de la Guardia Nacional (CSGN, Security Companies for short) were dispersed throughout the country's 16 provinces (Spanish: Departamentos), being allocated one per each in the provincial capitals of Boaco (Boaco), Jinotepe (Carazo), Chinandega (Chinandega), Juigalpa (Chontales), Estelí (Estelí), Granada (Granada), Jinotega (Jinotega), León (León), Madriz (Somoto), Masaya (Masaya), Matagalpa (Matagalpa), Ocotal (Nueva Segovia), Rivas (Rivas), San Carlos (Río San Juan) and Bluefields (Zelaya). Air Forces The Fuerza Aérea de La Guardia Nacional (FAGN, Air Force of the Nicaraguan National Guard) in 1978 comprised some 1,500 Officers and enlisted men, including pilots and ground personnel, under the command of Colonel Donaldo Humberto Frixote, an experienced pilot and staunch Somoza loyalist. FAGN main air elements at the time consisted of four squadrons – one attack, one helio, one transport and one advanced training – provided with a mixed inventory of aircraft of various types, mostly of U.S., Israeli, British, Canadian and Spanish origin, the majority being propeller-driven. All FAGN aircraft and personnel were concentrated at the military airbase adjacent to the then Mercedes International Airport at Managua, which also housed the Air Force HQ and the Aviation School. The Escuadrón de Combate (combat squadron), operated on air assault and counter-insurgency missions ten Cessna 337A Super Skymaster "Push and Pull" light aircraft converted for the ground attack and close air support roles, either seven or eleven North American T-28A/D Trojan dual-seat trainers converted for the ground attack role, seven Lockheed T-33A dual-seat jet trainers converted to the fighter-bomber role, two Douglas A-20G Havoc night fighters and seven Douglas A-26B/C Invader reconnaissance/light bombers. The Escuadrón de Ala Rotatoria (helicopter squadron) aligned for aerial reconnaissance, search-and-rescue (SAR), transport and assault duties eleven Sikorsky S-58T (CH-34A) Choctaw helicopters converted for the gunship role (nicknamed "Skyraiders" by the Nicaraguans), twelve Hughes OH-6A/H-369HS Defender light observation helicopters, four Hiller 12B Raven light utility helicopters, three Hughes 269 A/B (TH-55A) Osage light utility helicopters, two Bell UH-1H Iroquois utility transports, an unspecified number of Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw utility helicopters and one Bell 47H light utility helicopter. The Escuadrón de Transporte (transport squadron) operated thirteen Douglas C-47 Skytrain transports, eight Cessna 180 Skywagon light utility aircraft, seven Cessna 185 (U-17B) Skywagon light utility aircraft, seven Beech 18 (C-45) Expeditor trainer & utility aircraft, six De Havilland Canada DHC-3 (U-1A) Otter STOL utility transports, five CASA C-212 Aviocar medium transports, two IAI Arava 201 STOL utility transports, two Piper PA-23-250 Aztec