Potez 54 shot down 18 august 36

[GMichalski]

Hi,

any would add more info of this loss....

After his arrive into the Antequera front trying to conquest the skies, this bimotor Potez 54 (Potez 540) was shot down in Santa Cruz de Mudela by the ace García Morato in less than 8 minutes of combat, in 18 august 1936


many thanks,
regards

[GMichalski]

info and photo taken for the book:

Alas Rojas sobre España of Miguel Sanchís....

regards

[GuerraCivil]

Not much to comment on this as I do not have the Potez 540 losses of Republican side at hand. If there is not a clear refutation against this claim based on some solid Republican records, this one was a legitimate air victory for García Morato. The only thing to add is that García Morato´s claim on 18.8.1936 was made with Heinkel 51 - a week before any German pilot made claims with the type (the air victories of Trautloft & Eberhardt were recorded on 25.8.1936).

When it comes to the reference and other SCW books written and published in Spain during Franco era, one should remember that they have certain bias (and they do not hide it).

Of García Morato´s claims the most controversial in my opinion is his claim of destroyed Hawker Fury on 20.9.1936. The history of all three Spanish Hawker Fury´s is well documented and Morato´s claim can not be any of them. It is also unlikely that he as a long serving Spanish flying officer would have misidentified such planes like Ni-H. 52 or Breguet XIX as a Fury. Whatever he may have shot down on 20.9.1936 was not a Fury.

[GMichalski]

hi,

always good response...

if i see any different of your info i send it to you...

many thanks,

regards