translated from Spanish: About Hercules C.130 plane crash and our historical memory

About the unfortunate crash of the FACH Hercules C-130 aircraft, which happened a few days ago, as have hundreds of survivors, has brought us unwelcome memories.
As i do not recall that in addition to other terrestrial means, (trucks, buses) maritime means (ships and boats) there were also the air resources such as helicopters (death caravan) and FACH flights on their Hercules C-130 aircraft. These aircraft with a large cargo capacity could also carry soldiers and/or “passengers” in a number according to the manufacturer’s manual in a capacity of 92 people.
We do not know the number of flights they made to transfer us as prisoners of war from Cerrillos Air Base (Aviation Group No. 10) to Base Moreno Airport in Antofagasta, with final destination the Chacabuco Prisoner Camp in the middle of the desert. They were one-way and also return flights with prisoners expelled from our country and others were left in “freedom.”
We remember the last two trips from the north, when the dictatorship decided to close that Camp in October 1974. They divided us into two groups, moved us to Moreno Base and got us on one of the Hercules C-130 aircraft, we must have been about 140 people, some sitting on the saddles, others on the ground, with their maximum capacity being 92 people including the crew. Our group arrived at Quintero Air Base in the Fifth Region of Valparaiso, then in a large military, naval and carabinieri caravan we were transferred to Camp Melinka, in the then village of Puchuncaví. The other group in similar numbers made the same route, but once they arrived in Quintero, they were transferred to Camp de Ritoque. Both camps had been spas for workers built by the People’s Government of Salvador Allende G. Luckily for ours, we now know that those 73-74 aircraft were newly acquired.
Also, it is good to know that it was during the government of S Allende that the first purchase of 2 Hercules aircraft for the FACH was made, but for other purposes.
As a result of the accident just that occurred, in the media have abundated reports of all kinds, now we know a little more of something that never interested us much, the plane itself.
By the way, the media report on certain issues, not this one, which is part of the historical memory of our country, it will not occur to someone who says; “ah, the tie theory” just further away. We should only note that in addition to the professional purposes that the air institution may have (defense, disaster support, etc.) there was a period when these planes were misused against civilian citizens who were political prisoners of the civil-military dictatorship

The content poured into this opinion column is the sole responsibility of its author, and does not necessarily reflect the editorial line or position of El Mostrador.

Original source in Spanish

Related Posts

Add Comment