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Old 30th May 2012, 17:54
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Re: Spanish pilots in russia

Juan Sanchez Lario

Born in Madrid in 1918. Part of the second contingent of pilots sent to Russia. Incorporated on 12 January 1938 to the 4th of Chato, passing the 2nd few days later. In May the Group became the Grumman 28 Delfin, with just war. He was promoted to sergeant and lieutenant on the 03/30/38 20/11/37.

At the end of the Civil War went to France where he remained in various concentration camps until the end of May 1939 he emigrated to the Soviet Union where he participated in the defense of Moscow from the Caucasus front and then participating in the battle of Stalingrad.

In January 1957 he returned to Spain, taking up residence in Madrid.
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Zarauza Manuel Clavero

Born in the town of Santona on November 3, 1917. Zarauza Manuel joined the Republican Air Force in November 1936 as a volunteer soldier, graduating as a fighter pilot in flight school of Santiago de la Ribera, after which he was promoted to sergeant and assigned to a squadron of biplanes I-15 "Chato "at that time commanded by Manuel Aguirre, and May 24, 1937 was sent to the Northern Zone, along with other pilots who later would become aces.

In 1938 he was transferred to the front of Catalonia, and when it was sinking hopelessly Zarauza decided to take refuge in France with his plane to prevent both fall into the hands of the enemy where he was interned in the camp of Argeles-Sur-Mer.

After spending some time in France, could move to the Soviet Union taking up residence in Kharkov, where he worked until the German troops were approaching the city, and was evacuated along with other Spanish riders. Zarauza volunteered in the Red Army, which became a Soviet Air Force, which fought reaching the rank of colonel. Died on October 12, 1942, in Baku while conducting a mock battle with Sergeant Sasha Riápishevt newcomer to his unit, smashing both I-16, which fell to the ground. Zarauza had more than 30 aerial victories (10 in Spain) and had participated in hundreds of aerial warfare.
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Meroño Francisco Pellicer

Meroño Francisco Pellicer was born on June 17, 1917, in the town of Mula, Murcia province. Very soon he was orphaned, his mother's side, and knew very early in his teens, which means hard work and exploitative, but accepted it well, because I had to help his father to keep four sisters, who were much his junior.

One of those early days of the war, Francisco Meroño a teenager was injured by a "crazy ball" on one leg. Just recovered, left and headed for Madrid, without documentation or political backing. Fate brought him to the airfield "Four Winds" of Madrid, and so began her dream come true of becoming a pilot.

The chimera of his childhood ended with the forced departure to France through the Pyrenees and the fall in a concentration camp. Fate away, not knowing for how long, his homeland, his family and his companions. He was released after the concentration camp, had to emigrate to the USSR, where he worked in an automobile factory and met his future wife.

After Germany's attack on the USSR, voluntarily entered the ranks of the Red Army. After the first day he was summoned by the Soviet authorities, along with 18 other Spanish pilots, to train and perform special tasks, flying German aircraft, the Soviets had prior to World War as a result of exchange of material bélico.Durante three first months of ongoing operations, piloting fighter aircraft type YAK YAK-7-I and simultaneously trains in the German fighter Messerschmitt BF-109. When Moscow is under siege, is involved in air defense until the end of March 1942, driving a Soviet fighter MIG-3. Below is featured in the company of Fernando Carrera White and Rodrigo Vicente Beltran Tula sector of the Central Front.

He flew in many types of Soviet fighters, defended the skies of Moscow, Tula, and Stalingrad. In the nearly two years of "work" in the sky Soviet alemanes.Posteriormente knocked seven aircraft in the summer of 1943, he and his colleagues, would fight in the Battle of Kursk, but in the early days of fighting, was shot down Meroño by friendly fire due to a confusion on the crossfire, and when dropped by parachute, was seriously wounded in the left leg and chest. He fell into a Russian front, and his uniform abroad, mistaken for a German or Italian pilot, they would kill him, but first tried to revive him for questioning. Once recovered, to understand what they were talking together the soldiers, the repressed tacos a hail of Russian people used only very low culture, and that was precisely what saved his life. Within six months of recovery, is intended as an instructor at a flight school, whose task is surprised at the end of the war.

In the late 80's, despite living abroad, the Spanish government awarded him the rank of colonel being recognized officially as a retired colonel with the use of Aviation Weapon Spanish Armed Forces.
He died on July 17, 1995 in Moscow, because of a myocardial infarction.
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Jose Maria Bravo

Born in Madrid on April 8, 1917. From child receives a comprehensive training that enables student exchange in Germany. Engineering student in Madrid, the outbreak of the Civil War in Santander surprised, posing as a volunteer at the airfield of La Albericia, where he made his first flights. On November 6 departed by ship to France and returned to Spain in Barcelona, ​​where the call is presented to pilots that at that time was under way, giving up a place in the first year of observers. In December 1936 Kirovad leaves for Russia, under the command of Manuel Cascón. Selected as a fighter pilot, he returned to Spain in June 1937, having been appointed after March 31 and April 30, Sgt. It is intended for the 1st Squadron Chatos doing some services at the battle of Brunete. Soon changed to the 1st Squadron Flies that was reorganized in Los Llanos. Belchite combat and soon became chief of patrol. In December 1937 Claudin going to send the 1st Squadron and Bravo becomes the second head of the Squadron.

In April 1938 he was appointed head of the 3rd Squadron, was promoted to Captain in May. The 3rd Squadron operates from Sagunto whole campaign of Castellón, in El Vendrell when the attack on the bridgehead Balaguer, and based on Camporrobles in the days of the final attack in Valencia before he had spent some time in Alicante, as a defender of the port . In the first weeks of the Battle of the Ebro operates from Pla de Cabra, after a brief stay in Vendrell. On August 27 he was appointed deputy head of Group 21. Border Crossings in early February and after passing through the fields of Argeles and Gurs accepted the offer to go to the USSR in July 1939.

Goes to study at the School of Engineering Kharkov. At the beginning of the German invasion of Russia in June 1941 entered into a guerrilla unit until his move to the aircraft in mid-1942. During the World War, the Spanish regrouped in the VPO spend to defend the strategic oil reserves in Baku Soviet. Stalin in flight escorted to the Tehran conference, and would be forced to graduate with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Soviet Air Force in 1948, being demobilized the Spanish on the grounds of desertion of a Spanish Turkey in a Yak 10. Being informed of the demobilization, and Lieutenant Colonel Bravo is faced with the Soviet command saying: "If it was a Ukrainian defector ..... ¿Desmovilizaríais all Ukrainians?"

He returned to Spain in 1960 to care for their parents, which was not allowed to fly or to teach. Until his death on December 26, 2009, with 12 confirmed and 11 probable kills, Colonel Jose Maria Bravo was the greatest living ace Spanish Aviation.
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Luis Lavin Lavin

Luis Lavin Lavin was born in Bilbao on March 10, 1925. The son of a known militant communist, his mother was a friend of Dolores Ibarruri, 'The Passion'. The Spanish race would change his life forever. The night he came to fetch him to embark for the USSR was three days before the fall of Bilbao. The got into a car and drove to the harbor. Since then not again hear from his family until 1957.

After a stop in France and weathered a storm, a ship full of exiles landed in Leningrad. A quick move to Crimea allows small children enjoy the war have been stolen. In October, children are sent to Moscow to begin his studies. The next three years passed between lessons and military training. Meanwhile, the Republic crumbles and the possibility of returning to Euskadi vanish. The Second World War looms just around the corner. About 40 'children' Basques-some are 20 years-are volunteering to join the Air Force.

The Soviets do not support Spanish drivers, even those who just fight in the skies Peninsula. That's when fate smiles for the first time Lavin. Through the mediation of Antonio Uribe, brother of a former minister of the Republic, the Academy accepts pilots Kiev young Basques. Lavin falsifies documents and adds two years of a stroke at his age. On April 22, 1941, at age 16, the pilot begins his preparation Bilbao. Only eight companions completed the course: Aguirregoicoa, Uribe himself, Prieto, Cianca, Lekumberri, Suarez, Larrañaga and Lavin. The eight Basque fulfill his dream of flying.

Served in the Ukrainian town of Voronezh, the rout of the Red Army in early Germanic offensive leads to the front line where the Basques. Interestingly, the first combat Lavin will not be air, but person to person. Bilbao and Aguirregoicoa driver involved in an ambush on an armored column of Germans. Lavin would not shoot a gun, the rest of the war was spent serving dangerous air missions. On several occasions he opened fire, but never managed to bring him down. However, death flew twice, in two horrific landings. In one of them almost got fried, part of the fuel fell on his face and body.

In 1945, following World War II, the pilot of the Red Army received several awards for his heroic actions during the war. He returned to Spain in 1993. Today comes each week to the offices of Caritas in Nules (Castellón) to receive food. In fact, the ace of air combat and the man who now seeks furniture and clothes in the trash are the same person: Luis Lavin Lavin, 80, the sole survivor of the eight Basques who fought in the Soviet aviation.

the only i don´t find are the claims with VVS
regards
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