Argentine Plane Used in Death Flights Returns to Buenos Aires
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — A plane that was used by Argentina’s military dictatorship to throw political detainees to their deaths from the sky has returned to Buenos Aires after being discovered in the United States. The Short SC.7 Skyvan, the first plane ever proven in court to have been used in the “death flights,” will be added to the Museum of Memory, located in what was the junta’s most infamous secret detention center.
The plane’s return was made possible by Italian photographer Giancarlo Ceraudo, who spent years searching for the junta’s aircraft. The Skyvan had later been used for mail delivery in Florida and skydiving in Arizona. Ceraudo, along with journalist and ESMA survivor Miriam Lewin, tracked down the plane’s flight logs and located the pilots who were convicted for their involvement in the death flights.
Argentina’s military dictatorship, which ruled from 1976 to 1983, is considered one of the most deadly in Latin America. It detained, tortured, and killed thousands of people suspected of opposing the regime. The death flights were a systematic mode of extermination, where prisoners were told they were being released, given a sedative disguised as a vaccination, and then thrown alive from a plane into the ocean or river.
During a trial from 2012 to 2017, it was revealed that the Skyvan just returned to Buenos Aires was used to kill Azucena Villaflor and 11 other detainees. Prosecutors estimate that at least 71 bodies of suspected death flight victims washed up along the coast, with many more still undiscovered.
The addition of the plane to the Museum of Memory aims to help Argentines understand the reality of the dictatorship and ensure that the brutal history is not forgotten. Argentina has held numerous trials relating to dictatorship-era crimes against humanity since 2006, resulting in the conviction of over 1,100 people.
Activists believe that displaying the plane will be crucial in educating younger generations who were born and lived in democracy and did not experience the terror of those years. The plane serves as a chilling reminder of the atrocities committed during Argentina’s military dictatorship.
What is the significance of including the Skyvan in the Museum of Memory and why is it important for educating future generations about Argentina’s dark past
Historic Argentine Plane Used in “Death Flights” Finds New Home in Buenos Aires
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — A dark reminder of Argentina’s painful past has returned home. The infamous Short SC.7 Skyvan, the very aircraft that played a sinister role in the country’s military dictatorship’s “death flights,” has been located in the United States and brought back to Buenos Aires. This chilling artifact will now be added to the Museum of Memory, situated within the former secret detention center of the junta.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Italian photographer Giancarlo Ceraudo, who spent years painstakingly searching for the junta’s planes, the Skyvan’s presence is no longer hidden. After its involvement in the “death flights,” the plane went on to serve in Florida for mail delivery and in Arizona for skydiving. Ceraudo, working alongside journalist and ESMA survivor Miriam Lewin, managed to track down the flight logs and identify the pilots responsible for the death flights.
Argentina’s military dictatorship, infamous for its reign of terror from 1976 to 1983, is regarded as one of the deadliest in Latin America’s history. Tens of thousands of individuals opposing the regime were detained, tortured, and killed. The “death flights” were a grim mechanism of extermination, where prisoners were deceived into thinking they were being released, only to be sedated with a vaccination and then thrown out of the plane, still alive, into the ocean or a river.
During a trial that spanned from 2012 to 2017, it was discovered that the Skyvan now back in Buenos Aires was responsible for the deaths of Azucena Villaflor and 11 other detainees. Prosecutors estimate that at least 71 bodies, potentially victims of the death flights, surfaced along the coast, though many more remain undiscovered.
The Museum of Memory’s decision to include the plane as part of its exhibition aims to ensure that Argentina’s traumatic history under the dictatorship is never forgotten. It is an opportunity for Argentines, particularly the younger generation born and raised in democracy, to gain a deep understanding of the horrors faced by their fellow citizens in the past. This artifact serves as a stark reminder, preserving the memory of the atrocities committed during the dark years of Argentina’s military dictatorship.
Since 2006, Argentina has pursued justice for crimes against humanity committed during the dictatorship through numerous trials. Over 1,100 individuals have been convicted, marking a significant step in holding those responsible accountable.
The activists behind the decision to display the plane firmly believe that it will play a crucial role in educating future generations about this painful chapter in Argentina’s history. By confronting the haunting presence of this aircraft, it is hoped that the next generation will appreciate the importance of democracy and strive to prevent such atrocities from occurring again.
This chilling addition to Argentina’s Museum of Memory serves as a haunting reminder of the brutalities committed during the dictatorship’s “Death Flights”. May it stand as a testament to the importance of preserving history and never forgetting the victims.
The addition of the plane used in the dictatorship’s “death flights” to Argentina’s Museum of Memory serves as a haunting reminder of the atrocities committed during that dark period. It is crucial to preserve such tangible evidence to educate future generations about the importance of human rights and the consequences of unchecked power.