Fernando Matthei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fernando Matthei
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Air Force | |
| In office July 24, 1978 – July 31, 1991 |
|
| Preceded by | Gustavo Leigh |
| Succeeded by | Ramón Vega Hidalgo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Fernando Matthei Aubel
11 July 1925 Osorno, Chile |
| Died | 19 November 2017 (aged 92) Santiago, Chile |
| Relations | Evelyn Matthei (daughter) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Chile |
| Branch/service | Chilean Air Force |
| Years of service | 1946–1991 |
| Rank | Air General  |
| Commands | 2nd Aviation Group (1963–67) First Air Brigade (1970–74) Combat Command of the Air Force (1974–78) Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (1978–1991) |
Fernando Matthei Aubel (born July 11, 1925 – died November 19, 2017) was an important general in the Chilean Air Force. He was part of the military government that ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990. From 1978 to 1990, he served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force. Before that, he was the Minister of Health from 1976 to 1978. He retired from the Air Force in July 1991.
Contents
Becoming an Air Force General
Fernando Matthei was born in Osorno, Chile. His parents were Fernando Matthei Aubel Gunkel and Luisa Gunkel Renz. He joined the Aviation School in 1945. The next year, he became a fighter pilot.
Early Career and Family Life
In 1948, he became a sublieutenant. He worked with the No. 4 Bomber Group and taught flying. In 1951, he became a lieutenant. That same year, he married Elda Fornet. They had five children together. Their daughter, Evelyn Matthei, later became a well-known politician.
In 1953, Matthei went to the United States. He studied how to teach flying at Craig Air Force Base in Alabama. He became a flight captain in 1954 and taught about weapons at the Aviation School. Later, he was assigned to a base in Antofagasta.
Rising Through the Ranks
In 1960, he moved to Santiago and became a squadron commander. The next year, he became an assistant to the Air Force Commander-in-Chief.
By 1966, he was promoted to group commander. He led Aviation Group Nº7 from 1968 to 1969. He also visited the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Britain. When he returned, he became a professor at the Air War Academy. He taught pilots how to fly Hawker Hunter aircraft.
In 1971, he worked as an air attaché in the Chilean embassies in Britain and Sweden. This meant he helped with air force matters in those countries.
A Key Role in Chile's History
After a military coup in Chile in December 1973, Matthei returned home. He became the director of the Air Force Academy. In 1975, he was promoted to air brigade general. In March 1976, he was named the Minister of Health.
On July 24, 1978, he was promoted to air general. He became the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force. He also joined the military government that ruled Chile at the time.
Helping Chile Return to Democracy
In October 1988, Chile held a vote (a referendum) to decide if the ruler, Pinochet, should stay in power. Pinochet lost the vote. He wanted to use the military to take control of the capital city. Fernando Matthei refused to agree to this plan. The other military leaders followed his lead.
Because Matthei refused, the government announced that they would respect the vote's result. This decision was very important. It helped Chile start its path back to democracy. The country then held elections the next year.
In 1990, Chile became a democracy again. Matthei stopped being part of the military government. However, he remained the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force. He chose to retire in July 1991. He said his retirement would help the Air Force fully adapt to the new democratic government.
His Role in the Falklands War
In 2005, Fernando Matthei spoke about the 1982 Falklands War. This war was fought between Argentina and Britain. Matthei said that he "did everything possible so that Argentina would lose." This meant Chile secretly helped Britain during the conflict. A book called My Secret Falklands War talks more about Chile's help.
Family Life
Fernando Matthei was born into a family of German Chileans in Southern Chile. His daughter, Evelyn Matthei, is a well-known politician in Chile. She has been a senator and ran for president in 2013. She is currently the mayor of Providencia.
Fernando Matthei passed away in 2017. He was buried in Parque del Recuerdo in Santiago, Chile.
See also
In Spanish: Fernando Matthei para niños
