The
Chaco War chewed up machines as well as men. After the first year both sides looked to replace lost/war-weary/obsolete equipment. Thus, the Paraguayan Purchasing Commission or PPC for short, approached the great Italian firm of
Fiat for a new aircraft suited to fight in the Chaco.
Fiat initially offered a version of their famous
CR.32 biplane, but the Paraguayans balked at the added cost of the extra wing. Fiat was hungry for sales, so worked with the PPC on a new monoplane design which history barely records as the Fiat Chaco Scout Fighter.
The new Fiat Chaco Scout Fighter was incredibly advanced for the mid-1930's, having such modern features as an enclosed cockpit and a pair of the most intimidating, streamlined spats yet to be seen over the Chaco.
Unfortunately, it took a while for Fiat to work out all the kinks in the new design and by the time the Fiat Chaco Scout Fighter was delivered to Paraguay, a cease-fire had taken place and an end to the Chaco War was being negotiated.
Paraguay's depleated coffers meant the PPC could only afford the FOB for one of these aircraft. Ironically, the aircraft's expensive, cutting-edge canopy offset the cost savings of it being a monoplane. After having launched potent propaganda touting their legions of new "air weapons", the Paraguayan Air Corps was on the spot.
At the annual Paraguay Air Show, the sole Fiat Chaco Scout Fighter made numerous wide circuits, making it appear that there was a new Fiat Chaco Scout Fighter escorting each flight of antique Breguets that passed by.
Seeing the new aircraft on display later, the Bolivian Air Attache noticed the fuselage code C 1802. Thinking Paraguay had over 1,800 of the things, the air attache sounded the alarm of overwhelming spats to his compatriots negotiating an end to the Chaco War.
The Bolivian negotiators became almost obsequious fearing the re-vamped spatted Paraguayan Air Corps and a treaty ending the conflict was quickly agreed on and signed.
The lone Fiat Chaco Scout Fighter was soon replaced in service by newer aircraft on the eve of W.W. II. It then went on display at the Museo Nacional de Tecnología in Asunción where it would be utterly forgotten except for a chance visit by a vacationing NBC-TV comedy show writer working on a new series. I don't know if you've seen this show, if not, maybe you read the book?
Then again, given how sales went...
maybe not.
Brian da Basher