Jacinto Bondanza Castro

Lieutenant Jacinto Bondanza Castro
Jacinto with a group of pilots and mechanics of the new Aviation Corps, 1926
Born	October 11, 1900 Santa Tecla, La Libertad, El Salvador
Died	October 8, 1987 (aged 86) Santa Tecla, La Libertad, El Salvador
Allegiance	El Salvador
Service	Armed Forces of El Salvador
Years of service	1924-?
Rank	Captain
Commands	Salvadoran Aviation Corps
Relations	Bondanza family

Jacinto Bondanza Castro (October 11, 1900 - October 8, 1987) was a Salvadoran Aviator who helped develop what would become the Salvadoran Air Force (FAS).

Jacinto Bondanza Castro was born in the city of Santa Tecla, La Libertad to a Southern Italian immigrant father from Naples.

Jacinto had become interested in Aviation during a stay in San Francisco, California and on April 22, 1924 he and his friend Juan Ramón Munés entered Aviation school. On November 29, 1924, Jacinto graduated from the Ilopango Military Aviation School and on December 10, 1924 officially became the second aviator pilot in all of El Salvador and was also awarded the title of Second Lieutenant in the Army. ^[1]

Jacinto went on to play a crucial role in the early development of the nations Air Force and was frequently sent to California to obtain aircraft and support.

On New Year Day 1928, American Aviator Charles Lindbergh arrived in El Salvador on the Spirit of St. Louis during his goodwill tour of Latin America. Jacinto was honored with being Lindbergh’s personal Aide-de camp and was designated with Munés to escort him across the country.^[2]

• Italian Salvadorans
• Salvadoran Air Force (FAS)