| José Abelardo Quiñones Gonzáles | |
|---|---|
Quiñones in a Military portrait |
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| Born | April 22, 1914 Pimentel District, Lambayeque, Peru |
| Died | July 23, 1941 Quebrada Seca, Ecuador |
| Occupation | Peruvian Air Force Military Aviator |
| Parents | José María Quiñones Arízola and María Juana Rosa Gonzáles |
José Abelardo Quiñones Gonzáles (April 22, 1914 – July 23, 1941) was a Peruvian military aviator and national aviation hero. He sacrificed his life crashing into an Ecuadorian battery (such as the Japanese kamikaze would crash at American ships in the Second World War) during the Battle of Zarumilla in the Ecuadorian–Peruvian war.
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Lieutenant Quinones was a fighter pilot in the 41st Escuadrilla (Flight) of the Peruvian Air Force, which participated in a bombing raid at Quebrada Seca on July 23, 1941. Quinones' aircraft, a North American NA-50 "TORITO", was shot down by a battery of Ecuadorian anti-aircraft artillery; having no time to parachute to safety, Quinones made the supreme sacrifice by crashing his aircraft onto the Ecuadorian battery.
After his death he was declared a national hero by law on May 10, 1966.[1] Named in his honour is the Cap. FAP José A. Quiñones Gonzales International Airport near his town of birth in Chiclayo. When the new currency of Peru (nuevo sol) was introduced in 1991 he appeared on the 10 S/. Banknote.