Paratrooper Company
The Historic Company "72nd Paratrooper Squadron", formerly simply the Paratrooper Company, is the paratroop branch of the Peruvian Air Force, based in Las Palmas Air Base.
Formed in 1939, it saw combat during the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War, when it seized the Ecuadorian port city of Puerto Bolívar on 27 July 1941, marking the first time in the Americas that airborne troops were used in combat.
History
Background
On 27 March 1927, Enrique Tavernie Entelador became the first Peruvian paratrooper when he leapt from an Avro aircraft, piloted by Captain Clifford, from a height of 2,000 meters over Las Palmas Air Base. Subsequently, on 10 May 1928, Second Lieutenant César Álvarez Guerra voluntarily jumped from a height of 3,000 meters, becoming the first military paratrooper. Major Fernando Melgar Conde and Sergeant 1st. Jose Pineda Castro followed on 16 May 1928, when they jumped over Las Palmas at altitudes of 2,000 and 4,300 meters, respectively. On 24 May of that year, Ensign Peter Griva, of the seaplane service from Ancon, jumped from a height of 2,000 meters.Formation
The first Parachute School opened in 1939, with now Colonel Guerra in command. José Quiñones attended this school. In the same year the unit was formed.On 14 November 1940, Sgt. Lázaro Orrego became the first casualty of the unit when his parachute failed to open while doing exercises in Ancón.