José Pérez Caldas Explained

José Pérez Caldas
Office:2th Commander-in-Chief of
the Uruguayan Air Force
President:Jorge Pacheco Areco
Juan María Bordaberry
Term Start:March 6, 1970
Term End:March 5, 1974
Predecessor:Danilo E. Sena
Successor:Dante Paladini
Office2:Ambassador of Uruguay to the United States
Term Start2:November 26, 1974
Term End2:1980
Predecessor2:Héctor Luisi
Successor2:Jorge Pacheco Areco
Birth Date:October 30, 1917
Birth Place:Melo, Uruguay
Death Date:14 June 2004
Education:Military School of Aeronautics
Allegiance: Uruguayan Air Force
Branch:
Serviceyears:1940 – 1974
Rank:Brigadier General
Commands:Uruguayan Air Force General Command
Mawards:Medal of Aeronautical Merit
President2:Juan María Bordaberry

José Pérez Caldas (October 30, 1917 — June 14, 2004) was a Uruguayan Brigadier General who served as the second Commander-in-Chief of the Uruguayan Air Force between March 1970 and March 1974.[1] In February 1973, he opposed the appointment of retired Uruguayan General Antonio Francese to occupy the position of Minister of National Defense by President Juan María Bordaberry. As a result, he began to ignore the orders of the political power, within the context of the institutional crisis that led to the 1973 Uruguayan coup d'état.[2]

Early life

Caldas studied primary and secondary education in Melo, Cerro Largo Department. Upon completing his studies, he entered the Military School of the Uruguayan Army, graduating as Alférez (Ensign) of Infantry in 1940. Then, in 1941, he received his military wings.[3]

Military career

In March 1970 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Uruguayan Air Force, succeeding Brigadier Danilo E. Sena, who was the first Commander of the Uruguayan Air Force, after this maximum position of Commander-in-Chief in the Air Force was renamed from General Inspector of the Uruguayan Air Force.

On September 9, 1971, Caldas was instructed by President Jorge Pacheco Areco, to conduct, along with the Uruguayan Army and Navy, anti-guerrilla operations against the Movimiento de Liberación Nacional-Tupamaros urban guerrilla.

In March 1974 he retired from the Air Force, and on November 26, 1974, he was appointed as Ambassador of Uruguay to the governments of the United States and Canada.[4] [5]

Flight Information

Rating: Command Pilot

Aircraft Flown: DH.82, T-6D, C-47A, B-25J

References

  1. Web site: 2007-06-06 . INSPECTORES GENERALES Y COMANDANTES EN JEFE DESDE LA CREACIÓN DE LA FUERZA AÉREA URUGUAYA . 2022-09-25 . 2007-06-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070606235746/http://fau.gub.uy/organizacion/comando/relacion_ctes_jefe/relac_1.htm . bot: unknown .
  2. Book: Maruri, Juan . Historia de la Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya . 978-9974-96-255-2 . 1 . 299–300 . es.
  3. Web site: September 25, 2022 . OBSERVATORIO CONO SUR DE DEFENSA Y FUERZAS ARMADAS. INFORME SEMANAL URUGUAY N°150. . September 25, 2022.
  4. Web site: 2007-06-26 . Political . 2023-02-04 . 2007-06-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070626041343/http://www.uruwashi.org/Political.htm . bot: unknown .
  5. Web site: U.S. Department of State Archive .