Spanish pilots in russia

[GMichalski]

i found this:
The German attack on the Soviet Union surprised the three ancient Spanish pilots Republican military aviation, Antonio Arias Arias, Sunday Lario Bonilla and Juan Sanchez, who were studying in Moscow and decided to join the Red Army.

The initiative to enlist in the Soviet ranks was initially rejected by the military ranks, but after insisting finally received permission to join a military unit of the NKVD. For the time had achieved the target. However, the aspirations of exercise as pilots within the Soviet air forces vanished.

While they were waiting for a final destination, the military leaders had taken note of their status as veterans in military aviation pilots Republican. In view of that charge to the three Spanish riders prepare a report if they had located other comrades. Once the work had brought together a small group of airmen who previously developed various jobs in factories in the area of ​​Moscow and Gorky. Thus, in high school units of the NKVD were presenting pilots Rodrigo Vicente Beltran, Francisco Benito, Fernando Carrera White, Severino Burgueño, Ladislao Espes Duarte, Alfredo Fernandez Villalon, Antonio Garcia Cano, Manuel Leon, Francisco Meroño Pellicer, Isidoro Najera Montejo, Francisco Paredes, Pascual José Santamaría, and several specialists from the step of land.

In August 1941, they were all taken to the Chkalov airfield, located a few kilometers from Moscow. After the investigation stage, in late August were ordered to move to a distant airfield nestled in the Urals. Aramil It was in Sverdlovsk, which welcomed the new base facilities NII-VVS (Scientific Experimental Institute of the Air Force) when they were evacuated before the German advance. The next day the Spanish staff was caught up on the mission they were assigned. Organized as a guerrilla air attack should the German rear. This may provide an excellent means of camouflage as multiple copies acquired in 1940, and the models belonging Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3, Messerschmitt Bf 110 C-4, Junkers Ju 88 K-1 and Dornier Do 215 B-3. The life of this project was short, so the Spanish pilots marched Bykovo aerodrome intended to participate in the defense of Moscow, as part of the 1st Brigade air until the end of 1942.

Then spread continued to serve in different units of the VVS, along with other Spanish riders who had gradually been incorporated. His combat experience was high. Some of them had held positions of importance in front of the flight units of the Republican Air Force. Such was the case of Jose Maria Bravo, Ladislao Duarte Leopoldo Zarauza Morquillas or Manuel. Most of the Spanish aviators framed in the regiments fought game, manning I-153, I-16, MIG-3, Yak-1, Yak-7, La-5, P-39, P-40, Hurricane and Spitfire.

At least, Antonio Arias, Vicente Beltran, Jose Maria Bravo, Antonio Garcia, Juan Lario, José Luis Larranaga and Jose Pascual Francisco Santamaria Meroño exceeded the category of "aces". Others went into action on aircraft flying Pe-2 and IL-2 with the regiments of assault. Part and the group were Marciano Ten, Alfonso Garcia, Celestino Martinez, Anselmo Sepulveda and Leoncio Velasco. On the other hand, Francisco Benito, Carlos Garcia, Francisco Gaspar and Jose Sanchez were accomplished pilots versatile U-2 biplane at night harassment missions.

Luis Lavin Lavin, born in Bilbao, was a so-called war children evacuated to the USSR in 1937. In October 1940, with eight identical Spanish origin, began to study for qualification as a pilot in a flying club in Moscow. At 15, he could achieve their purpose by adding two years to his age. Apart from Lavin, the small group consisted of Ignacio Aguirregoicoa, Isaiah Albístegui, Cianca Ramón, Antonio Lecumberri, José Luis Larranaga, Eugenio Prieto, Tomas Suarez and Antonio Uribe. Albisteui Except that would not end the course of flight, in April 1941 joined the rest of the top aviation academy Chkalov in Borisoglebsk. From then leave for the front lines to join their respective destinations.

Lavin and Lecumberri they would in April 1942, serving in the 826 th Regiment equipped with fighter Polikarpov I-16. Subsequently, the unit merged with the 907 th Regiment, Lavin being framed in the end to the war in Germany, flying in a Lavochkin La-5FN. During the interim, had been killed in combat Aguirregoicoa, Larrañaga and Uribe.

Approximately a total of 88 Spanish pilots have served in the Soviet armed forces in both flight units and in the ground, along the Second World War. About twenty were killed during the fighting. Demobilization took place in 1948. Some return to Spain later, but most decided to live in the Soviet Union.