Hey .... how about a Spanish Civil War arena/plane set? :D

[Arlo]

More on 'Whitey' Dahl (or rather ... a Youtube video in his honor with a song written by his son):



A snippet from 'Arise My Love':

[Arlo]

And yes .... I've been writing the script for this movie in my head for 20 years. (A lot of good it does me - or anyone - there). ;0

[Arlo]

Chang Sellés Ogino

(Translated)

Born in Kobe ( Japan ), his father was a merchant of spices Novelda (Alicante) and his mother was Italian-Japanese. He was a cousin of the Spanish-Japanese writer Jideko Sellés Ogino .

Chang Sellés studied as a pilot at the military academy " Nagoya Aviation School" where he obtained his license approx. in 1932. He was living in Japan until he moved to Spain shortly before the start of the Spanish Civil War, which was when he entered the Spanish Republican Air Force (FARE). He participated in battles such as Jarama and the Battle of Guadalajara in 1937.

Because of its Japanese origin and spoke with great respect for the emperor of Japan, the Soviets suspected him of being a spy and on March 31, 1937 he was arrested and for several months was severely tortured by Russians in a "torture chamber" of Valencia and then confined to a concentration camp.

He was officially decommissioned in Aviation on June 12, 1938. A year and half after his arrest (1939), having no evidence against him, he was released and became an English teacher in Alicante. It is said that he was later arrested by Franco after the civil war and tortured again for his Republican ideology.

In 1953 he was the first professor of judo when the first school of this specialty was founded in Valencia (the club "Sakura No Hana" - cherry blossom). Most thought he had reached the level of black belt in Judo when he studied as a pilot in Nagoya but actually he had specialized in Jiu-Jitsu. The following year, in 1954, the club "Sakura No Hana" in Valencia organized an exhibition of judo open to the public (in a pavilion located between the streets Císcar and Salamanca).

Spanish Civil War

He went into combat immediately after the start of the war, and after September 1936 specialized in piloting modern Soviet aircraft like the Polikarpov I-15 ( Chato ). He took part in several operations such as strafing factory gases and chemicals The Marañosa , or in dogfights with the first squadrons organized by the Russians to defend against the Madrid bombing of the Junkers-52 and other combat missions, generally he fought duels against German and Italian planes.

He was promoted to sergeant on November 12, 1936 (GR 6 01/06/1937) when Andres Garcia Lacalle was promoted to captain and took command of the 1 st Fighter Squadron called 'Squadron Lacalle', consisting of 25 aircraft divided into 6 groups 4. in January 1937. One of these groups consisted of American pilots (the 'Patrol American') which consisted of Chang Sellés Ogino, Frank Glasgow Tinker , Harold Evans Dahl and Jim Allison , although this last longer in the group and end the trio Chang-Tinker-Dahl were the only members of the group.

Chang Sellés joined the "American squad" on 9 October due to the low numbers pilots. Since he spoke perfect English (as well as Spanish and Japanese) that made him a natural to fly with the Americans. Because of this and his nickname, many historians have talked about him as if he were an American mercenary or even Chinese, when in fact he was Japanese with Spanish nationality.

In his squadron Chang was very appreciated for his peculiar sense of humor. He also invented the Squadron song, copying music from a popular French song of the era of the First World War. According to Captain Lacalle, he helped him every morning to wake up to the squad playing the ukelele .

In the first edition of the book "War of Spain from the air" (1970) Jesus Salas Larrazabal wrote that Chang was shot. In the next edition of the book (January 1972), he said that was not executed and the error was due to partner Chang, the American pilot Tinker, who said so in his autobiography.

Later books on the subject, such as "The International Brigades of the war in Spain" (1975) by Andreu Castells Peig, and "1936, the espagnole maldonne" Léo Palace kept repeating the original data in Tinker's book without verifying that Chang Sellés Ogino was not shot for being a spy and lived until the early 90s although there who says (falsely) that died in Brunete (Madrid).

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang_Sell%C3%A9s_Ogino



Vicente Selles Ocino (aka “Chang Selles”) middle front

[Arlo]

Francisco Tarazona Toran

Although Francisco Tarazona Toran was born in Mexico City on 21 June 1915, his parents were Spanish and they returned home to settle in Valencia when he was still a child. Working as a draughtsman when the civil war commenced, Tarazona soon volunteered to serve the Republican cause as a pilot. On 17 January 1937 he sailed for the USSR on board the SS Ciudad de Cddiz and subsequently joined the flying course at Kirovabad. Returning to Spain in June, Tarazona attended the Escuela de Alta Velocidad at El Carmoli and was promoted to sargento piloto in April. He then became a member of the 2a Patrulla of the recently established escuadrilla de Moscas, led by Soviet pilot Boris Smirnov.

In August 1937 Tarazona flew with his unit from Alcala de Henares to La Albericia to reinforce the fighter force on the Northern front. There, he was quick to demonstrate his skill as a fighter pilot, downing a CR.32 on the 17th of that month and a Bf 109 on the 27th. However, on 13 October Tarazona was himself shot down near Gijon. Taking to his parachute, he landed in a tree in enemy-held territory and made his way to Valencia, via France, to recover from his wounds.

In March 1938 Tarazona was posted to the la Escuadrilla of Grupo de Moscas N° 21, based at Liria airfield and subsequently at Caspe for thedefence of the Aragon front during the Nationalist offensive. Having claimed a share in the destruction of a CR.32 with this unit on 15 March, Tarazona was posted to the recently re-formed 3a Escuadrilla -the Seis doble of Grupo N° 21 de Moscas - and appointed patrulla CO on 10 April. He duly participated in the campaign in Levante while based at Sagunto and Camporrobles, claiming four and three shared victories and one unconfirmed success from 25 Aprilthrough to 24 August.
 
During the latter month capitan Jose Maria Bravo was promoted to deputy grupo CO, and Tarazona - then still a sargento — assumed command of the 3a Escuadrilla, which he led in the aerial engagements during the battle of the Ebro. He was promoted to teniente in September (having been credited with one and one shared CR.32 victories that month) and confirmed as escuadrilla CO. In October Tarazona claimed one and three shared victories, followed by another success in November, but on 8 December he was injured when his Mosca ('CM-249') suffered engine failure while taking off from Vails. After a short spell in hospital, Tarazona returned to Catalonia to fly Mosca 'CM-193'. He claimed his last success in this machine on 30 December when he downed a Bf 109. On 7 February 1939 Tarazona was lucky to escape with his life when 'CM-193' was attacked by Legion Condor aircraft while he wasattempting to take off from Vilajuiga.

As Republican resistance crumbled the high-scoring ace sought refuge in France. Thanks to his Mexican nationality, Tarazona was able to return to Mexico and join his family there. Francisco Tarazona Toran later found employment as a captain with the airline Mexicana, flying Douglas DC-3s, DC-4s and DC-6s, de Havilland Comet 4s and Boeing 727s. After retirement from the flightdeck, he served as an air service inspector at the airline's headquarters at Mexico City international airport, before becoming operations manager for the Servicios Aereos de la Comision Federal de Electricidad. Tarazona then established the Francisco Tarazona Flying School, which he ran until he retired to Cuernavaca. He died there on 1 July 1988.
 
Francisco Tarazona logged a total of 23,300 flying hours and was awarded the Emilio Carranza medals for reaching 10,000 and 15,000 commercial flying hours. He was also a successful author, displaying a meticulous, precise style in numerous articles published in magazines and newspapers like Helice, the magazine of the Asociacion Sindical de Pilotos Aviadores (ASPA - Pilots' Trade Union). Tarazona also wrote two books, the first, entitled Sangre en el cielo (Blood in the Sky) and published by Costa Amic in Mexico City in 1958, was an account of his experiences in the civil war. It was also published in Spain by Editorial San Martin in 1974 — while the country was still ruled by General Franco — under the title Yo fuipiloto de caza rojo {I was a Red Fighter Piloi). His second book, El despertar de las dguilas {Eagles Awake), detailed the history of the ASPA, of which Tarazona was an enthusiastic member and office holder.
In his book Blood in the Sky, Tarazona stated that he had scored six individual aerial victories and some shared with other pilots during the civil war. The author interviewed Francisco Tarazona during a visit to Spain in 1988 and, after checking documentary sources and consulting renowned historians such as American Thomas Sarbaugh, he believes that Francisco Tarazona Toran scored at least eight aerial victories and another eight shared with Eduardo Claudin Moncada, Antonio Calvo Velasco, Jose Maria Bravo Fernandez and Manuel Montilla y Montilla.
 
 
His scored kills
 
17/8/37 CR.32
27/8/37 Bf 109
15/3/38 CR.32 (half-share)
25/4/38 He 111
11/5/38 Bf 109
10/6/38 Bf 109 (half-share)
14/6/38 Bf 109 (half-share)
4/7/38 SM.79
19/7/38 CR.32 (half-share)
14/8/38 He 111 (unconfirmed)
24/8/38 CR.32
21/9/38 CR.32
22/9/38 CR.32 (half-share)
16/10/38 2 CR.32s (credited to patrulla)
30/10/38 CR.32
31/10/38 He 111 (credited to patrulla)
7/11/38 Do 17 (set on fire)
30/12/38 Bf 109
 
Text taken from  'Spanish Republican Aces' by Rafael Lopez

[Arlo]

Carmen Peche - Pilot of the Spanish Republican Army.


Dolors Vives












American Medical Service volunteers


Hemmingway (photographed by Capra)


Soldiers of the Republican Guard 1937

[Arlo]

Charlie Koch

Koch, Charles D. (Koch, Charles August, Jr.), b. November 24, 1894, Hoboken, New Jersey;  Pilot; Attended the University of Georgia; Prior military service in WWI, he joined the English Airforce in 1917 but contracted influenza and missed seeing combat in France; Married; Aeronautical engineer; No party affiliation; received passport# 354165 on November 24, 1936 which listed his address as Bristol Pike, Bristol, Pennsylvania, 42 years old; Arrived in Spain on December 9, 1936; After he completed Piloto DeCaza (Fighter Pilot) training on January 7, 1937 he reported to a Breguet 19 bomber squadron; later to La Calle squadron where he served as a flight leader; after ulcerated stomach issues he joins a different squadron and had two victories; Repatriated due to continued stomach issues;  Mustered out April 8,1937; Returned to the US on April 19, 1937 aboard the Queen Mary; WWII he was a Civilian Aeronautical Engineer and consultant; d. September 5, 1983, Flushing, New York.



(From Five Down, No Glory: Frank G. Tinker, Merenary Ace in the Spanish Civil By R. Hall)

[bustr]

Hey! Arlo....you trying to tell Hitech you want a Spanish Civil War arena or is this a family album post? Some of those guys look like your avatar. Or on an outside guess, looks like they had a lot of dames in that war.....wink wink.....

[Arlo]

Spain, senoritas, wine, flamenco music, uberbipes ..... ohhhhhh yeah. 

[Arlo]

Brunetto di Montegnacco

(Translated)

Bruno (Brunetto) di Montegnacco came from an Italian aristocratic family from Friuli . He volunteered for the Regia Aeronautica at the top of his class which earned him an assignment to the elite 1 Fighter Wing ( 1 ° Stormo Caccia ) based in Campoformido , equipped fighters Fiat CR.32 . He was a member of the aerobatic team. In August 1936 he volunteered for organized aviazione legionaria and was sent to Spain under a false name of Antonio Romualdi.

His first aerial victory was won on 22 September 1936, shooting down a Loire 46 piloted by Edward Downes Martin of Escuadra Internacional . He won a total of 14 victories and one probable victory. After returning to Italy, he was promoted to the rank of Sottotenente (equivalent to second lieutenant ) and awarded the Medaglia d'argento al valor militare . He returned in the 1 ° Stormo Caccia and aerobatic team. April 13, 1938, during practice aerobatics team near Gorizia he collidedat the top of the loop of the second plane formation and died in the wreckage. He was posthumously awarded the Medaglia d'Oro al valore Aeronautico.

https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_di_Montegnacco

[alpini13]

no aircraft have been added to this game since january 2014.......would this area be a succsessfull as the world war 1 arena?

[Arlo]

José Falcó

(From his obituary 14 MAY 2014)

Spanish Civil War flying ace who “attacked like a rabid dog” dies aged 97

José Falcó reportedly took down two elite Nazi fighters in one mission in his Soviet biplane
For years the Republican pilot took flowers to the grave of one of the Germans he killed.

José Falcó – whose Catalan surname means “falcon” – seemed predestined to become a bold aviator.

He reportedly took down two Messerschmitts Bf 109, the Luftwaffe’s state-of-the-art fighter planes during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), in a single sortie. He could fly and fight in the dark, going where only the most skilled and daring pilots ventured.

But he was also the man who, for years, took flowers to the grave of one of the German pilots he shot down.

Now, at the age of 97, it is old age that has finally caught up with Falcó, rather than the machine guns of an enemy aircraft.

Falcó, who died on Monday in the French city of Toulouse, where he lived, took part in what is considered to be the last air battle of the Spanish Civil War in Catalonia.

It was on February 6, 1939. The Republican army was beating a hasty retreat following the Battle of the Ebro, and the surviving air force had regrouped at Villajuiga airfield in Girona before moving on to France. Franco’s air force had already conducted a raid the day before. Falcó did not have time to take off that day, but he fired against the attackers with a rifle and always claimed that he hit an Italian pilot.

But it was the next day that the big attack by the Messerschmitts took place. The Republican aircraft scrambled to take off as hell began raining down around them. One of the few to manage it was Falcó aboard his Polikarpov I-15 biplane, also known as a Chato. After zigzagging in and out of the German planes’ firing range, Falcó suddenly lunged at them “like a rabid dog,” according to the testimony of his own attackers, and managed to take one down. Then he reportedly shot down a second, although this claim has been contested.

His plane’s engine petered out just then, and Falcó was forced to make an emergency landing in a field. He managed to reach the French border by car, and was interned at the camp in Boulou, then transferred to Argelès-sur-Mer.

Falcó was born in Barcelona, on Robadors street, part of the former Barrio Chino (Chinese quarter). He always said he developed his passion for flying at school, where he learned about the adventures of Ramón Franco and his seaplane Plus Ultra – ironically it was Ramón’s brother Francisco Franco who Falcó would later end up fighting.

In 1936 he was conscripted for service in Marina, but after the uprising he was admitted into the flying school in Alcantarilla, and graduated as a Polikarpov I-15 pilot. David Íñiguez, co-author of La guerra aèria a Catalunya (or, The aerial war in Catalonia), says Falcó is one of the few Republican fighter pilots to have trained exclusively in Spain.

In 1938, after many combat hours, he was selected for night missions against the Condor Legion’s air raids on Barcelona. Falcó had no prior experience with night flying and had to learn as he went along. His mechanic made some superficial changes to his Chato and the flying ace learned to take off and land in the dark, and to coordinate with the anti-aircraft gunners. He drew a bat on the fuselage to lift his own spirits. He spent many hours sitting inside his aircraft, a telephone cradled in his lap, waiting for alerts about incoming air raids. Following the death of Walter Katz, the German-Jewish head of the night fighter squadron, Falcó took over his duties but continued to participate in daytime missions.

In France he attempted to join the French air force during World War II, but was turned down. He then moved to Algeria, where he worked as a mechanic and got married. After obtaining French citizenship, he moved back to France and settled down in Toulouse.

One day, while visiting the old airfield of Villajuiga to relive his day of glory, Falcó ran into the memorial for one of the downed Messerschmitt pilots, Heinrich Windemuth, and never stopped bringing him flowers after that.

“He was an affable man, very generous and welcoming,” recalls Íñiguez, who knew him well. A purebred pilot, he was proud of his deeds and was prone to some exaggeration, which does not detract from his track record. He worked actively with the association of republican aviators to bring dignity to this community and recognition for their role in the Civil War.

The French journalist Pierre Challier has written a biography of Falcó, and the Barcelona comic book festival Salón del Cómic, which begins on Thursday, will include a stand dedicated to Republican pilots and sell a t-shirt depicting Falcó and his biplane.

Falcó has been officially credited with taking down eight enemy planes during the course of 20 combat missions, and even though the Messerschmitts affair is still steeped in controversy, this is perhaps not the right time to take credit away from him.

“The eternal debate of whether he shot down one or two will never end,” says Íñiguez. “But it was very likely two, and very likely that the Germans never wanted to admit that a Chato was able to take out two of its best fighters.”

http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/05/13/inenglish/1399998259_685098.html

[Arlo]

The first fighter planes sent over by the USSR start flying above Madrid in November 1936.



The port of Cartagena. The revolt of the pro Franco officers was silenced by Republican marines who founded a Committee on the battleship "Jaime 1" around July 20th. July 1936.



Non-identified attack during the Spanish Civil War. 1936.



Republican air force in open country (the do not have a real air base). 1936



Pilots resting in open country near their Polikarpov.



http://www.magnumphotos.com/Catalogue/David-Seymour/1936/SPAIN-The-Spanish-Civil-War-NN163300.html

[Arlo]

Spanish Civil War (Aerial) Timeline

July-36   

Spanish Civil War starts; Spanish Air Force splits. most of the 60 Breguet XIX recon bombers and 20 Vickers Vildebeest torpedo bombers go Republican. Most of the Nieuport-Delage Ni.D.52 biplane fighters go Republican (40 Repub, 9 Nat’l).

The Spanish Loyalist government buys 12 million francs worth of aircraft, including 14 Dewoitine D.371 and 10 D.373 parasol-wing fighters, and 49 Potez Po.540 medium bombers.

Malraux raises money and buys a squadron of Potez Po.540 bombers to form the Escuadrilla Espana. Based in Madrid, manned by warriors and intellectuals from all over Europe, they are colorful - but not very effective. By December, having lost half their aircraft, they are absorbed into the Republican Air Force.
Germany sends 10 Ju52s to airlift Franco’s Spanish Legion troops from Morocco to Spain· .

Italy sends a squadron of CR.32 fighters as escort for the two freighters sent to help move the Spanish Legion from Morocco to Spain.

Aug-36
   
After sending several dozen aircraft, France cuts off further arms shipments to Republican Spain.

10 Ju52/3m and 6 He51 were established at Tablada airfield near Sevilla as part of a German volunteer detachment, ostensibly to train Spanish pilots to fly the new equipment. The Germans call their Spanish adventure Operation Feuerzauber (Magic Fire).

An Italian squadron flying Fiat C.R.32 fighters was set up but without the pretense. A squadron of Savoia bombers (SM.81s?) fly into Sevilla. A squadron on Caproni Ca.135s fly into Sevilla; they are used in the north.

In the first few weeks, several combat sorties were flown. Among the pilots who claimed victories over Republican aircraft were two Spanish pilots: Joachim Garcia Morata (40) and Julio Salvador Diaz-Benjumea (24). (The number in parentheses is the claimed total for the war.) Flying He51's, they encountered a variety of enemy aircraft. It is certain that more than one Breguet XIX did not return from an encounter with an He 51 during August 1936, but victories over other types are less clear.

By August's end, the Germans and their Spanish "trainees" had moved to Escalona del Prado, near Madrid. By now, the pretense was dropped and the German volunteers started flying combat sorties. Herwig Knuppel (8), Kraft Eberhardt (7), and Hannes Trautloft (5) initiated their scores. Flying a Republican bomber over the Nationalist Northern Army was fast becoming an unhealthy proposition.

Sept-36
   
9 He 51s based at Caceres.

After the defeat of a Republican invasion force, an Italian fighter sqdn is stationed in Majorca. Throughout the war, Italian air and naval units operate from Majorca.

After scoring four kills, Morato got himself transferred to the Italian squadron. The Fiat CR 32 was widely regarded as the best fighter in the Spanish skies so the attraction was self-evident despite a clear antipathy between Italian and Spanish officials. Morato scored 36 more victories while flying the Fiat. In the ensuing weeks his example would be followed by several of the more talented Spanish pilots.

Oct-36
   
The German Kondor Legion’s air unit is 36-48 He51s (JGr88), 48 Ju52s (KGr88), a seaplane sqdn, a recon sqdn (18x He70s), and an experimental sqdn. Other units include 6 batteries of AAA. The Italians have several fighter and bomber squadrons.

The Republicans received an infusion of about 50 Russian aircraft. SB-2 Katuska bombers began operations before the month was out, and I-15 Chatos scored their first kill on November 4, 1936 against a Ju-52. The Soviets eventually send several hundred aircraft.

Nov-36   Russian/Republican units clash with German and Italians. See the November, 1936 scenarios. Germans start to bomb Madrid.

Dec-36   A squadron of I-15s are stationed in Bilbao.

Jan-Feb '37   

Germany adds He-111Bs, Do17Fs, and Me109Bs for ‘field testing.’

Italy add S.M 79s.

France sneaks in 20 Loire 46 fighters (on par with the Polish PZL P.11).

Mar-37

In response to a Nationalist advance on Madrid using Italian troops, the Republicans added ground support missions - with devastating effects on the Italian ground units. Nationalist attention shifts to Basque Spain. A wide swath of northern Spain was Republican, from Bilboa to Oviedo. The Nationalists began a series of offensives, each aimed taking a major northern port and its surrounding area. 40 aircraft new aircraft are added to Mola’s Nationalist Army of the North. He goes into action with 120 aircraft, including the Kondor Legion and the Legione Aviazione. Late in March, Durango, an otherwise defenseless town, is bombed.

Apr-37
   
The Guernica raid occurs (German He-111Bs and Ju52s bomb the militarily insignificant town of Guernica solely as a terror action, destroying it. A fresh wave hits the town every 20 minutes ofr three hours.)

Kondor Legion is upgraded:

Bf109B-1 introduced in small numbers (eventially replace 2 of three fighter squadrons of J/88; He51s given to Nationalist Spain);

He111B-2 replaces 2 Ju52 bomber squadrons in K/88;

18 Do17Fs replace the surviving 12 He70s (given to Spain);

Jun-37

Soviets send updated designs (I-152 and I-16 Type10).

Jul-37

Battle of Brunete (a Republican attempt to relieve pressure on Madrid). Republicans commit 150 aircraft - and lose 100 of them. The Nationalists lose 23. The Bf109Bs are included in the Nationalist flight line. (See the Spanish scenarios)

Aug-37
   
Republicans have some 470 aircraft against about 350 Nationalist aircraft. However, Nationalists are still better trained. (Not clear if these numbers include the Kondor Legion and the Legione Aviazione).

18 Russian fighters and 15 older fighters and bombers defend Santander.

Nov-37

Germany and Italy add one kette of Ju87A (for testing), 5 Ju86D-1, a squadron He111E-3s and some Fiat BR.20s.

Apr-38

He51s and Meridonali Ro.37bis provide good ground support to Nationalist offensives.

May-38

Basque areas are completely undefended from the air. They are bombed constantly.

Summer '38

Soviet airmen are phased out, taking the most experienced pilots flying for the Republicans. Heavy losses in July.

Oct-38

5 Ju87B-1s added to K/88 for field testing.

Jan-39

Fiat G.50s and Bf109E-1s receive ‘field testing.’ Republicans on the wane

Feb-39

Republicans down to 40 aircraft for the Army of the Center; by the 3rd week, the full Republican air force is “3 sqdns of Natacho bombers, 2 sqdns of Katiuska (SB-2) bombers, 25 fighters.” The Nationalists have some 600 aircraft.

Mar-39

The final Republicans surrender. As the Germans leave, they hand over to the Spanish Air Force their surviving equipment.

http://world.std.com/~ted7/tlspain.htm

[Arlo]

From the Spanish Civil War to the Fall of France: Luftwaffe Lessons Learned and Applied

Excerpt:

Operation Magic Fire (28 July 1936 - 29 March 1939)

Hermann Göring proclaimed the existence of the reconstructed German Luftwaffe on 10 March 1935. [1] Within eighteen months, the new Luftwaffe embarked upon Operation Magic Fire, a program to assist the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War. The war, which broke out in the summer of 1936, provided Hitler with an excellent opportunity to distract European attention from his machinations elsewhere on the Continent while at the same time enabling the fledgling Luftwaffe to field test its air warfare doctrine and equipment in military action. [2] The Luftwaffe learned much from the Spanish War in the way of strategy, tactics, logistics, and operations. These lessons were reinforced by the Polish Campaign in September 1939 and applied in Scandinavia, the Low Countries and France in 1940.

Condor Legion was the name given to the German military units dispatched in November 1936 to fight in Spain. The task of this paper is to address issues surrounding the Condor Legion in Spain. Specifically, what lessons did the Luftwaffe learn from the Spanish War? What was the role of the Condor Legion in that war? Was the Luftwaffe helped or hampered by the experience of the Spanish Civil War? Did the Spanish War play a decisive role in influencing the Luftwaffe operational doctrine that contributed to Germany's defeat in World War II? By answering these questions, I hope to show that the Spanish War provided ambiguous benefits to the nascent Luftwaffe. Although the Condor Legion involvement in Spain proved an invaluable training and testing opportunity, the lessons it taught were occasionally interpreted erroneously. On the whole, however, the Condor Legion experience in Spain established a wellspring of variegated experience from which the Luftwaffe was to draw heavily at the beginning of the Second World War.

Small Beginnings

On 18 July 1936, Adolf Hitler approved the Spanish Nationalist request for military assistance in the civil war that had begun one day earlier. [3] Within ten days, twenty Junker Ju52s had been dispatched to Spain, flown by Lufthansa (Germany's commercial airline) pilots and Luftwaffe volunteers. Shortly thereafter, six Heinkel He51 biplane fighters were shipped to Spain, along with twenty 20mm flak guns. [4] Although many historians have claimed that Germany entered the Spanish conflict without reservation, this is untrue. Hitler supported Franco over the objections of every ministry in his government. [5] However, the initial German assistance was restricted in both men and materiel. Indeed, only 85 Luftwaffe volunteers were sent originally to serve in Spain under the command of Major General Hugo Sperre, and the designated mission explicitly excluded direct military participation in combat operations. [6] The Freiwillige (volunteers) released from the Luftwaffe were under orders only to train Spanish men to fly the German planes. In less than a week, however, one of the Spanish trainees killed himself and destroyed a plane, while two other Spaniards crashed on their first mission. [7] Because of these mishaps, the German pilots sought and received permission to fly combat missions. [8]

The international reaction to German intervention in Spain was both immediate and hostile. Great Britain lodged a formal protest against the German volunteers and began to support the Spanish Republicans. [9] The Soviet Union subscribed to a French non-intervention plan in principle, but then demanded that Germany immediately cease aid, and began to aid the Republicans themselves. [10] Göring, having succumbed to Hitler's desire to intervene in Spain; demanded that the Luftwaffe expand yet faster. [11]

Hitler's true reasons for intervening in Spain had little to do with Franco's need of assistance or the simple desire to test and develop military equipment; rather they were strategic. [12] A Nationalist-controlled Spain, as Antony Beevor points out, "would present a threat to France's rear as well as the British route to the Suez Canal." [13] There was also the tempting possibility of U-boat bases on Spain's Atlantic coast (Spanish ports were actually used occasionally by the Germans during World War II). Hitler also viewed the war as a way to forge the Axis with Italy while distracting Mussolini's attention from Austria and the Balkans. The idea of the war as a testing ground for German equipment was secondary at best. Yet as the equipment initially provided to the Legion demonstrated itself deficient, Berlin responded by supplying new, untested aircraft. [14] Spain became a testing ground for the Luftwaffe by chance, not design.

In Spain, the Condor Legion was divided into six parts: a command staff (S/88), one bomber wing with three squadrons of Ju52s (K/88); one fighter wing with three squadrons of He51s (J/88), a reconnaissance squadron of twelve He70s and four heavy flak batteries of 88mm guns (A/88), two 20mm light flak batteries (F/88), and a communications detachment (Ln/88). [15]

More at: http://www.ihr.org/jhr/v07/v07p133_Oppenheimer.html

[Arlo]

Spanish Republican T-26s

The Spanish Civil War was the first conflict in which the T-26 participated. At the request of the Spanish Republican government, the Soviet government sold weapons and military equipment to Spain and provided military advisers (including tankers) within the framework of Operation X. The first shipment of tanks to Spanish republicans was delivered on 13 October 1936, at the Spanish port city of Cartagena; fifty T-26s with spare parts, ammunition, fuel, and around 80 volunteers under the command of colonel S. Krivoshein, the commander of the 8th Separate Mechanized Brigade. The first German delivery of armoured vehicles to Franco’s insurgent Nationalist forces was of (Panzer I light tanks for the Condor Legion), which arrived only a week later. The Italians had begun to provide Nationalists with CV-33 tankettes even earlier, in August 1936.

Republican and Nationalist tanks saw their first combat during the advance of Franco’s forces towards Madrid, and during the Siege of Madrid, where the Nationalist Panzer I and CV-33 tankettes suffered heavy losses from Republican tanks armed with 45 mm gun. The first Soviet T-26 tanks delivered to Cartagena were intended for Republican tankers training in the Archena training center (90 km from Cartagena), but the situation around Madrid became complicated and fifteen tanks formed a tank company under the command of Soviet captain Paul Arman.

Arman’s company engaged in battle on 29 October 1936 near Seseña, 30 km south-west of Madrid. Twelve T-26s advanced 35 km during the ten-hour raid and inflicted significant losses to Francoists (around two squadrons of Moroccan cavalry and two infantry battalions were defeated; twelve 75 mm field guns, four CV-33 tankettes and twenty to thirty trucks with cargo were destroyed or damaged) with the loss of 3 T-26 tanks to gasoline bombs and artillery fire. The first known instance of ramming in tank warfare was made that day when the T-26 tank of platoon commander Lt. Semyon Osadchy encountered two Italian CV-33 tankettes from the Nationalist 1st Tank Company near Esquivias village and overturned one of them into a small gorge. Crewmembers of another tankette were killed by tank machine-gun fire after they abandoned their vehicle. The T-26 of captain Arman was burned by a gasoline bomb; although wounded, Arman continued to lead the tank company. Arman’s T-26 destroyed one, and damaged two CV-33 tankettes by tank gun fire. On 31 December 1936 Captain P. Arman was awarded with the Hero of the Soviet Union for that tank raid and active participation in the defense of Madrid. On 17 November 1936, Arman’s company had five T-26 tanks in operable condition.

The day before (28 October 1936) Francoist cavalry and Panzer IA tanks from the 88th Tank Battalion met with Rebublican T-26 tanks. The Pz.IA proved to have insufficient armament when pitted against the T-26.

The Krivoshein’s tank group, consisting of 23 T-26 tanks and 9 armoured cars, attacked Francoists on 1 November 1936, supporting the main Republican column retreating to Madrid. The Krivoshein’s tank group took part in the fighting for Torrejón de Velasco and Valdemoro on 4–5 November 1936, a counter-attack in the suburb of Cerro de los Ángeles on 13 November 1936, and in continuous fighting inside Madrid itself through the middle of December 1936. Soviet military personnel of Krivoshein’s group returned to the USSR in the end of November 1936, except for some tankers from Pogodin’s company, mechanics from Alcalá de Henares tank repair base and military instructors from the Archena training center.

The 1st Republican Tank Brigade initially consisted of a tank battalion, a Spanish motorcycle company and a transport battalion. It was created in December 1936 on the delivery of about 100 Soviet tanks and military personnel under the command of Soviet brigade commander D. Pavlov at the Archena training center. The Soviet volunteer tank commanders and drivers sent to Spain were from the best tank units of the Red Army: the Mechanized Brigade named after V. Volodarsky from Peterhof, the 4th Separate Mechanized Brigade from Babruysk (commander – D. Pavlov), and the 1st Mechanized Corps named after K.B. Kalinovsky from Naro-Fominsk. The tank gunners were usually Spanish.

The 1st Republican Tank Brigade (1.a Brigada Blindada) first saw action near Las Rosas and Majadahonda (north-west of Madrid) in the beginning of January 1937, supporting the 12th and 14th International Brigades. This action broke up the second Nationalist assault on Madrid.

There were around 70 T-26s in the Republican Army in the beginning of 1937. In February 1937, company-sized detachments of the Tank Brigade participated in the Battle of Jarama. On 14 February 1937 the Tank Brigade, together with the 24th Infantry Brigade, took part in a counterattack and overcame a major Nationalist force, causing about 1000 Nationalist casualties. On 27 February 1937, the Tank Brigade launched five attacks on Nationalist positions without infantry support, but took heavy losses from anti-tank guns (35 to 40 percent of its tanks in some attacks). Nevertheless, the T-26 was used with great success during the Battle of Guadalajara in March 1937 after the 1st Tank Brigade was finally formed (its HQ was in Alcalá de Henares). For example, a platoon of two T-26 tanks under the command of Spaniard, E. Ferrera destroyed or damaged twenty-five Italian tankettes on 10 March 1937. In September/October 1937 the Republican 1st Tank Brigade was disbanded. Some volunteers returned to the USSR, while others joined with the International Tank Regiment under the command of Soviet major S.A. Kondratiev.

From autumn 1937, all T-26 tank crews were Spanish. In summer 1938, the Republican Army had two armoured divisions, formed with Soviet help. Turrets from irreparable T-26 and BT-5 tanks and from BA-6 armoured cars were mounted on Chevrolet 1937s and other armoured cars developed and produced by the Republicans. It should be noted that Republican armour and infantry often suffered from cooperation problems throughout the war. T-26 tanks often attacked enemy trenches or defense positions in the narrow streets of Spanish towns without support, where they met strong resistance. Nationalist infantry, the Moroccans especially, defended courageously despite heavy casualties, throwing hand grenades and gasoline bombs, which are dangerous to tank engines.

Ultimately, the Soviet Union provided a total of 281 T-26 mod. 1933 tanks, which were used by the Republicans in almost all the battles of the Spanish Civil War. Many sources state that a total of 297 T-26s were delivered to Spain but this probably includes the first planned delivery of 15 T-26s on 26 September 1936.

Approximately 40 percent of T-26s fell into Nationalist hands by the end of the war, mostly after the defeat of the Republicans. In March 1937, a tank company of captured T-26 tanks was included into Panzergruppe Drohne, a tank unit of the German Condor Legion in Spain. The Nationalists prized the Soviet tanks, even offering a bounty of 500 pesetas for each tank captured intact. In August 1937, a reorganization of the Drohne Group into Spanish control started, which resulted in the formation of Bandera de Carros de Combate de la Legion, a part of the Spanish Foreign Legion, in March 1938. The Bandera consisted of two battalions (1. and 2. Agrupacione de Carros). One was equipped with Panzer I tanks and the second with captured T-26 tanks. Approaching 1939, both battalions had similar organization, their third companies equipped with T-26 tanks. The Nationalists used captured T-26 tanks in the Battle of Teruel, Battle of Brunete, Battle of Bilbao, Battle of the Ebro and the Catalonia Offensive. The Nationalists developed their own light tank prototype (Verdeja) during the war, with the wide use of elements from Panzer I, and especially the T-26. Later, T-26s formed the base of the Spanish Brunete Armoured Division, serving until 1953.

The T-26 was the most widely used tank of the Spanish Civil War in both armies. It was referred to as “the tank of the Spanish Civil War” in the title of one of Lucas Molina Franco’s articles. “Out-gunned, out-manoeuvred, and hard-pressed, the Spanish had no effective answer to the tank”, sparking several interesting developments within the context of tank design and anti-tank tactics. This was especially true regarding the T-26, given that there was no other tank in the field able to knock it out. Despite the T-26’s superiority over the German Panzer I light tanks and Italian CV-33 tankettes (armed only with machine guns), the Spanish Civil War uncovered a vulnerability of the T-26 – weak armour. Even the frontal armour of the T-26 was easily penetrated by German and Italian anti-tank guns, at close ranges. Italian reports said about this vulnerability: 20 mm Italian and German guns, not effective over 400 m; 3.7 cm Pak 36, not more than 500 m; Cannone da 47/32 M35, not more than 600 m. The Italians were concerned about the powerful armament of the T-26, often used at very great ranges, up to 1,500 m. Italians rated the small and older Cannone da 65/17 modello 13 as better than the high-velocity guns they had, even if it was not used as an anti-tank gun. Greater danger was posed by the 8.8 cm FlaK 18/36/37/41 anti-aircraft gun, first deployed in those years, and capable of destroying any tank at very great range. The 15 mm bullet-proof armour of the T-26 provided little protection against it, even when firing only HE rounds. Not all Soviet military commanders recognized the T-26 light infantry tank’s obsolescence in the mid-1930s and work designing tanks with anti-projectile armour was slow in the USSR at that time.

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