MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- From his native Ecuador to the Marine Corps, one Miramar aviator recently took part in commemorating the Pan-American spirit of aviation and friendship.

Capt. Elio F. Marcillo, a CH-53E Super Stallion pilot with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, attended the recent “The Spirit of Goodwill” Gala event at the San Diego Aerospace Museum Feb. 25.

Highlighted by a special host, television celebrity and comedian Jay Leno, the social gala was a celebration of the first flight of the aircraft Ecuador from San Diego to Quito, Ecuador, in 1931 and the scheduled departure of the Ecuador III in 2006, by San Diegan Theodore Gildred Jr.
Gildred Sr.’s accomplishments and contributions to aviation made an impact on Marcillo.

“Growing up in Ecuador I learned about (Gildred Sr.’s) flight in history class, so I was honored to attend this event,” said 29-year-old Marcillo.

Leaving from San Diego March 13, 1931, Gildred Sr. arrived in Quito eighteen days and 13 stops later at 10:52 a.m., March 31, according to the San Diego Aerospace Museum’s official Web site.
The 1931 flight was inspired by Charles Lindbergh’s famous flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927. Both men flew similar aircraft. Gildred Sr. flew through the Andes Mountains without GPS and other high tech equipment that planes now have.

“All he had was a wet compass, and had to navigate using the railroad systems in South America,” said Marcillo. “It must have been quite a challenge.”

On the way to Ecuador, Gildred Sr. had meetings with the ambassadors and heads of states in the major cities to spread a goodwill note. This made friendly connections between the cities and opened up commercial routes. Once Gildred Sr. arrived, he taught two people how to fly and left the plane giving Ecuador their first air carrier mail service, said Marcillo.

Fifty years later Gilder Sr.’s son, Theodore Gildred Jr., recreated his father’s flight in a 1942 Stinson Reliant borrowed from the San Diego Aerospace Museum.  The Ecuador II landed at precisely 10:52 a.m. on Mar. 31, 1981.

Gildred Jr. is scheduled to pilot the Ecuador III Mar. 24, for the 75th anniversary flight. His two sons Ted III and Stephen Gildred will accompany Gildred Jr. Ted and Stephen have also committed to another flight in 2031 on the 100th anniversary of the original flight, according to the Ecuador III Web site.

“Hopefully the legacy will continue,” said Marcillo, who was able to meet Gildred Jr. at the 75th anniversary event and was given a model replica of Ecuador III.

“I’m going to take it with me to Iraq and bring it in my aircraft,” said Marcillo. “Eventually, I’m going to return it to him with a flag. I think it will be something nice for him to have.”

Marcillo said he was also fortunate enough to meet both the ambassador from the U.S. to Ecuador Linda Jewell, as well as the ambassador from Ecuador to the U.S. Luis Gallegos.

Marcillo said his favorite part of the event was meeting everyone like Gildred Jr., Leno, and the ambassadors.

“I met Jay Leno, he was doing his stand up comedy and it was pretty cool.  It turned out to be a great event.  I just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” said Marcillo.

Marcillo and the rest of HMH-361 are scheduled to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom later this month, but going along with him is the memory of his participation in the celebration of one of aviation’s more unique legacies.

“It’s kind of hard to find someone from Ecuador here,” said Marcillo. “There are only 12 million people in Ecuador. It’s a small country.”