1st Squadrilla.
The Aerial Spanish Expeditionary Squadrilla was other unit that serve with honour, this time in the ranks of the Luftwaffe. Was the Cmte. Salas Larrazábal, right hand of the mythical García Morato, the official designed by the Air Minister to lead the ''1ª Escuadrilla Azul de Caza'', that went out of Madrid the 24 of July 1941 and was trained in the JadgFliegerSchüle of Werneuchen in Berlín. The Squadrilla acted under the title of 15 Spanische Staffel, aggregated to the JG27 (JadgGeschwader nº27) of the VIII FliegerKorps under the lead of Von Richthofen, that at the same time was part of the Luftflotte 2, of General Feldmarschal Kesselring.
The Flight Step was also formed by the Cmte. Muñoz Giménez, inventor of the "chain" that nowadays uses all the air forces of the world; three captains and twelve lieutenants, all veterans of the Civil War.
They arrive the 24 of September to the aerodrome of Moschina, at the
SW of Smolensk piloting their brilliant ME Bf-109 E (E-4 E-7), realizing
mainly tasks of protection of the German bombers, and of free hunt in the
siege of Viasma. At the first days is knocked down the Lte.
Alcocer and the Squadrilla was moved to Byelov, in the Moscow front and
later to Kalinin till the 31 of October when it goes from Staritza to Rudsa
at 80 km. of Moscow; the Cmte. Muñoz was knocked down the 27 of
november above enemy territory. The next day the Squadrilla was moved to
the base of Klin, place that they have to abandon the 12 de December under
the pressure of the russian mechanized infantry, after the fail of the
german offensive in the soviets capital. In the first days of December
they received some of the new models of ME Bf 109 (F-2 y F-4). Transferred
to Duguino, they were reorganized in Vitebsk and the 7 de February
of 1942 they received the order of relief. The General der Flieger, Wilfred
Von Richthofen decorate the leader and other officials and soldiers of
the Spanish Squadrilla, that made 422 missions flight missions, knocking
down 14 russian planes in air combats, and suffering the death Cmte.
Muñoz, the Ltes. Alcocer, Ruibal and Bartolomé and some soldiers
of the Earth Step.
2nd Squadrilla.
It maintained the name of "15 Spanische Staffel" and was framed in the
same JadGeschwader. Was lead by the Cmte. Díaz-Benjumea and it had
3 patrols commanded by the Captains Bengoechea, Serra and Frutos, operating
in the sector of Orel where enter in fight the 21 of July of 1942, standing
out the Captain. Gavilán in fighter combat and having the first
fail Cap. Noriega, dying also in mechanical accident the second lieutenant
Navarro and Soldier Zazo. They piloted also ME Bf-109 in improved
version of this plane (G-2).
3th Squadrilla.
Under the lead of the veteran Cmte. Ferrandiz Arjonilla these unit arrived
the 30 of November of 1942 to the sector Orel - West with the planes ME
Bf 109 G-2 y G-4. Since the 20 of February of 1943, they received some
nits of FW-190 and A-4 planes, these last recently arrived to the front,
and with better armament and more bombing capacity, and also of a wide
and robust undercarriage, that made easy the movements on earth, very difficult
in runaways with ice and snow. They ended their work there the 30
of December and in spite of the short time they were there they made 779
flight mission, of which 403 were of free hunt and alarm; and they knocked
down 16 enemies planes, what gives a idea of the intensity of the combats.
Thanks to the great help of the FW plane, that could flight in all conditions,
and his BMW motor, gave security to the pilots
4th Squadrilla.
The Cmte. Cuadra Medina arrived the 4 of July of 1943 to the aerodrome
of Seschstsniskaya, at the SE of Roslav, this time forming in the
JG51 of the Major Werner Mölders (JadgGeschwader nº51 "Mölders")
member of the VIII FliegerKorps, at the same time part of the LuftFlotte
4 commanded by the General Oberst Alois Löhr; the piloted improved
versions for the attack earth - air of the FW-190 plane ( called G) and
also A-8 planes. Since the failed German counter - offensive in the Battle
of Jarkhov, the Blue Squadrilla protected the retreat of the German infantry
en continues flights of ''earth attack'', commanding the two patrols the
Captains Galarza and Llaca; establishing their base in the aerodromes of
North Smolensk, Orsha, Star-Bichov and Bobruisk, where the 23 of February
were replaced by the 5ª Squadrilla. They obtained 74 knock downs and
lost the Ltes. Arjona and Lucas, a among other failed. They received planes
ME Bf 109 G-6 in substitution of the fallen Focke Wulf.
5th Squadrilla.
Coincide the arrival of this Spanish force with the period of retreat of the Blue Division of the front, so by that reason the General der Flieger Warlimont, had an interview in Bobruisk with the Cmte. Murcia Rubio and he told the spanish official that Göering, attending to the desires of the Führer, decided to retreat the Blue Squadrilla. In only 6 days of presence in the front they made 86 flight missions and 6 aerial combats, suffering the fail of the Lte. Segurola, knocked down in combat.
The total of planes knocked down by the spanish fighters reach the number
of 156, registering the Cmte. Cuadra 10 knocks down and Cmte. Salas
Larrazabal other 7, being other pilots to highlight the Captains Gavilán
and Galarza and the Ltes. Ibarreche and Mendoza.