Summary

Peruvian Air Force Colonel (retired) who on April 11, 1980, was ordered to intercept and shoot down an unidentified object hovering over La Joya Air Force Base in his Sukhoi Su-22. He fired 64 rounds of 30mm cannon directly at the craft with no effect; the object appeared to anticipate his targeting systems, moving out of range each time he locked on. The engagement was witnessed by approximately 1,800 military personnel and civilians on the ground. A US Department of Defense cable from June 1980 confirmed the incident and described the object as of unknown origin. It remains the only documented case where a military pilot fired upon a UAP with confirmed hits and no effect.

Roles

• -Colonel, Peruvian Air Force (ret.)
• -Fighter Pilot, Fuerza Aérea del Peru

Organizations

Education

• -Peruvian Air Force Academy - pilot and tactical training
• -Qualified on Soviet Sukhoi Su-22 supersonic fighter-bomber; selected as one of Peru's top aerial marksmen

Early Career

• -Selected to test-fly Peru's newest supersonic Sukhoi aircraft and recognised as one of the Air Force's top aerial marksmen with exceptional air-to-air and air-to-ground targeting records
• -By April 1980 had eight years of flying experience including participation in combat missions, and held the rank of Lieutenant in the Peruvian Air Force

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