Ricardo Martinez Aviaciones Militar de Republica

A cover I picked up a few weeks ago was a cover from a member of the Spanish Republican Air Force. I have tried to locate more information on him but I have been unable to do so-I would assume that he wasn't an officer since I think it would have been indicated on the sender's information. The cover was sent by Ricardo Martinez on August 25th, 1936 from Madrid (Getafe) to a Maria Luz Martinez Vela in San Juan Puerto Rico. Franked with a 30c Jovellanos and a purple censurada stamp. Ricardo sent this from the Republican Air Force base at Getafe just outside of Madrid. Translated, Escradillo de Caza means Hunting Squad. Though I was unable to locate any information on Ricardo, the 2nd Escadrillo de Caza saw much action in the defense of the Madrid sector

This is a really good website http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/scw-1936.htm that has a run down of the Escradillo's actions in the Madrid sector (below).

The squadron was equipped with the French Nieuport 52 C1s.


25 July 1936-

Cabo Roberto Alonso Santamaría of Grupo de Caza No 11 forced a Breguet XIX to land at Grajera airstrip. At the time he was flying a Ni-H.52.

Urtubi Ercilla was promoted to the rank of alferez and posted to Grupo de Caza No 11.

6 August 1936-

Cabo Rafael Peña Dugo of the Grupo de Caza No 11 (Ni-H.52) attacked friendly Ni-H.52s that had taken off from Barajas. Sargento Andrés García La Calle suffered a buttock wound, but escuadrilla CO, capitán José Méndez Iriarte, crashed in enemy-held territory and was killed.

2 September, 1936-

Teniente Ramón Puparelli Francia of Grupo de Caza No 11 targeted the village of San Rafael, in Segovia, flying in a Breguet XIX.

Later teniente Puparelli accompanying capitán Manuel Cascón, in a D.372 and claimed a He 51 over the Madrid front. This earned Puparelli promotion to capitán, and he was also made CO of all Republican fighter units on the Madrid front.

13 September 1936-

A patrol of Aeronáutica Naval Vickers Vildebeests arrived at Getafe from Los Alcázares to reinforce the surviving Breguet XIXs of Grupo No 31. Heading for the Talavera de la Reína front, and escorted by two Ni-H.52s flown by teniente Félix Urtubi Ercilla (a former Nationalist pilot) of the Grupo de Caza No 11 and auxiliary naval pilot Carlos Colom Moliner, the Vildebeests were intercepted at dawn by three CR.32s led by capitán Joaquín García Morato and including Sergente GianLino Baschirotto and Sergente Vincenzo Patriarca.

The bombers managed to escape but Baschirotto quickly shot down one of the Ni-H.52s. The

27 September 1936-

During alférez Rafael Peña Dugo’s (Grupo de Caza No 11) second sortie six Republican fighters escorting a Potez 540 were attacked by five CR.32s led by capitán Ángel Salas Larrazábal, who chased the bomber. Sergente Manlio Vivarelli shot down the D.372 flown by alférez Peña, who bailed out with a leg wound. It is possible that British pilots Vincent Doherty and Eric Griffiths were also wounded during the same combat, although both managed to fly their D.372s back to Getafe airfield.
Peña was initially treated at the hospital in Toledo, before being evacuated to Madrid just prior to the provincial capital falling into enemy hands. His wound eventually became gangrenous and his leg had to be amputated.

There is a really good book on the Republican Aces-Osprey Aircraft of the Aces series by Rafael A. Permuy Lopez, whom also wrote a book about all the Republican Pilots. I wish I could see a copy to see if Ricardo was there-and what is the connection with Puerto Rico? The plane images are from his book on Republican Aces.