Spanish Airmen in German Service

Juan Arráez Cerdá and Eduardo Manuel Gil Martínez’s ‘The Blue Squadrons’: The Spanish in the Luftwaffe, 1941-1944 provides a valuable look at the Spanish experience on the Eastern Front, this time from the perspective of the pilots and groundcrew who served in the Luftwaffe for much of the Second World War across several major campaigns.

Both Cerdá and Martínez are well-qualified; Cerdá as an aviation expert and Martínez as a historian, both are authors of multiple books both in Spanish and other languages. This collaboration is a great accompaniment to recent works about the Spanish Eastern Front experience. The format is straightforward, five chapters cover the five expeditionary squadrons sent eastwards with a wide range of relevant details of their respective combat tours; along with a preface, list of abbreviations, brief Luftwaffe explanatory notes, appendices and a bibliography. There are also a range of color plates detailing aircraft flown by the various Blue Squadrons and relevant maps. Additionally, there is a range of rare black and white photos, which document day-to-day events, from mundane aerodrome scenes to friendly crashes, shot-down Soviet planes, and even an occasional funeral.

The authors contend that Generalissimo Francisco Franco and the Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire or EdA) were willing to help the Germans for two main reasons: to repay the Germans, for their assistance in the Spanish Civil War, especially for the Legion Condor, and secondly in the hopes of gaining experience which would enrich the Spanish Air Force should it have to fight again. While Franco refused to get his country fully involved in supporting Germany, he did allow for volunteers which formed the “Blue Division,” which the Germans called the 250. Infanterie Division (250th Infantry Division). Soon after the Blue Division arrived at the front the first of the Blue Squadrons followed. The Blue Division went on to fight on the northern sector of the Eastern Front, while the volunteer pilots and groundcrew of the 1st Blue Squadron were assigned to the central sector of the fighting, away from their comrades, supporting Army Group Center. In contrast with the soldiers that fought with the Blue Division, the men of the Blue Squadrons represented typically more experienced personnel, such that a number had flown during the Spanish Civil War or otherwise had useful experience. Each of the Blue Squadrons served several months until rotated home. They were equipped with a mix of Bf-109 and Fw-190s, usually older second-hand models than their Luftwaffe counterparts. The 1st Blue Squadron operated as part of JG27, while the 2nd through 5th Blue Squadrons were all part of JG51. The 3rd Squadron, in particular, received praise from JG51 on 30 July 1943 for their “tireless will to fight.” [p. 98]

Regarding their combat experience, the Blue Squadrons were called upon to fly four basic missions: fighter sweep, ground attack, escort and alert. As it would imply, the first type was most favored in that it allowed more freedom, while the second apparently was more familiar for the experienced pilots due to its frequency during the Spanish Civil War. Escort duties were perhaps the least favored, not only due to slower bombers but also the need for much more coordination. Alert missions were meant as local defense, several planes had to be ready to deal with intruding aircraft on very brief notice.

The 1st Blue Squadron served at the front from 1 October 1941 to 2 February 1942, it flew as the 15.(Span.)Staffel [15th (Spanish) Squadron] of Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG27) [Fighter Wing 27] from multiple bases as the front moved eastwards. They flew the Bf-109 E-7/B while claiming ten aerial and four ground kills, suffering five pilot and one groundcrew casualties. The 1st Blue Squadron supported Operation Typhoon, the drive on Moscow and survived the first brutal Russian winter along with Soviet ground attacks on their airfields.

The 2nd Blue Squadron served from 8 June to 30 November 1942, it flew as the 15.(Span.)Staffel [15th (Spanish) Squadron] of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG51) [Fighter Wing 51] from Orel-West. They flew the Bf-109 F-2 while claiming 13 aerial kills, suffering two pilot and one groundcrew casualties. The 2nd Squadron tried to improve on what their predecessors in 1st Squadron learned, they were present for the Stalingrad campaign but did not take part. They also witnessed the departure of friendly air units to Tunisia and elsewhere as German fortunes worsened.

The 3rd Blue Squadron served from 1 December 1942 to 30 June 1943, it flew as the 15.(Span.)Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG51) from the Orel and Smolensk area. They flew the Bf-109 F-2 & F-4 along with the Fw190 A-2 & A-3 models while claiming 62 aerial kills, suffering five pilot and one groundcrew casualties. While 3rd Squadron faced the usual trials of weather, adjustment to the unforgiving Ostfront and an improving aerial enemy, they also lost their commander, Captain Asensi, early in their tour. [59-60] He did not return from Soviet captivity until 1954, his loss was an understandable blow to morale but they had to soldier on, completing their tour with the second highest aerial claims among the Spanish squadrons.

The 4th Blue Squadron served from 4 July 1943 to 23 February 1944, it flew as the 15.(Span.)Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG51) from multiple bases like Bryansk, Vitebsk and Orsha. They flew the Fw190 A-2 & A-3 and Bf-109 G-6 models while claiming 74 aerial kills, suffering seven pilot and no groundcrew casualties. The 4th Squadron arrived just in time for the Kursk campaign and would suffer the most casualties against the Soviets, while also having the most success against the enemy.

The 5th Blue Squadron served from 10 Jan to 26 March 1944, it flew as the 15.(Span.)Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG51) from Bobruisk. They flew the Bf-109 G-6 and claimed no aerial kills, suffering one pilot and no groundcrew casualties. This was the least experienced of the Blue Squadrons at a time of Soviet aerial supremacy, did little to help the Germans, then suddenly their tour ended as they were recalled as fortunes turned inexorably against Berlin. Fortunately for them they were not present during the summer when Operation Bagration shattered Army Group Center.

In conclusion, the Spanish-manned Blue Squadrons played a small but important role on the Eastern Front as German-allied fighter squadrons from 1941-1944. They served in a number of major campaigns, gained vital experience doing so and earned a range of awards from both Germany and Spain in recognition of their efforts, such as the German Cross in Gold and a number of Iron Crosses. Collectively the Blue Squadrons served almost 30 months, 13 pilots reached ace status (five or more kills) and claimed 164 enemy planes for less than 30 total casualties. This book is a useful addition to any library, especially for those interested in the overlooked Spanish experience on the Eastern Front in World War II.

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