Air war over Spain : aviators, aircraft and air units of the Nationalist and Republican Air Forces, 1936-1939

This is a unique volume examining the opposing air forces in the Spanish Civil War as well the intervention of the German, Italian, and Soviet air forces in their respective guises. The air campaigns fought during the Spanish Civil War prompted important technical and tactical developments for all parties, from the actual deployment of air power through communications. The small and largely obsolescent Spanish Air Force of 1936 grew into an effective fighting arm, which by 1937 had become a significant force, thanks, in part, to German and Italian support. The Nationalists fielded Heinkel, Fiat, and Messerschmitt fighters and Heinkel, Caproni, Savoia-Marchetti, Junkers, and Dornier bombers. These forces entered into a grinding battle of attrition over the less-organized but fiercely motivated Republican air arm over Aragon, and the Jarama and Madrid Fronts, and later over Brunete, Belchite, and the final campaign over the Ebro late in 1938. disclosure220......Page 1 disclosure222......Page 2 disclosure224......Page 3 disclosure225......Page 4 disclosure226......Page 5 disclosure227......Page 6 disclosure228......Page 7 disclosure229......Page 8 disclosure230......Page 9 disclosure231......Page 10 disclosure232......Page 11 disclosure233......Page 12 disclosure234......Page 13 disclosure235......Page 14 disclosure236......Page 15 disclosure237......Page 16 disclosure238......Page 17 disclosure239......Page 18 disclosure240......Page 19 disclosure241......Page 20 disclosure242......Page 21 disclosure243......Page 22 disclosure244......Page 23 disclosure245......Page 24 disclosure246......Page 25 disclosure247......Page 26 disclosure248......Page 27 disclosure249......Page 28 disclosure250......Page 29 disclosure251......Page 30 disclosure252......Page 31 disclosure253......Page 32 disclosure254......Page 33 disclosure255......Page 34 disclosure256......Page 35 disclosure257......Page 36 disclosure258......Page 37 disclosure259......Page 38 disclosure260......Page 39 disclosure261......Page 40 disclosure262......Page 41 disclosure263......Page 42 disclosure264......Page 43 disclosure265......Page 44 disclosure266......Page 45 disclosure267......Page 46 disclosure268......Page 47 disclosure269......Page 48 disclosure270......Page 49 disclosure271......Page 50 disclosure272......Page 51 disclosure273......Page 52 disclosure274......Page 53 disclosure275......Page 54 disclosure276......Page 55 disclosure277......Page 56 disclosure278......Page 57 disclosure279......Page 58 disclosure280......Page 59 disclosure281......Page 60 disclosure282......Page 61 disclosure283......Page 62 disclosure284......Page 63 disclosure285......Page 64 disclosure286......Page 65 disclosure287......Page 66 disclosure288......Page 67 disclosure289......Page 68 disclosure290......Page 69 disclosure291......Page 70 disclosure292......Page 71 disclosure293......Page 72 disclosure294......Page 73 disclosure295......Page 74 disclosure296......Page 75 disclosure297......Page 76 disclosure298......Page 77 disclosure299......Page 78 disclosure300......Page 79 disclosure301......Page 80 disclosure302......Page 81 disclosure303......Page 82 disclosure304......Page 83 disclosure305......Page 84 disclosure306......Page 85 disclosure307......Page 86 disclosure308......Page 87 disclosure309......Page 88 disclosure310......Page 89 disclosure311......Page 90 disclosure312......Page 91 disclosure313......Page 92 disclosure314......Page 93 disclosure315......Page 94 disclosure316......Page 95 disclosure317......Page 96 disclosure318......Page 97 disclosure319......Page 98 disclosure221......Page 99 This unique 'Classic Colours' format single volume covers the opposing air forces in the Spanish Civil War as well the intervention of the German, Italian, and Soviet air forces in their respective guises. The air campaigns fought during the Spanish Civil War prompted important technical and tactical developments for all parties - from the actual deployment of air power through to communications. The small and largely obsolescent Spanish Air Force of 1936 grew into an effective fighting arm, which, by 1937 had become a significant force thanks, in part, to German and Italian support. The Nationalists fielded Heinkel, Fiat, and Messerschmitt fighters and Heinkel, Caproni, Savoia-Marchetti, Junkers, and Dornier bombers. These forces entered into a grinding battle of attrition over the less-organized but fiercely motivated Republican air arm over Aragon, the Jarama, and Madrid Fronts and later over Brunete, Belchite and the final campaign over the Ebro in mid to late 1938. The Republicans were equipped with Soviet-built Polikarpov, Nieuport, Hawker, and Dewoitine fighters and Potez and Tupolev bombers. The aircraft were often colorful and adorned with vivid markings, illustrated in this book with color artwork as well as contemporary photographs. Twenty Nationalist pilots gained five or more victories, with the German and Italian contingents also scoring high kill numbers. The highest scorer was Joaquin Garcia Morato with 40 victories, while the future German ace, Werner Mlders left Spain with 14. On the Republican side, Capts. Jose Bravo Fernandez and Miguel Zambudio Martinez are reported to have scored into double figures. The air campaigns fought during the Spanish Civil War prompted technical and tactical developments for all parties - from the actual deployment of air power through to communications. This work examines the opposing air forces in the Spanish Civil War as well the intervention of the German, Italian and Soviet air forces in their respective guises