Every July 23, our country celebrates Peruvian Air Force (FAP) Day, a date declared a national holiday to commemorate the sacrifice of Jose Abelardo Quiñones Gonzales.
Learn more about this heroic figure in the following article.
Jose Abelardo Quiñones was a Peruvian war aviator known for his aerial feats and deep love for his homeland —qualities that ultimately led him to sacrifice his life during the 1941 conflict with Ecuador.
This National Hero —designated as the "Great Air General of Peru" in 2007— was born on April 14, 1914, in Pimentel district, Chiclayo province, Lambayeque region, during a decade marked by the global development of aeronautics.
Quiñones began his aviation studies in 1935 at the Jorge Chavez Central School of Aeronautics, where he stood out for performing his first solo flight in a Morane-Saulnier M.S. 316 aircraft after only 4 hours and 40 minutes of dual-control flight training with an instructor.
He soon became a distinguished military aviator, strengthening his passion for aviation alongside his military training.
Quiñones graduated in January 1939, earning the prestigious "Golden Wing" award and qualifying as a fighter pilot.
The aviator thus began his career as an officer in Ancon's Aviation Squadron No. 4 and was soon transferred to the 21st Fighter Squadron based in Chiclayo, northern Peru.
In 1940, he was promoted to the rank of Aeronautics Lieutenant.
National hero
In 1941, a territorial dispute broke out with Ecuador due to a series of aggressions by the neighboring country along the northern border. As a result, the government at the time ordered the mobilization of the Armed Forces to the zone.
In that context, Quiñones carried out multiple reconnaissance missions, capturing key aerial photographs of the Ecuadorian front during risky flights under heavy enemy fire.
According to war reports, at 7:50 a.m. on July 23, 1941, Squadron 41 —composed of FAP Lieutenant Commander Alberti, Lieutenants Fernando Paraud and Jose Quiñones, and Ensign Manuel Rivera— took off from Tumbes to attack the Quebrada Seca outpost, where the Ecuadorian forces were stationed, using machine guns and bombs.
At 8:00 a.m. that same day, the military aircraft reached their target to carry out the bombing mission.
However, the aircraft piloted by Lieutenant Quiñones was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire, damaging its vital components and engulfing it in flames.
Instead of using his parachute to escape the aircraft, Quiñones maintained control of the plane, made a turn, and directed it toward the enemy position, completely destroying it and thus fulfilling his mission.
Having acted with such heroism —sacrificing his life for the homeland— Quiñones was posthumously promoted on the battlefield to the rank of captain.
In 1966, through Law No. 16126, the FAP captain was officially declared a National Hero. The legislation also established July 23 as Peru’s Military Aviation Day to commemorate his sacrifice.
National holiday
In 2023, the Congress of the Republic, through Law No. 31822, declared July 23 of every year a national holiday in commemoration of this sacrifice. The date was also designated as Air Force Day in Peru.
This legal provision amended Articles 3 and 4 of Law No. 16126, which had declared FAP Captain Quiñones a National Hero.
(END) NGB/FGM/MVB
Published: 7/23/2025