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.