Juan Bielovucic | |
|---|---|
 Juan Bielovucic, c. 1913 | |
| Nickname(s) | Bielo |
| Born | 30 July 1889 Lima, Peru |
| Died | 14 January 1949 (aged 59) Paris, France |
| Allegiance | |
| Service | |
| Rank | Colonel (Peruvian Aviation Corps) |
| Unit | Escadrille les Cigognes (Service Aéronautique) |
| Commands | lieutenant commander of the Peruvian Aviation Corps Reserve |
| Battles / wars | World War I |
| Awards |
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| Other work | Held several aviation records Peruvian air attaché in France |
Juan Bielovucic (30 July 1889 – 14 January 1949) was a Peruvian aviator who set several speed and altitude aviation records in 1910–13. He was also the first person to complete a successful powered aircraft crossing of the Alps in 1913, following a 1910 attempt by his friend Jorge Chávez that ended in a fatal crash landing. He established the first aviation school in South America in Lima, Peru. Bielovucic became a colonel of the Peruvian Aviation Corps (PAC) in 1911, joined the Service Aéronautique of the French Army as a volunteer in 1914 and earned the Legion of Honour for his service in World War I. He retired from active aviation in 1920 and returned to Peru where he became the lieutenant commander of the PAC Reserve. He was also active with the French Resistance during World War II. In Croatia, he is regarded as the first Croatian aviator.