Spain
Lieutenant General Andrés Garcia La Calle
Spain
Lieutenant General Andrés Garcia La Calle
4 February 1909 - 1980
Andrés Garcia La Calle was born in Sestao (Biscaya) on 4 February 1909.
He started his career in 1929 as an NCO after having got his license in a private aero club, flying the Avro 504.
When the Spanish Civil War began, La Calle was a Sergeant pilot in the Fighter Group 11, which was then defending Getafe.
On 21 July 1936, he claimed a damaged enemy aircraft.
On 31 July, both the Nationalist and Republican sides operated over Somosierra and two Nieuport Ni.52s fought with each other inconclusively at 08:30. La Calle reported:
"On a surveillance flight over the south side of Somosierra, i.e. quite inside our territory, I caught a Nieuport by surprise, flying much lower than me...he didn't even see me. I calmly aimed, pulled the trigger and...no result...I aimed again, made a "mortal" pass but the machineguns kept on jammed. The other Nieuport, unperturbed despite his critical situation, kept on turning and climbing, always a perfect target...my opponent did not realise he should be "dead" by now and kept on climbing towards me...it came to my mind that I was unarmed but he was not...so, before giving him a chance to shoot at me... I turned away in a violent dive."La Calle's opponent must have been capitán Ángel Salas Larrazábal, who wrote in his logbook:
"I fought another Nieuport, which fled as I reached his height."
Over Talavera on 31August, Lacalle, on the controls of a Hawker Spanish Fury, and in company of two Nieuport Ni.52s, claimed two Fiat CR.32s flown by the Italian pilots Mónico and Castellani.
His record in the Talavera battles was outstanding, and he was promoted to Second Lieutenant on 3 September 1936.
In October, he was transferred to the 1a Escuadrilla de “Chatos” commanded by the Russian volunteer, Pavel Rychagov.
With this unit, he took part in the defence of Madrid from 4 November 1936.
In the beginning of February 1937, he was put in command of the first Spanish Chato Squadron.
Initially it consisted of the following pilots: La Calle, Castañeda, Ben Leider, José Calderón, Jim Allison, Frank Tinker, Harold Dahl, Pepito ’Chang’ Sellés, Bercial, Ortiz, Gil and Riverola.
On 7 February, the squadron moved to the old Hispano Suiza aerodrome in Guadalajara. They began operations at El Jarama, where their activities were outstanding, but their losses heavy.
During February, La Calle was promoted to Captain.
On 10 February, he claimed a CR.32 over Araganda in the Getafe area.
In the early morning on 18 February, two Nationalist Ro.37s (flown by Spanish pilots) took off, followed by three Ju 52/3ms escorted by the Spanish Patrulla Azul and the Italian Fiat Group, which now had 24 aircraft. When they arrived over the front at el Jarama, the CR.32s turned so that they were patrolling parallel to the front, while the I-15s waited on the other side. The Ro.37s and Ju 52/3ms crossed into enemy territory and were attacked immediately. Joaquín García-Morato at once broke formation and, followed by Julio Salvador Díaz-Benjumea and Bermúdez de Castro, launched himself into the battle. The Italians hesitated until Capitano Nobili, who was leading a Squadriglia, also broke from formation and went to help his companions. Finally, the entire group took part in the battle, and was so successful that they destroyed eight Republican fighters for the loss of only one of their number (three according to some sources). One I-16 and two shared I-15s were claimed by Tenente Enrico Degli Incerti while Sergente Maggiore Silvio Costigliolo claimed an I-15 in the Arganda area. The Spaniards Morato and Salvador also claimed a victory each.
This battle was fought against the ”Chatos” of the Escuadrilla de La Calle. The Republican pilots reported being engaged by 85 Heinkel He 51s over the front. Immediately the Escuadrilla went into a tight horizontal circle (”Lufbery circle”). The first enemy aircraft fired randomly at the I-15s as they dived past the Escuadrilla’s defensive pattern. Unwillingly to challenge the Republican fighters, the remainder of the Nationalist pilots followed suit, executing a single strafing pass, and then flying lazily below the I-15s in hopes of enticing a few green Republican pilots away of the defensive protection. Ben Leider took the bait and started down after one of the easy-looking targets, only to attract three enemy fighters on his tail. As Frank Tinker peered over his shoulder during the swirling melee of aircraft, he saw Leider’s I-15 to shudder as the CR.32s flashed past. Tinker’s heart sank as he noticed Leider veer toward friendly territory in a shallow dive. Twice, Leider tried to land his fighter in a small field before slamming into the side of a hill, killing him.
The Escuadrilla leader La Calle’s version of Leider’s end differed markedly from Tinker’s perspective. As Leider dived, breaking away from the ”Lufbery circle” to attack a “Heinkel” below, an enemy fighter locked on his tail. La Calle pulled behind Leider’s pursuer and frightened him away with his machineguns. Repeatedly La Calle then tried to herd Leider’s intended victim back away from Nationalist lines so that the American could down the enemy fighter. La Calle wanted Leider to destroy the enemy fighter as a morale boost for the Escuadrilla and to appease Leider’s Communist backers. When the Nationalist pilot made a third attempt to cross his lines, La Calle shot him down. Irritated by the turn of events and Leider’s seeming inability to shoot down his adversary, the Spanish Commander signalled Leider to head for home. During the flight back to base, Leider flew just behind the Escuadrille leader’s wing. Halfway home, La Calle glanced around only to discover that Leider was gone. Having landed he learned that no one knew of the American’s whereabouts: his comrades saw him rejoin their homebound group and never again. There was no other news until Leider’s ”Chato” was located.
Evidence from the crash site gave Leider’s fellow pilots a clue as to his final seconds on earth. During the dogfight, three rounds penetrated his cockpit, one passing through his leg. Instinctively he loosened his seat belt and harness. As Leider prepared to bale out, he had second thoughts about giving up his I-15, so he decided to attempt to set down his aircraft. His loss of blood caused him to faint at the controls.
Jim Allison and Harold Dahl followed Leider down after the Nationalist fighters. Allison shot down his intended victim before three enemy fighters reached him. Allison’s I-15 gave a jerk, then it executed a perfect Immelmann and headed back to base but he was forced to make an emergency landing. Allison had received a serious leg wound during the combat. Dahl prepared to trip his guns on a careless adversary when he noticed the same three enemy fighters flash past. Almost simultaneously, he became aware that his machine was not answering the controls. A glance back revealed that the entire tail of his fighter had been shot away.
The remaining I-15s of the Escuadrilla de La Calle maintained the ”Lufbery circle” when another Escuadrilla of I-15s appeared piloted by Russian volunteers. Fighting their way through the curtain of enemy fighters, the Soviets joined La Calle’s men in the wheel formation until the two Escuadrillas were rescued by a third Escuadrilla of I-16s. Totally, the Republican pilots claimed seven enemy fighters for the loss of five aircraft. Both Allison and Dahl rejoined their unit the next day.
On 13 March, he claimed a damaged S.81.
On 20 March 1937, La Calle’s squadron took part in the last aerial combat during the battle of Guadaljara. They took off in four patrols, led by La Calle, Harold Dahl, Frank Tinker and the Guatemalan pilot Miguel Garcia Granados, and were soon involved with three bombers and twenty Fiats. Granados patrol was jumped by the Fiats, which had been patrolling in a higher altitude, and in the first hail of bullets Granados was shot down by Brunetto di Montegnacco of the 26a Squadriglia. Tinker gained his second victory, and from the two squadrons of fighters taking part five Fiats were destroyed.
Granados survived the crash but was wounded and captured.
Granados (1896-1968) was a former Colonel in the Guatemalan Air Force who had done a famous goodwill flight in 1929 from Washington DC to Guatemala. He had also served with the Paraguayan Air Force in the Gran Chaco War.
When the battle for Jarama ended, La Calle was sent to Russia as an instructor, accompanying the second batch of pilots sent there for training. In his absence, Jiménez Bruguet took command of the squadron, which fought at Teruel in April and then went to Biscay.
On 30 November 1937, he was promoted on merit to the rank of Major
La Calle returned to Spain during the battle of Teruel in February 1938, but for one year, he was attached as aide to the Under-Secretary for Air. On his return to Spain, he had also been promoted to Lieutenant General.
At the time of the battle of Catalonia, he was named as Chief of Staff of the Fighter Squadron, of which he assumed command when Giménez went to El Carmoli.
During the war, La Calle claimed 11 biplane victories.
He was considered a good leader by Frank Tinker but this opinion was not shared by Tarazona.
On 6 February 1939, he evaded from the Vilajuiga airfield to France (Toulouse-Francazal) in his last I-16 fighter. He stayed in a refugee camp in the area of Argeles-sur-mer in Perpignan, France, until he escaped to Mexico.
He passed away in Saint Domingo (Cuba) in 1980.
Claims:
| Kill no. | Date | Time | Number | Type | Result | Plane type | Serial no. | Locality | Unit |
| 1936 | |||||||||
| 21/07/36 | 1 | Enemy aircraft | Damaged | ||||||
| ? | 31/08/36 | 1 | CR.32 (a) | Destroyed | Fury | Talavera area | |||
| ? | 31/08/36 | 1 | CR.32 (a) | Destroyed | Fury | Talavera area | |||
| 1937 | |||||||||
| ? | 10/02/37 | 1 | CR.32 | Destroyed | I-15 | Araganda | Escuadrilla de La Calle | ||
| ? | 18/02/37 | morning | 1 | CR.32 (b) | Destroyed | I-15 | Jarama area | Escuadrilla de La Calle | |
| 13/03/37 | 1 | S.81 | Damaged | I-15 | Escuadrilla de La Calle |
Biplane victories: 11 destroyed, 2 damaged.
TOTAL: 11 destroyed, 2 damaged.
(a) Aircraft flown by the Italian volunteers Mónico and Castellani.
(b) During the combat the Nationalist pilots claimed eight enemy aircraft for the loss of one CR32 while the Republican pilots claimed seven enemy aircraft for the loss of five aircraft.
Sources:
Airmen without a portfolio: U.S. mercenaries in civil war Spain - John Carver Edwards, 2003 Global Book Publisher, ISBN 1-59457-175-9
Air War over Spain - Jesus Salas Larrazabal, 1974 Ian Allan Ltd, Shepperton, Surrey, ISBN 0-7110-0521-4
Fighter Pilots Of The Spanish Republic (Vol. 1) - Rafael A. Permuy López, Historica 36/39 no. 1, ISBN 84-87314-89-9
Legionaire Ace – Julius R. Gaal, 1972, Aero Album Volume 5 Number 1 Spring 1972
Några leva än - F. G. Tinker, 1939 T. V. Scheutz Bokförlag AB, Stockholm
Wings Over Spain - Emiliani Ghergo, 1997 Giorgio Apostolo Editore, Milano
Additional information kindly provided by Simon Buckley, Eugenio Costigliolo, Stefano Lazzaro and Ondrej Repka.
