FYI: Once a tool of terror during Argentina’s military dictatorship, a notorious plane is now part of a historical exhibit in Buenos Aires, spotlighting the country’s dark past and holding perpetrators accountable.
Tragic Relics of History Found in Florida
A relic from Argentina’s tumultuous history was unexpectedly discovered in Florida in 2008—a Skyvan PA-51 aircraft, utilized by Argentina’s military regime in the 1970s for appalling ‘death flights.’ These flights were shockingly used to dispose of political prisoners by hurling them into the sea. This sinister aircraft has resurfaced and returned to Buenos Aires in 2023, now displayed as a somber reminder of past oppression.
Dark Secrets Revealed
This macabre piece of history came to light thanks to the diligent efforts of Argentine journalist Miriam Lewin and Italian photographer Giancarlo Theroux, as they recounted their experience on CBS’s "60 Minutes." Miriam Lewin herself endured harrowing experiences as a political prisoner during the period known as the Dirty War. Miraculously surviving her ordeal, Lewin has dedicated her efforts to shedding light on Argentina’s past.
ESMA: A School Turned Death Camp
The Naval Mechanics School (ESMA), in the heart of Buenos Aires, became a secret hub for systematic torture and execution during the Dirty War. Here, the regime devised the gruesome death flights. Prisoners, misled into believing they were receiving vaccinations, were actually drugged and then loaded onto a Skyvan for a fatal flight from which they were cast out mid-air.
Key Discoveries Lead to Justice
Hidden in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the Skyvan was found by Lewin and Theroux, its sinister history unknown to its current owners. This aircraft provided crucial evidence in court, corroborating accounts of these death flights and leading to the life sentences of individuals linked to the horrific actions of the dictatorship. It stood as evidence for the unimaginable plight of victims whose bodies eventually washed ashore and were buried in unidentified graves.
A Plane and Its Final Resting Place
In June 2023, the plane made its return to Argentina and found a permanent home at ESMA, now a poignant museum honoring victims of state terrorism. Unlike other vehicular memorabilia, this plane serves as an educational tool to remind us of the depths of human cruelty and the importance of confronting our past, lest history repeats itself. It now stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring pursuit of justice.
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Donald Smith, Editor of Automotive.fyi
