Mexican pilot

Keith P · 28th October 2008, 13:54

Does anyone have any knowledge of a Mexican pilot flying lancasters out of Coningsby during WW2, I believe he was the only Mexican in the RAF

**Phil Listemann** · 29th October 2008, 09:00

Hi Keith,

I have no information about your guy, but at least one another Mexican flew with the British, with the RCAF more exactly, the Pilot Officer Luis Perez-Gomez. He was killed in action in Normandy in June 1944 while flying with No.443 Sqn.

Phil

**Amrit** · 29th October 2008, 11:06

This name was mentioned elsewhere but with no more details:

Harold Charles Dent Saenz, born in Minatitlan, Veracruz, Mexico. No 214 Squadron.

A

**Henk Welting** · 29th October 2008, 12:46

Sgt Philip PEARL - 1393850 - Runnymede Panel 236 - Wellington HF279 - 172 Sqn - 31-1-1944 - CWGC: Son of Charles Constantine Pearl and of Mary Edgar Pearl of Mexico City, Mexico.

Henk.

**Alex Smart** · 29th October 2008, 17:35

Hi,

From what I have read Perez-Gomez was a Brazilian.

Alex

**Phil Listemann** · 29th October 2008, 19:05

Hi,

I confirm that Luis Perez-Gomez was a Mexican. He was born on 8 October 1922 in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico.

Phil

**Ken MacLean** · 29th October 2008, 20:59

Phil,

RCAF casualty list agrees-Guadalajara.

A web search brings several mentions of Perez-Gomez, including a memorial service conducted near his crash site at Sassy, Normandy. The service, held 18 June 2004 was attended by an official of the Mexican Embassy to France, also some Canadians and Brits, including Dorothy Pratt, an English girlfriend of 1944.

Another website identifies four "Airmen of Mexican Origin" serving in Commonwealth air forces:

Luis Perez-Gomez, 443 Sqn, two victories
Thomas Benfield Lee, 402 Sqn, two victories
Sebastian Bernardo de Mier, Air-Gunner, 418 (Boston`s), 23 and 68 Sqns.
Alberto Brown Torres, name only, no other details.

Regards, Ken

Timothy Dubé · 30th October 2008, 10:52

The Winter 1995 issue of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society Journal has an article entitled "Mexican Spitfire Pilots in the RCAF". http://www.cahs.ca/journal/1995journal_d.html

Timothy Dubé
National President
Canadian Aviation Historical Society

Timothy Dubé · 3rd November 2008, 17:54

Another reference to Luis Perez-Gomez in the Ottawa Citizen of Monday 3 November 2008. http://www.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=82439a66-e44e-4efb-9ea6-761fc59f8e39&sponsor=

Timothy Dubé

**Fox** · 24th April 2012, 13:58

Hi all,

Does anybody here have any piece of information regarding Perez-Gomez? Date and place of enlistment, training in Canada and in the UK, etc.

Thanks a lot,

Fox.