Chapter Two

The First Mexican Fairchild FC-2, NC998, M-SCOE

This amazing clear photograph was taken at Balbuena Airfield, Mexico City,

on 20 December 1927, and has remained in the private collection of the family

of pilot Luis Noriega Medrano, [far left] for the past ninety years. At first, the

image only appears to be three Mexican pilots in front of an old Mexican air-

craft, however, it is a rare image captured by an unknown photographer from

“Estudio Cortes” in Mexico City. The aircraft was an American built high-

wing monoplane used for transporting passengers and cargo, known as the

FC-2, later designed into the more famous Fairchild model 71. The military

pilot in the middle, I believe is Teniente [Lieutenant] Alfonso Gandarille Gra-

cia, who would later fly anti-submarine patrols with Luis Noriega, protecting

Mexican shipping from German attacks in WWII. The pilot on the right could

be Mayor [Major] Alberto Castrejon of the Mexican Aviation Arm. Pilot Luis

Noriega [left] is the private pilot of Mexican President Calles. These three

Mexican pilots are waiting for the arrival of four very special guests, Dwight

W. Morrow, the U. S. Ambassador in Mexico, the President of Mexico, Plu-

tarco Elias Calles, Mayor [Major] Alvaro Obregon, the ex-president of Mex-

ico, and American pilot Charles A. Lindbergh. Lindbergh will soon pilot this

Fairchild FC-2, serial M-SCOE, on three flights over Mexico City, entertain-

ing his special passengers. While this image contains a huge amount of his-

tory, it is just a small beginning of early Mexican aviation. The complete air-

craft history actually begins with the pre-history of the creation of Mexicana

Airlines, Compania Mexicana.

In July 1921, two American citizens living in Mexico City, formed a small

aviation company which is given the very first contract to operate in Mexico,

under title “Compania Mexicana de Transportacion” [C.M.T.A.] Harry J.

Lawson and I. A. Winship buy two biplanes and begin flying from Mexico

City to the American border at Ciudad Juarez. The business is not good and

continues to lose money in 1922 and 1923, but the company somehow survives.

In August 1923, Mexican President Alvaro Obregon signs the Bucareli Treaty,

which clarified the rights of the Mexican government and reduced the future

power and ownership of all huge American oil companies operating in Mex-

ico. In protest of this treaty, Obregon’s finance minister, Adolf de la Huerta,

launches a rebellion [military coup] against the President, who now returns to

the battlefield. Young pilot Luis Noriega fought in this rebellion, but the fam-

ily have no records of his combat and it was possibly never recorded by the

Mexican government. We must now recall, in 1920, it was President Obregon

who granted 17-year-old Noriega, his request to leave the Mexican Navy and

become a pilot in the Aviation Arm of Mexico. During the war, the United

States agrees to furnish the Mexican government with 17 new de Havilland

DH-4B bombers equipped with Lewis and Vickers machine guns. This mod-

ern airpower shifts power to the federal forces and the military coup is

squashed in February 1924, and I’m sure pilot Noriega’s actions were recog-

nized by his President.

The Mexican controlled oilfields along the Gulf of Mexico coast near Tampico

are now booming and the C.M.T.A. airline establish a lucrative route from

Tampico to Mexico City. These pioneer American owners are now flying the

large Mexican oil payrolls over the heads of the bandits, who surround the

rich oil fields and have been robbing the land delivery routes.

Luis Noriega Medrano’s daughter recalls:

In one of these flights he crash-landed in an open field in the forest using

two palm trees to stop his plane. When they sent for help, they also sent

for men to unload the plane and literally walked the cargo (payroll) to its

destination. They all followed a trail in a very heavy forest. My father

used to tell us how he would make sure that every one of the men carrying

the money would still be there every time there was a turn in the trail by

standing where he could see the approaching men and counting each one

as they walked by. I am sure they had no idea what the cargo was.

This new oilfield business begins to attract other companies and on 24 August

1924, Companfa Mexicana de Aviation, [C.M.A.] is formed. The more power-

ful C.M.A then purchased the smaller company C.M.T.A., and quickly took

over their aircraft and money making oil business from Tampico to Mexico

City. This rapid growth of Mexican oil, and the power of the airplane in

Mexican politics and military is being noticed by many important Americans.

In 1925, U. S. industrialist Sherman Fairchild was mainly involved in aerial

photography, and developing his new founded Fairchild Airplane Manufac-

turing Corp in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York, USA. His company first

designed a new Fairchild prototype aircraft called the FC-1 [Fairchild Cabin

model #1]. This prototype aircraft first flew in June 1926, and was designed

mainly as a camera platform for his aerial photography business. This new

design was a success, [which many historians describe as the pick-up truck of

the air] and production began at once with the model FC-2 powered by a 220

horsepower Wright J-5 Whirlwind engine, first flown on 20 June 1927.

Sherman Fairfield now becomes intrigued with aviation enterprises in Mex-

ico, and purchases 20% of the holdings in C.M.A. airlines, plus a contract to

supply all future aircraft to the company at cost. Mr. Sherman was a very

smart businessman and knew how to invest, and make money in more than

one area.

The ninth constructed Fairchild Cabin model 2, [FC-2] was given the registra-

tion NC998, and flown to Companfa Mexicana de Aviation at Mexico City in

August 1927. It was given an open winged Eagle design with the words –

“Ciudad de Mexico”, possibly the C.M.A. company insignia. The fuselage and

wings were next painted with the assigned aircraft registration given by Mexi-

can authorities, the earliest numbering system which began with the letter

“M” for MEXICO. This was followed by a hyphen and four letters, the first

three being SCO, for Secretaria de Communications y Obras Publicas. The

last letter, in this case an “E”, was assigned to each individual aircraft.

In October 1927, Fairchild FC-2 “Ciudad de Mexico “began flying the twice a

week route from Mexico City to Tampico and return. In the same month, a

second Fairchild FC-2, the 30th built, registered NC3432, was received, given

the name “Ciudad de Veracruz’ and letters M-SCOY, flying a new route to the

Yucatan peninsula. These were routine air routes carrying passengers, oil

payroll money, and cargo, but now destiny would take over, which was cap-

tured in two images from the Noriega family photo collection.

This image appears in the Noriega photo collection with no date or names. I

believe it is the group of original Mexican pilots who flew together in the 1923-

24 Adolfo de la Huerta rebellion, and the photo date is 1925. At age nineteen,

Emilio Carranza flew with Luis Farell Cubillas and bombed the mountainous

towns of Bacatete, Los Medanos, La Gloria, Higueras, La Virgen, Torocob-

sampo, Bacatecate, Zamahuaca, Cendradita, Algodones, Las Petacas, Raum

and Belem. To his left stands Lt. Ralph Ambrose O’Neill, who was hired in

1920, by President Alvaro Obregon to revamp the Mexican Air Force. O’Neill

flew at least six missions against Adolfo de la Huerta’s forces in the rebellion,

and departed Mexico in December 1925. Another aviation hero, Roberto Fi-

erro appears in uniform far right.

In 1924, President Obregon hand-picked his successor, Plutarco Elias Calles,

who was elected President, and the following year, President Calles appointed

a 21-year-old Lt. Luis Noriega as his personal pilot.

This image was stamped 16 September 1927 by the portrait company, 23-

year-old pilot Lt. Luis Noriega.

Noriega is now a veteran combat pilot in the Mexican Air Arm, the personal

pilot for President Calles, and a member of Mexican revolution aviation

hero’s including Emilio Carranza. The Carranza family are almost royalty in

Mexico, and the fame of Emilio is growing each month. Many, many, websites

and books detail the Carranza family history, military commanders, aviation

pioneers, president of Mexico, and it need not be repeated in this history.

Emilio Carranza grew up loving aviation and at age eleven began to visit the

flying academy in Mexico City. He became a member of this academy at age

eighteen, soloed in a Mexican-built Avro biplane two years later, becoming a

national hero bombing rebels in 1924. In 1927, a new world aviation hero

emerged, named Charles A. Lindbergh.

Free domain from San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives

Charles Augustus Lindbergh was born in 1902, the American aviator who

made the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic, 20-21 May 1927. This

image was taken just before he took off for world fame, gaining press names

“Lucky Lindy” and “The Lone Eagle.” He was a shy, slim young American,

who immediately shot to international fame, idolized by Americans, Europe-

ans, and Mexicans. It is no surprise that Charles Lindbergh soon became the

idol of one Mexican pilot Emilio Carranza.

In June 1927, Lt. Carranza obtained an old abandoned ex-Mexican Air Force

aircraft “Quetzalcoatl” made entirely from wood. He supervised a total recon-

struction, installed a new 185 horsepower BMW engine, and test flew his air-

craft, until he felt it was suitable for making a long distance flight.

Internet free domain

Only three of these Mexican built aircraft were constructed, each named after

the Aztec Plumed Serpent Quetzalcoatl. In the Aztec legends the good god

Quetzalcoatl and his dark brother Tezcatlipoca were always in conflict

against each other. The museums in Mexico are full of these legends, including

even the death of Quetzalcoatl.

Captain Emilio Carranza named his “Quetzalcoatl” aircraft for his city of

birth, Coahuila, Mexico.

Capt. Emilio Carranza was totally inspired by the flight of Lindbergh and

completed the first non-stop flight from Mexico City to the City of Ciudad

Juarez, [1200 miles] on 2 September 1927. He was becoming a National Mexi-

can hero, however a very important event coincided with his landing of “Coa-

huila”at Juarez, Mexico. On the other side of the Rio Grande River, Charles

Lindbergh had landed at El Paso, Texas, that very same afternoon. Capt.

Carranza was invited to attend the special reception dinner being held in El

Paso that evening. During the reception he met his hero Lindbergh, and the

two pilots forged a short, lifetime friendship.

Carranza would be killed on 12 July 1928, when he crashed in his aircraft

“Excelsior.”

One month later, [early November 1927] the newly appointed U. S. Ambassa-

dor to Mexico, Dwight Morrow, arranged for a goodwill flight by Charles

Lindbergh to Mexico City. Again, this part of American-Mexican political

conflict, American oil companies fighting with the Mexican government,

Lindberg and Pan American Airlines wanting routes into Mexico and South

American, can be found in many books, films, and online at many websites. It

was really just the political power of the United States for that period of time,

who can be clearly seen using aviation as a powerful tool of diplomacy, estab-

lishing American airlines in Mexico, Central and South America, before any

other country could do so. Charles Lindbergh, Lt. Emilio Carranza and Lt.

Luis Noriega were all part to these changing events, which involved the new

formed American passenger service Pan American, born 28 October 1927.

Then a funny twist to history took place, Lindy got lost flying from Tampico

to Mexico City.

On arrival at Mexico City, 14 December 1927, Lindbergh was introduced to

Mexican President Callas by U.S. Ambassador Dwight Morrow. The Mexican

President had assigned Capt. Emilio Carranza as the official companion to

Charles Lindbergh during his time in Mexico. I’m sure that Lt. Luis Noriega

also attended most the assigned events as the personal pilot of President Cal-

las.

When Lindbergh became lost, President Calles became very worried that if he

crashed, he could also be killed, as the feelings of the Revolution could still be

found in Mexico. The violent war with the Catholic Church rebels called

“Cristeros” was taking place all over Mexico, where government forces tor-

tured and murdered Catholic priests in public. A forced landing of a for-

eigner, a hated “Gringo” in some parts of Mexico, could cause an interna-

tional incident, if he were harmed or killed. Then, around 2 p.m. the President

was informed an aircraft had been seen over Toluca. At once he dispatched

No. 9 Air Squadron of the Mexican Air Force, from Balbuena airfield, Mexico

City. Major Aguston Castrejon in a Morane-Saulnier M. S. 35. found the

“Spirit of St. Louis” and escorted Lindbergh north to Mexico City.

On 16 December 1927, Charles Lindbergh made a visit to Balbuena airfield

and possibly met the pilots of No. 9 Squadron. In the evening he flew one of

their Morane-Saulnier aircraft [above] on six different trips over Mexico City.

His first passenger was Major Aguston Castrejon, the pilot who found him

when he was lost south of Mexico City. Another passenger was American Will

Rogers, who was visiting Mexico City. It is very possible Lt. Luis Noriega also

flew with Lindbergh but his name is never recorded.

The front and rear cockpit layout of a Mexican Morane-Saulnier 35 E.P. 2,

flown by Charles Lindbergh.

This image has no date or information, but to me it is a little ‘gem’ connected

with something called Mexican destiny.

Lt. Luis Noriega stands in front of the Fairchild FC-2, owned by Mexican de

Aviation Airlines at Balbuena airfield, Mexico City, the date is 20 December

1927. This is the very same aircraft that left Tampico airfield just before the

Spirit of St. Louis flew over on 14 December 27. When Lindbergh became

lost, this aircraft arrived north of Mexico City, at the expected arrival time of

Lindbergh and was mistaken by the large crowd for the “Spirit of St. Louis.”

Six days later this same aircraft was then chosen to be flown by Lindbergh on

the 20 December, when he gave six different rides to special passengers. The

first flight by pilot Lindbergh took Mexican President Calles, General Alvaro

Obregon, soon to be President, [who was assassinated in 1928, for his anti-

religious laws], and U. S. Ambassador Dwight Morrow for a spin over Mexico

City. This is the same aircraft which appears in my lead-in photo, and only

the time of day is unknown. I believe pilot Lt. Noriega is waiting for the arri-

val of the V.I.P. s, and maybe he even went along for a ride with “Lindy.”

While some of the images contain the hand drawn Cortez Fotografia, with

date or Mexico, these two images of FC-2, registration M-SCOE, are both

stamped with “ESTUDIO CORTES” the same company. The following two

images, hand marked Cortes Fot., [Cortez Fhotografia] are very important in

preserving both American and Mexican Aviation Past., and came as a com-

plete nose art surprise.

This image was sent to me

pilot Lt. Luis Noriega. The

original 8 by 10 sepia tone

tional tour in Mexico City.

December 1927, taken by Cortez

was $3,500 U.S. dollars.

Lindbergh’s mother, Mrs.

22 December 1927, in a Ford

This had been specially arranged

noon of the 26 December,

over Mexico City and his

me by Gloria Rasmussen, the first born

The image appeared on e-Bay some five

tone photograph, taken of Lindbergh on

City. The photo is signed by Lindbergh

Cortez Fotografia in Mexico City. The

Mrs. Evangeline Lindbergh, arrived in Mexico

Ford Trimotor 4-AT-10 airliner, number

arranged by Mr. Henry Ford himself.

December, Charles Lindbergh flew this same Ford

his special passengers were members of

born daughter of

years ago, an

on his promo-

and dated 26

The asking price

Mexico City, on

number NC-1077.

On the after-

Ford Trimotor

of the Morrow

family, including Mrs. Morrow, daughter Elizabeth, Constance, and Anne

Morrow. This was the first time Charles and Anne flew together in an aero-

plane, and a year and a half later they would be married.

The date 26 December makes the image a very historic photograph and I

would guess, well worth the price to some collector. To me, the image became

a much rarer historical image preserving a forgotten past. The image was pos-

sibly taken around noon on 26 December 1927, inside the hangar at Mexico

City. The Spirit of St. Louis is a guarded aircraft, with limited access to spe-

cial guests and photographers. When you look at the nose section of the air-

craft, it contains none of the hand painted country flags of his famous Atlantic

crossing or the flag of Mexico, his first stop on the ‘good will’ tour. Some his-

torians have recorded the first four flags were painted on the “Spirit of St.

Louis” in the United States and the Mexican flag appeared on 14 December

1927. If the above internet photo is authentic, then the first five flags were all

painted on the aircraft nose in Mexico City, on the evening of the 26 or the 27

December, by an unknown Mexican artist.

The private photo of Lt. Luis Noriega, personal pilot of Mexican President Calles, 28 December 1927.

When this image of Lt. Luis Noriega was taken on the morning of 28 Decem-

ber 1927, he had no idea it was capturing and preserving American/Mexican

aviation history. The first five national flags of the countries Charles Lind-

bergh has flown to, have been hand painted on the nose of the “Spirit of St.

Louis.” This was completed in the hangar at Balbuena Airfield, Mexico City,

on the 26 or 27 December 1927, by a forgotten and unknown Mexican artist.

Lindbergh said goodbye to President Calles on 27 December, and on the

morning of the 28, climbed into N-X-211 and departed for Guatemala City at

6:35 a. m., his second stop on the ‘good will’ tour. It is possible, this is the only

close-up image taken in Mexico City showing those first five national flags.

This original nose art is preserved today in Washington, D.C. and Gloria

Rasmussen pointed out something very special to me. Under the Mexican flag

appears – Dic. 14. 1927, the Spanish spelling of December.

Who was the Mexican artist?

In January 2015, the American National Air & Space Museum in Washing-

ton, D. C., lowered the Spirit of St. Louis aircraft to the floor of the museum

building. This was the beginning of five months of inspection and preservation

work, which included testing the paint in the hand-painted flags on both nose

panels. I am sure the experts found the first five flags were painted in the

same artistic style, using the same Mexican paint, however I can’t find any

published details.

Captain Emilio Carranza was still serving with the Mexican Air Force when

Lindbergh arrived in Mexico City. He became Charles Lindbergh’s official

companion while in Mexico, and that promoted an idea that first appeared in

the Mexican newspaper “Excelsior.” The people of Mexico would sponsor a

return goodwill flight from Mexico City to Washington, D.C., with pilot Capt.

Emilio Carranza at the controls.