Juan Bielovucic

Juan Bielovucic
Juan Bielovucic
	Juan Bielovucic, c. 1913
Nickname(s)	Bielo
Born	30 July 1889; Lima, Peru
Died	14 January 1949 (aged 59); Paris, France
Allegiance	Peru; France;
Service / branch	Peruvian Aviation Corps; Service Aéronautique; of the French Army;
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	Legion of Honour; Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with a bronze palm;
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.