The Bearcat of the 100 Hour War
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History
 In
July 1969 a brief conflict, rooted in economic disparity and border issues,
was fought between Honduras and El Salvador. Tensions between the two
nations had been growing for some time which culminated a brief four day
conflict known as the 100 Hour War. The popular media often refers to
it as the football or soccer war, even though the World Cup football matches
between the two nations just prior to the start of the war were not the
main reason for the conflict.
 It
was one of the last wars where propellor driven fighters faced each other
including Corsairs vs Corsairs and Mustangs. DC-3s were used as bombers
and numerous other aging aircraft types were used to minimal effect.
A little known side show to this conflict was the story of a single
Grumman F8F Bearcat aircraft which was used by both sides in the conflict.
With tensions growing between the two nations, the government of Honduras
made an effort to obtain additional aircraft. One source that bore fruit
was the purchase of three F8F Bearcats from the government of South Vietnam.
The Bearcats that Vietnam had flown in the past had been relegated to
gate guards and museum pieces as the U.S involvement in that conflict
provided Vietnam with the latest military hardware. One aircraft was shipped
to Honduras and arrived on the first day of the war. Considering that
the Bearcat had not been flown in many years it was in fairly good condition,
and was made airworthy in just two days. On the third day of the war the
aircraft was flown to Tonto de Abril airfield near the front lines by
Teniente (Lieutenant) I.B. Fulenia.
Almost immediately the airplane was called upon for its first mission,
to bomb advancing Salvadoran forces. A bomb was slung under the right
wing of the Bearcat and Fulenia attempted to take off. Unfortunately,
a heavy rain shower just before takeoff had rendered the grass field very
soggy and with the unbalanced load and Fulenya's unfamiliarity with the
aircraft, it ran off the side of the runway and bogged down in the mud.
An attempt was made to free the aircraft but rapidly advancing Salvadoran
forces forced a Honduran retreat from the field.
Advancing Salvadoran forces rapidly overtook Tonto de Abril airfield
and found the Bearcat firmly stuck in the mud. With the use of several
trucks it was freed with minimal damage (the main gear doors had to be
removed). It was decided to attempt to use it against Honduran ground
forces. The aircraft was very hastily repainted in FAS (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena)
camouflage. However, the only blue paint in the region was the wrong color
and consequently the roundels were painted incorrectly.
The new owners of the Bearcat immediately made ready for its mission.
Salvadoran Capitan Juan Feinde arrived at the field and was just preparing
to take off when the word arrived that a cease fire had been called. The
war was over.
As for the Bearcat? Its fate is unknown. Information from the days
& weeks just after the conflict has been lost to history, as has the Bearcat.
With the end of the 100 Hour War, the Honduran government cancelled the
shipment of the other two Bearcats and thereafter started modernizing
their air force with more up-to-date equipment.
Every year, the Salvadoran pilot, Capitan Feinde and the aerotecnicos
(ground support crew) that almost got the Bearcat into the air that day
gather together and celebrate what they call "dia de los Tontos de Abril".
The Models
The model of choice for this project was the Hobbycraft 48th scale
Bearcat. Both were built straight out of the box. The bomb came from the
AM TBM Avenger kit . Terry built the Honduran version and Stephen built
the Salvadoran version.
We would like to thank "Im" Jess Kidding and Juria Biessin for providing
all the available information on the Bearcat of the 100 Hour War.
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