I FLEW FOR FIDEL

摘要

When in 1959 the Cuban revolution overthrew the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, Rafael del Pino was a lieutenant in the 26th of July Movement commanded by Fidel Castro. He wanted to be a pilot for the Fuerza Aerea Revolucionaria (FAR), the new name of the Cuban Air Force. Aged 13 he had received some flight instruction from a pilot with whom he became friendly — he even made a solo flight, but he had no licence. The period after the revolution was chaotic, and the FAR was no exception. It lost most of its pilots and technicians as a result of their arrest by Castro, who accused them of bombing the rebels. Just a few pilots from the old air force remained, including Enrique Carreras Rolas, Alvaro Prendes and Douglas Rudd. The first two had been arrested by Batista and the third was a deserter from the former regime.