Republican Air Force

Discussions on all aspects of the Spanish Civil War including the Condor Legion, the Germans fighting for Franco in the Spanish Civil War.
Post Reply
durb
Member
Posts: 627
Joined: 06 May 2014, 10:31

Republican Air Force

#1

Post by durb » 28 Oct 2014, 00:29

Looking from the web I came across of a link that can be regarded as more or less satisfactory introduction to the air force of Spanish Republicans. To my mind it is much better than basic wiki or other web sources that I have seen about Rep. Air Force. Hopefully you understand Spanish:

http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Fuerzas/FARE/Fare.htm
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Imagenes ... toFare.htm

At the same website you can find even more broad view of Republican armed forces and armament: http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Fuerzas/Armas/Armas.htm

The website has lots of rather interesting Republican stuff and it is worth of browsing. The website has "prorepublican" tendency, but it does not diminish the value of this website for anyone who is looking for info and details about the Republican side of SCW.

If someone knows equally good or even better web sources about this topic (Republican Air Force), please post them here. My guess is that Håkans Aviation Page is already known to everyone reading this - but if it is not, take a look: http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/scw.htm

And why not post some book recommendations about "RAF" (Republican Air Force). But check first the Recommended reading -thread of this section (SCW & Legion Condor).

User avatar
Ironmachine
Member
Posts: 5821
Joined: 07 Jul 2005, 11:50
Location: Spain

Re: Republican Air Force

#2

Post by Ironmachine » 28 Oct 2014, 09:42

The website has "prorepublican" tendency,
:lol: :lol:

Book recommendations about the Republican air forces:
General history of the "Aviación republicana":
The three volumes of Aviación Republicana. Historia de las Fuerzas Aéreas de la República Española (1931-1939), by Carlos Saiz Cidoncha.
On more specific aspects:
El Bimotor de bombardeo rápido Tupolev SB-2. Su actuación en España by Jesús Salas Larrazabal and Rafael de Madariaga.
Caza rusa en España, según su “Diario de operaciones” (two volumes) by Jesús Salas Larrazabal .
Túpolev SB Katiuska en España (Vol. 1) by Jesús Salas Larrazabal and Rafael de Madariaga Fernández.
The last one has both English and Spanish text; the others are in Spanish, I don't think there is any English edition.
Regards.


durb
Member
Posts: 627
Joined: 06 May 2014, 10:31

Re: Republican Air Force

#3

Post by durb » 31 Oct 2014, 12:27



durb
Member
Posts: 627
Joined: 06 May 2014, 10:31

Re: Republican Air Force

#5

Post by durb » 26 Dec 2014, 15:15

I wonder if anyone has idea how strong the Republican Air Force was at the Northern Front during 1936 - 1937? A Permuy Lopez claims that North was supplied with as many as 45 I-15 and 17 I-16, of which 43 I-15 and 16 I-16 were lost. To the losses can be added 8 Letov 231, 9 Breguet XIX, four Koolhoven trimotors and unknown number of different obsolete French/British planes.

However according to A. Nassaes Republican Air Force was never up to its theoretical strength, specially at North. In practice Nationalists enjoyed in Northern campaigns a numerical superiority of 3:1 or more in air. By April 1937 Republicans in North had only 15 airworthy fighters with which to challenge Nationalist air forces. Many Republican planes stayed and were destroyed on the ground without seeing much action. Maintenance and lack of spare parts were problem. Thus Republicans could throw at combat a maximum 25 Chatos at one time although as many as 45 were delivered to Northern Front.

Has anyone idea how many of Republican planes in Northern front were destroyed in air combats or bombed/strafed at the ground, how many were destroyed by the retreating Republicans, lost in accidents and finally how many were captured by Nationalists?

Post Reply

Return to “Spanish Civil War & Legion Condor”