FELIX RIGAU

FELIX RIFAU

First Lieutenant Félix Rigau Carrera (August 30, 1894–October 13, 1954), known as "El Águila de Sabana Grande" (The Eagle from Sabana Grande), was the first Puerto Rican pilot and the first Hispanic fighter pilot in the United States Marine Corps. Rigau Carrera was also the first Puerto Rican parachutist and the first pilot to fly on air mail carrying duties in Puerto Rico.

Rigau Carrera was one of nine siblings born to Felipe Rigau Balbás, a Spanish Navy sailor from Catalunia, and Carmen Carrera de Rigau, a Puerto Rican homemaker, in the town of Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico.

After he earned his college degree in mechanical engineering, he joined the United States Army and was assigned to the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps (the military aviation service of the United States Army from 1914 to 1918 and a direct ancestor of the United States Air Force). While in the Army, he traveled extensively around the world and became acquainted with many of the world's famous pilots of the era. He became the first Puerto Rican parachutist as a member of the Aviation Section of the U.S. Signal Corps, whose members were among the Army's first parachutist. His stint in the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps inspired him to go and attend various aviation schools upon his release from the military. He received his pilot training in private pilot schools in Seattle, Washington and Minneapolis, Minnesota. With letters of recommendation from Jose Celso Barbosa and Jose de Diego, Rigau Carrera traveled to New York City and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps upon the outbreak of World War l. After receiving additional aviation training, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and assigned to the First Marine Air Squadron which deployed to France as the newly renamed 1st Marine Aviation Force in July 1918. There Rigau Carrera and his unit provided bomber and fighter support to the Navy's Day Wing, Northern Bombing Group. While serving in First Marine Air Squadron, Rigau Carrera became the first Puerto Rican to pilot a fixed-wing aircraft and the first Hispanic fighter pilot in the Marines.
Rigau Carrera died at the age of 60 and was buried with full military honors at Abingdon Episcopal Church Cemetery. His native hometown, Sabana Grande, named a street Calle Félix Rigau Carrera in his honor. On September 14, 2011, he was honored posthumously during the Hispanic Heritage Awards at Cleveland International Airport in Cleveland, Ohio.