Junkers Ju 86 in Bolivian Service
In the late 1930s, Bolivia acquired three Junkers Ju 86 commercial/civil airliners. Unlike the diesel-engine variants used by the German Luftwaffe, the Bolivian aircraft were powered by radial Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet engines. These aircraft were primarily used as transport and mail carriers by Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano before being transferred over for military operations to augment the nation’s air fleet.
At least two of the three Ju 86s were destroyed in accidents. On March 8, 1943 while flying in adverse weather, a Bolivian military Ju 86 crashed into the Río Chapare and was damaged beyond repair, resulting in the death of pilot Captain Sinesio Moreno and injuries to Lieutenant Armando. On July 21, 1941 a Bolivian Air Force Ju 86 (named Mariscal Santa Cruz) suffered a right engine fire in flight. The crew diverted to Cochabamba Airport for an emergency landing, where the aircraft was destroyed, though all three crew members survived.
An exellent history of the Junkers Ju 86 in Bolivia can be found at: Junkers Ju 86 Aircraft – LAB Fleet
