mines north of Puerto Natales will start sometime within the next month.
August 3
The light cruiser
Concepción returned to Talcahuano today after conducting at-sea gunnery exercises. The Armada's spokesman said that the
Concepción's trials were "quite comprehensive" and focused on anti-aircraft gunnery. The cruiser reportedly fired over twenty-five hundred rounds of main gun ammunition and fifteen hundred rounds of secondary antiaircraft ammunition over the week-long exercises.
August 9
The
Hora más oscura Lido reopened on their traditional Valparaiso location for the first time following a major fire two years ago, which destroyed one of the great intellectual centers of tango dancing. The
Hora más oscura Lido has been rebuilt over the past two years, although the studio remained open in several different temporary locations.
August 22
Petrochile announced the opening of the thirty-centimeter pipeline running from Tarija in Chilean Bolivia to Antofagasta on the Pacific Ocean. The pipeline will carry natural gas from extraction facilities in Chilean Bolivia to a facility in Antofagasta which will use the Fischer–Tropsch process to convert natural gas to synthetic fuels. This facility, constructed with the input and investment of the German technology leaders, is the first of its kind in South America.
August 26
The Chilean 1st Armoured Battalion reported that they have completed conversion to the new M41 medium tank.
August 29
A number of documents were leaked to the press today discussing the fate of Colonel Alfredo Munoz, a former Bolivian warlord who was allegedly captured by Chilean paratroopers in 1937. The documents consist of several letters provided to the Chilean congress from the Ejercito, explaining that Munoz was turned over to Bolivian government authorities on May 7th, 1938, but several weeks afterward, he escaped with the assistance of outside conspirators, who staged a successful prison-break, killing three Bolivian Army soldiers in the process. The Bolivian Police reportedly arrested Munoz and two other men for minor offenses in July, but released them after they paid a fine, before the Police discovered who they were. According to the documents, Munoz fled Bolivia in August 1938.
September 3
The Ferrocarril Magallanes (Magellanes Railway) initiated full service between Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales, delivering a train-load of coal to a merchant ship waiting at Punta Arenas.
September 8
The ENAER Zafiro, designed in conjunction with the German firm of Bücker Flugzeugbau, made its first flight today. The Zafiro shares a strong similarity to Bücker's earlier Bü-181 "Bestmann". The Chilean Air Force is reportedly "extremely interested" in the design, and signed a letter of intent to purchase a number of Zafiros, presuming the successful completion of development and flight testing.
September 10
The armed forces announced that they would be conducting military exercises in the region of Chiloe during the early to mid part of October.
September 17
In their final act before adjourning for the summer, Congress voted today to establish the Puyehue National Park in the Zona Sur region. The new park, dedicated to preserving the area's temperate rainforest, will measure 1,068 km², and becomes the eighth national park in Chile.
September 18
Chile celebrates their 131st Independence Day.
September 19
The Parada Militar took place today as part of the annual Army Day celebrations. Although this year's military parade saw the appearance of the new M41 medium tank, displayed by the 1st Tank Battalion of the Panzergrenadier Brigade, the entire celebration was smaller than in previous years.
September 23
The new musical
Los albañiles by Ignacio Cassab opened today in Santiago to a packed crowd, including Presidente Vizcarra.
September 28
Constelación Aircraft announced today that their chief aircraft designer, Dr. Rodrigo Loyola, was engaged in the development of a small twin-engine utility aircraft, tentatively named the Super Two-Nine (twin engine, nine seats). This light aircraft is designed for both civil and military applications, and is expected to fly in late 1942 or 1943.
October 2
General del Aire Jeremías Guendalman, the commander-in-chief of the FACh, toured the ENAER plant in Santiago today to inspect the prototype ENAER Zafiro trainer. General Guendalman took the Zafiro for a half-hour test flight and pronounced it a very pleasant aircraft to fly, although he noted it was obviously a prototype and had a few improvements remaining. The general reiterated his hope that the development of the Zafiro would proceed swiftly to permit an air force order.
October 3
The short
Aperitivo de Medianoche begins playing in Chilean theaters before full-length movies.
October 8
The heavy cruiser
Constitucion conducted a ceremony at the site of the Naval Battle of Angamos for the 62nd Anniversary of the battle. The heavy cruiser's crew, including three veterans of the victory, participated in a ceremony honoring the combatants, and laid a wreath at the scene of the battle.
October 18
ASMAR announced the completion of the
Battle-class heavy destroyer
Iquique.
October 20
President Vizcarra appointed General de Division Mathias Aravena to replace General de Ejército Rodrigo Agosin as Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army, following the end of General Agosin's term of service. General Aravena's term of service is noteworthy; he commanded Chilean forces in the Antofagasta region during the Andean War, and led his troops, outnumbered three to one, in a brilliant but tough campaign of maneuver warfare that resulted in the defeat and withdrawal of the Bolivian invaders. General Aravena's skill and leadership is highly regarded by the Chilean Army, and he is particularly popular among those veteran troops who served with him in the Antofagasta Campaign. Aravena is a noteworthy proponent of veteran affairs.
October 22
The armed forces announced that they have concluded their military exercises near Chiloe and associated areas.
October 24
A Chilean Army spokesmen announced to the press early this morning that the Bolivian Army was conducting a major sweep for members of the de la Vega drug gang in the Bolivian province of Cochabamba. The spokesman issued the following statement: "The Bolivian Army commanders have made it clear to us that their activities across the border are in no way intended to challenge the Treaty of Bogota, and are underway as an internal security measure to control the violent drug trade which has grown up in the region. The Chilean Army, Carabiners, and Air Force are cooperating with the Bolivian armed forces, providing intelligence, aerial reconnaissance and logistics, and close air support where requested by the Bolivian government."
A Bolivian Army spokesman, speaking later in the day from La Paz, commented "The Chileans have overemphasized their own participation."
The Chilean Air Force reported that II Brigada's 1st Fighter Regiment had flown thirty-eight sorties, while the 303rd Reconnaissance Squadron had flown nineteen, and the 2nd Transport Regiment logged twenty-three sorties. All other Chilean Air Force units in the region flew a combined eight sorties.
October 25
According to sources in La Paz, the Bolivian Army has completed their major sweep against the de la Vega drug gang, arresting approximately eight hundred of the gang's armed members and leaders, and seizing twenty-one drug plantations in the Cochabamba province. While de la Vega himself appears to have eluded arrest, upwards of ninety percent of the gang's senior leadership appears to be in Bolivian government custody. Several of the gang's leaders were also reportedly killed when they fled in a Ju52 trimotor. The aircraft was intercepted by a roving Chilean air patrol led by Eliodoro Frias, who ordered the plane to return to the airport, but was fired on by onboard small arms. After repeated attempts to force the plane to return to the airstrip, Frias shot the plane down. Investigations by Bolivian police suggested that the aircraft was carrying de la Vega's right hand man, along with much of the gang's reserves of cash and drugs.
October 29
Petrochile's new Fischer-Tropsch facility in Antofagasta began trials operations, converting natural gas into synthetic fuel. Initial operations will produce a hundred kiloliters per week on a test basis, although Petrochile hopes to increase output substantially in the coming years.
October 31
The Carrier Force departed Talcahuano early this morning bound for North America. Their first stop will be the US naval port of San Diego on November 14th. The task force includes
Libertad, the 1st Cruiser Squadron, the 2nd Destroyer Squadron, and elements of the 2nd and 5th Logistics Flotillas.
November 3
LAN Airlines confirmed rumors that it was looking to acquire a new four-engine airliner for its service to North America along the western coast of South America. British industrialists have reportedly worked hard to sell the Avro Tudor to LAN. The airline's spokesman noted to reporters that the Tudor, the Franco-Atlantean MB.970, the German Ju-390A, and the American Lockheed Constellation and DC4 have all been evaluated. A final decision by the airline will come next month.
November 4
Directemar announced that they would order eight new CA1942 type vessels for construction by ASMAR. The first four ships, to be leased to CSAV, will be laid down within the next few months. They will be the third-largest civilian ships ever laid down in Chile, with only the two
Presidente class liners and the
Cruz del Sur being larger.
November 6
The Fast Carrier Force, bound for San Diego, successfully made their planned rendezvous with the American heavy cruiser USS
New York City east of Clipperton Island.
November 14
The Fast Carrier Force arrived today at the American naval base of San Diego, passing Point Loma just after dawn, accompanied by the USS
New York City. The force will remain in San Diego until the 22nd, when they will sail to Los Angeles.
November 22
The Fast Carrier Force left San Diego and sailed to Los Angeles.
November 25
The Fast Carrier Force left Los Angeles for San Francisco.
November 26
The Fast Carrier Force arrived at San Francisco.
November 28
The Fast Carrier Force departed San Francisco. There was no comment from the Chilean Navy about the boatloads of young gullible sailors who spent half their time rowing around Treasure Island trying to figure out where the gold was.
November 29
The carrier
Chiloe departed Talcahuano with an escort, two oilers, her training cadre of Coati-Ns, and a Zafiro. Scuttlebutt amongst the Navy says she's bound for the Philippines.
December 5
The Fast Carrier Force arrived at Pearl Harbor for the final visit of their US port tour.
December 8
LAN Airlines spokesmen confirmed that the company had agreed to buy four Atlantean-built Bloch-Ripon Transatlantique airliners for service to Central and North America. Although not a surprise due to past Chilean preference for Atlantean airliners, LAN was reportedly quite interested in both the competing Ju390 and the smaller Ju252; and the British made an extensive effort to sell the Avro Tudor.
December 10
The Fast Carrier Force departed Pearl Harbor, completing their US port tour.
December 26
The
Chiloe and her escorts arrived at Davao City today.
WesWorld »
The SIM »
News and Stories »
Quoted
Originally posted by Commodore Green
Tuesday, April 16th 2024, 9:51pm
Go to the top of the page
