Nickname(s) El Charro Unit 201st Fighter Squadron | Award Legion of Merit Other name El Charro | |
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Commands held Fuerza Aérea Expedicionaria Mexicana Battles/wars World War IISouth Pacific TheatreBattle of Luzon Battles and wars | ||
General de División Antonio Cárdenas Rodríguez (6 October 1903–4 July 1969) was a military aviator and head of the Mexican Air Force. As a Colonel he made a goodwill flight of several countries in Latin America. He traveled almost 35,000 km in 118 hours of flight time aboard a Lockheed 12, named "President Carranza" returning to Mexico City on September 13, 1940. He commanded the Fuerza Aérea Expedicionaria Mexicana (FAEM), who participated in World War II at the Battle of Luzon in the Philippines. The FAEM is notable as the only Mexican military unit ever to fight outside Mexico itself. Ixtepec No. 2 Air Base in Ixtepec, Oaxaca is named in honour of General Cárdenas Rodríguez.
Rodríguez Cárdenas retired from the Mexican Air Force with the rank of Divisional General.