Armando Castro López

Armando Castro López was a Chilean Air Force general who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Air Force (FACh) from 1939 to 1943.

During his tenure, the institution established new training programmes, reorganised its maintenance facilities and acquired additional aircraft for military aviation instruction.

Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force

Castro assumed command of the Chilean Air Force in January 1939, initially holding the rank of air commodore. Shortly after his appointment, he organised the institution's first relief operations in the area of Chillán, which had been devastated by the 1939 Chillán earthquake. Later that year, he was promoted to the rank of General of the Air.

During his administration, Castro secured government approval for the establishment of the Air Force Specialties School in 1939, intended to provide professional training for permanent enlisted personnel. In 1942, the Aviation Cadet Course was established as part of the institution's military education programmes.

In 1940, Castro ordered the reorganisation of the Central Maintenance Workshops, which were relocated to modern facilities on the southern side of El Bosque Air Base. The Aviation Arsenals were also transferred to new installations on the southwestern side of the base.

His administration oversaw the acquisition of North American AT-6 aircraft from the United States in 1941. These aircraft were intended for advanced flight instruction and retraining courses, conducted with the assistance of an American Air Mission headed by Colonel Omer Niergarth and including Captain Robert Burns and First Lieutenant Joe Kelly.

The Air Force also received Fairchild PT-19 primary trainers, which replaced the earlier Focke-Wulf Fw 44 aircraft, and Vultee BT-13 Valiant aircraft for basic flight instruction. These acquisitions formed part of the continued development of the Air Force's training capabilities and operational units.

Castro left command in 1943 and was succeeded by General Manuel Tovarías.