Italian Forces in Spain

Italian Air Units in Spain

by Greg Novak

It is often forgotten today that the Italian Air Force was considered as one of the world's finest in the early 1930s. As mentioned already, the first request for aid from the Nationalist government for Italian bombers was in order to gain control of the sea lanes from Spanish Morocco to Spain. In addition to the bombers, fighters and observation aircraft were sent as well, complete with air and oround crews. Some of the aircraft sent were turned over to the Nationalist government. but most stayed under the control of the Italian Air Force. By December 1936, the following aircraft in CD terms were serving in Spain:

    Bombers 5 S-79
    Fighters 15 CR32
    Observation 4 RO-37bis

With the arrival of the CTV in Spain in early 1937, a Legionary Air Force was formed to act in its support. This force was made up of the following (Air Crew Troop Quality: Veteran, Morale: 9)

    3rd Air Wing
      6th Fighter Group 3 Squadrons, each of 3 CR-32 fighters
      16th Fighter Group 3 Squadrons, each of 3 CR-32 fighters
      23rd Fighter Group 3 Squadrons, each of 3 CR-32 fighters
      Experimental Fighter Group 2 Squadrons, each of 3 CR-32 fighters
      22nd Reconnaissance Group 2 Squadrons, each of 2 Ro-37 bis observation aircraft

    l 11 th Air Wing

      29th Bomber Group 2 Squadrons. each of 2 S-81 Bombers
      30th Bomber Group 2 Squadrons, each of 2 S-81 Bombers
      35th Ground Attack Group 2 Squadrons, each of 2 Ba-65 Ground Attack Squadrons

In addition, an Italian Air Wing was stationed on the island of Majorca.from which it could launch attacks along the east coast of Spain. This wing had the following units assigned:

    80th Air Wing
      27th Bomber Group 2 Squadrons, each of 2 S-81 Bombers
      28th Bomber Group 2 Squadrons. each of 2 S-81 Bombers
      10th Fighter Group 3 Squadrons, each of 3 CR-32 fighters

As the war progressed, new aircraft replaced those listed above in service and the older aircraft were passed on to the Nationalist Air Force. As new types of aircraft were built in Italy, small numbers were sent to Spain for combat trails, among them the BR-20 bomber. Ca-135 Bomber and G.50 fighter. The single greatest change was the replacement by the end of 1937 of the S-81 bomber by the newer S-79.

It should be noted that the much of the war the Italian Air Force carried the load for the Nationalist side. Until the Condor Legion was issued its Bf-109s late in 1937, the Italian CR-32 was the only Nationalist aircraft that could stand up against the I-15 and I-16s.

Italian Forces in Spain

Related

Quick Guide to the Spanish Civil War [Part 1: CPQ 7]

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© Copyright 1995 by Greg Novak.
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