THE MEXICAN EXPEDITIONARY AIR FORCE and its tactical unit, the 201st Mexican Fighter Squadron, arrived at Manila May 1, 1945-the first unit of the Mexican Army to fight outside Mexico. Proceeding immediately to their base, the Mexican pilots underwent an intensive briefing on fighter command tactics against the Japanese, set up their camp, and prepared for combat.
It came soon enough when, with P-47's borrowed until their own planes arrived, the 201st joined in on ground support missions against dug-in Japanese forces in central and northern Luzon. In short order, the MEAF became a smooth-working part of the fighter command's hard-hitting family of fighter units.