4 May 1904 – 4 April 1939

Joaquín García-Morato y Castaño was born on 4 May 1904 in Melilla.

In 1923, he was called up and posted to the Infantry.

In April 1925, he enrolled in the civil flying school, and on 6 August received his F.A.I. pilot's licence. Subsequently he took a course on the Avro 504 biplane and obtained the corresponding military qualification, on completion of which he was sent to a reconnaissance and bombing unit equipped with the D.H.9A.
When the unit was sent to Morocco, he took part in actions against the insurgents. He volunteered for the Bristol fighter squadron at Nador (Melilla), where in 57 missions he logged over 100 hours' flying, for which he was commended. After that he was posted to the floatplane base at Mar Chica, and later transferred to a reconnaissance group at Getafe.

In 1929, he was appointed flying instructor at the pilot Conversion School. He qualified as an observer and in 1930 as a wireless telegraphist. He learned to fly multi-engined aircraft, fighters and floatplanes, and he was an outstanding aerobatic pilot.

In 1932, he added aircraft mechanic to his other qualifications.

He took part in many aerobatic competitions, winning several. Among other aircraft, he flew a Consolidated Fleet 2.

In 1934, he saw action in the Asturias campaign.

He taught blind flying at the Aereo-Club of Madrid.

In 1935, Morato organised the air section of the General Directorate of Safety.

When the Spanish Civil War began, he was in England on vacation, returning from there, across France, to Burgos, from where he flew to Córdoba.

When the war started, he had flown for 1,860 hours.

His part in the war started with the defence of Córdoba.

Over Córdoba on 3 August, at the controls of a Nieuport Ni.52, he threw an enemy formation into total confusion and forced it to withdraw.

On 12 August, Morato claimed first victory when he shot down a Vickers Vildebeest bomber over Antequera.

He flew Nieuport 52s until receipt of the first Heinkel He51s.

On 18 August, he shot down a Potez 540 and a Nieuport.

He shot down another Nieuport on 2 September.

When the Spanish He51 Squadron was disbanded, he took part in a few bombing raids on Ju52s with Haya and Morau until transferred to Capitano Dequal’s Fiat Squadron.
He was the first Spanish pilot to try the Fiat CR.32.

On 11 September, he scored his fifth victory, and his first with the CR.32, when he claimed a Ni.52.

On 16 September, GianLino Baschirotto claimed a shared damaged Potez 540 together with Captain Morato near Navalcarnero. The damaged Republican bomber managed to make an emergency landing behind it’s own lines. Morato claimed an additional Potez 54.

On 20 September, he claimed a Hawker Fury over Santa Olalla, but in fact, no Fury was destroyed in combat.

He claimed a Breuget XIX in the Bargas area on 25 September.

At the end of September, nine Heinkel He51 fighters arrived, under the leadership of Hennig Strümpell. This was a second batch He51s and the Germans then handed over to the Nationalists the three He5ls from the first batch that were still operationally serviceable. These three aircraft were flown for some days by Morato, Ángel Salas and Julio Salvador, being alternated with Fiats.

On 16 October, he claimed a Loire 46 in the Mocejon-Madrid area.

On 5 November came the first big aerial battle of the war. Nine Fiats from Torrijones, led by Maccagno (their pilots included Morato, Ángel Salas and Julio Salvador) met about 15 Chatos and some Potez aircraft between Leganés and Madrid. Without waiting for the support of five additional Fiats from Talavera, Maccagno led them in to attack, relying on superior performance to compensate for lack of numbers. Morato shot down a Chato, and then damaged the engine of a Potez, forcing it to land. Salas shot down a Chato, which crashed in flames, and 5 km south-east of Barajas he scored hits on two more Chatos. He, in turn, came under attack, but put his aircraft into a steep dive and made good his escape at treetop level. Salvador chased a Chato as far as Barajas and attacked two Potez machines without success.
The Nationalist bulletin claimed seven fighters and one Potez destroyed and admitted the loss of one Fiat, that of Captain Maccagno (’Pocori’), leader of the squadron. The Government bulletin claimed that one Fiat, number 384 (flown by Picoli), and four other aircraft had been destroyed. Maccagno was later exchanged for one of the Russian pilots.

On 13 November, fourteen Fiat CR.32s escorted five ”Junkers” and three ”Romeos”. Over the Pasco de Rosales (Madrid) they clashed with sixteen I-15s led by Pavel Rychagov.
The Soviet pilots claimed six victories (three of them fell in Republican territory) while two I-15s were lost when Ivan K. Kovtun and Petr A. Purov were shot down by Fiats and killed. Kovtun’s death was witnessed by Georgiy Zakharov, who also took part in this combat. The Nationalist pilots claimed six victories over “Curtisses”. Morato claimed one, Ángel Salas damaged three and Julio Salvador claimed another. One Fiat was lost when Captain Mosca (’Massa’), who was badly injured, made a crash-landing at Talavera. Captain Mariotti force-landed outside the airfield at Getafe, but without damaging his aircraft.
On their return flight, the Nationalist pilots encountered five Katiuskas, bombing Getafe and Cuatro Vientos from a height of 5000m. Salas damaged one so severely that the crew had to take to their parachutes, and Morato damaged three others. On this day Morato recorded his fifteenth victory, both Salas and Salvador their fifth. Another pilot who claimed a Curtiss (I-15) over Madrid during the day was Corrado Ricci.
In the afternoon, nine (or twelve) He51s from the German Legion Condor took off from Avila to provide escort for five Ju52s and three He46s, which were to attack the Republican positions on the west bank of the Manzanares. It seems that at least six CR.32s also were present.
At 15:00, twelve I-16 type 5 “Moscas” and twelve I-15s intercepted them over Madrid. The I-16s were led by the Russian squadron leader Sergeiy Tarchov (’Antonio’) (he was the commander of the first and newly created escadrilla of I-16s) while the I-15s (Escadrilla Rychagova) were again led by Pavel Rychagov. All Republican pilots taking part in this combat were Russians.
The Republican fighters dove on the Henrici Kette. Unteroffizier Mratzek was able to claim an I-16 as it dove past. Oberleutnant Oskar Henrici claimed a Russian fighter in the same way as the He51s dove into the clouds. A bitter dogfight raged over Madrid at 1,500 meters. The Knüppe Kette dove into a cloud, reversed course in a steep turn and re-emerged below the Republican aircraft. Oberleutnant Herwig Knüppel and Unteroffizier Sawallisch claimed two I-15s; Sawallisch made his way home with some difficulty with shot-up tail surfaces. The Eberhardt Kette had remained above the bombers as top cover. Oberleutnant Kraft Eberhardt collided with an enemy fighter he had shot down and was killed; the Russian pilot was able to bail out. Oberleutnant Henrici took a bullet through the lung, but was able to land his aircraft in friendly territory. As he left his aircraft, however, he collapsed and died. The German Staffel became completely scattered, each pilot seeking cover in cloud and making his own way back to Avila. Leutnant Hennig “Piefke” Strümpell and Leutnant Dietrich von Bothmer reported the destruction of two further I-15s.
Henrici was probably shot down by Sergiey Chernych, (I-16). It seems that Eberhardt collided with Tarchov since it’s reported that he single-handed fought against a number of He51s before being forced to bail out after a collision. While hanging in his parachute, Republican soldiers mistook him for Nationalist pilot and opened fire, hitting him six times. Tarchov landed in Madrid but was attacked by the public because they thought he was a German. He died of his injuries at Gómes Ulla hospital on 23 November. This led General Miaja to the issue following order the next day:

“Any aviator who jumps from his aircraft using a parachute is out of the battle and, therefore, I order all forces defending Madrid not to shoot at parachutists under any circumstances. They may be our own men, but, if they prove to be enemies they can provide us with valuable information, which will be of great use for our operations.”

He then joined Commander Fagnani’s Fiat group.

During this period the Spanish Captains Morato and Ángel Salas did not consider that the Italian commander was sufficiently aggressive, and as they sought continually to have their own way the situation daily became tenser. The Italian leader had ordered that on a particular occasion they were not to penetrate into enemy territory. Salas, who was leading the patrol, defied the order. Fagnani attempted to have him arrested when he returned to base, but Morato intervened violently and protested that in Spain nobody was arrested for displaying courage. The outcome of ensuing discussions between Morato and Salas was a decision to try to form their own independent squadrons.

On 22 December, Morato flew to Seville. Ángel Salas and Garcia Pardo remained in the Italian squadrons for a while, but on 9 January, they also moved to the south.

At the end of December 1936, he formed and commanded an autonomous Spanish patrol in Córdoba, together with Julio Salvador Díaz-Benjumea and Bermúdez de Castro, and they were joined shortly afterwards by García Pardo.
The unit was named the Patrulla Azul (“Blue Patrol”).

On 3 January 1937, he climbed high on a standing patrol in an effort to catch one of the fast, high-flying Tupolev SB bombers, which outperformed the Fiat CR.32 in terms of speed. Two appeared, and diving on these, he shot both down.

In February, he returned to the Madrid front to support the Jarama offensive.

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. 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 Andrés García 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.

Morato’s name was put forward for the award of the San Fernando Laureate after the combat over Jarama area on 18 February 1937.

The Fiat group, with the designation 2-G-3 (“Patrulla Azul”), was formed in Cordoba on 4 May from the squadrons led by Morato and Ángel Salas (2-E-3). Morato assumed command of the group, and Julio Salvador took over leadership of his old squadron (1-E-3).

On 17 May 1937, he was decorated with the Cruz Laureada de San Fernando for his actions up until 18 February 1937. Until the latter date, he had made 150 sorties and participated in 46 combats, achieving 18 victories.

On 2 September, 2-G-3 surprised a formation of about 15 Chatos in the Belchite area, of which they destroyed seven. These victories were scored by Ángel Salas and Julio Salvador (two each) and by Morato, Allende and Careaga.

Morato continued to lead this group until September 1937, when he went to Italy. Captain Ángel Salas took over the command of Group 2-G-3.

On his return, he was named as chief of operations for the 1st Air Brigade, an appointment which he held until the end of June 1938.

In the end of June 1938, he assumed command of the second Fiat group (3-G-3).

During the period 10 to 18 July the two Spanish Fiat groups operated jointly under Morato’s command, as Ángel Salas took advantage of the arrival of his old friend and leader to make a short break from operations.

Around 17.00 on 12 July there was a big air combat west of Madrid. During this combat Bozidar Petrovich saved his leader Dimitrii Yermakov from the dangerous attack of a CR.32, probably piloted by the Nationalist ace Morato, but the I-15 of the Serbian pilot was seen to crash, maybe out of control or shot down by a CR.32 flown by the Nationalist pilot Garcia Pardo. Petrovich lost his life in the crash.
Both Dimitrii Yermakov and Petrovich are credited with one CR.32 each in this combat.

On 18 July the fighter Groups 2-G-3 (Ángel Salas) and 3-G-3 (Morato) moved to Mérida and remained there, in oppressive heat, until the 28 July when they returned to Escatrón. On 25 August, to contain the Government counter-offensive in the bend of the Zújar, fighter Groups 2-G-3 and 3-G-3 returned to Mérida, where they remained until 18 September.

On 14 August, Groups 2-G-3 and 3-G-3 attacked a formation of Ratas, which were pursuing some He111s over Gandesa. Other Chatos and Ratas later joined in the battle.
Group 2-G-3 claimed three Ratas (García Pardo, Carlos Bayo and de Hemricourt) and 3-G-3 claimed two more (Morato and O’Connor). 2-G-3s record of operations described the combat:

“García Pardo attacked some Ratas which were pursuing an He111, shooting down one of the which fell near to Mora de Ebro … Lieutenant Bayo attacked three Ratas and succeeded in destroying one which fell on the edge of the Blanerías mountains. Later he attacked a Chato, but was unable to ascertain whether it was destroyed as damage to his engine forced him to land at Horte…
Lieutenant de Hemricourt fired at one Rata without any result; and then attacked some Ratas engaged with other Fiats, hitting one which fell in a wood to the north of Reus.”

On 3 October 1938, neither Julio Salvador nor Morato returned to base after a mission over the Ebro after having been involved in combat with I-16s from 1. Escuadrilla de Moscas. After shooting down two enemy aircraft, Salvador was in turn shot down by Francisco Meroño Pellicer and he was taken prisoner. Morato had been shot up by Lieutenant Sirvent Cerrillo and forced to make an emergency landing.

In November, he was named the leader of the Fighter Squadron.

On 24 December, his unit shot claimed nine enemy R-Z bombers 20 km. north of Balaguer, three of which were credited to Morato.
Of the nine Natashas, three returned to their own side's airfields (two to La Garriga and one to Vic). Six were shot down, of which three were lost, while the remainder managed to land with varying damaged inside their own lines.
Overall, the Natasha squadron suffered three dead, eight wounded and two taken prisoner. Morato's unit suffered shot down (pilot PoW), while another Fiat had to land because of damage at Almenar.

On 19 January 1939, he claimed an I-15, his fortieth and last victory.

At the end of the war, he was Chief of Operations of the Nationalist fighter force.

Morato was killed in a flying accident on 4 April 1939 in front of newsreel cameras while performing low aerobatics in his personal Fiat CR.32 3-51. He had scored all his victories save his first four with this aircraft, but this time his faithful fighter for once let him down after an engine failure while flying inverted.

At the time of his death, Morato had claimed 40 biplane victories.
During the Spanish Civil War, he flew 1,012 hours, carried out 511 operational sorties and was involved in 56 combats. He flew 784 hours in Fiat CR.32s, 34 in Nieuports, 27 in He51s, 6 in Bf109s and 5 in He112s. During the course of the war, he flew more than 30 different types of aircraft.

In 1950, he was posthumously given the noble title of Count of the Jarama.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1936
1	12/08/36		1	Vildebeest	Destroyed	Ni.52		Antequera
2	18/08/36		1	Ni.52	Destroyed	He51
3	18/08/36		1	Potez 540	Destroyed	He51
4	02/09/36		1	Ni.52	Destroyed	He51
5	11/09/36		1	Ni.52	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		Dequal Squadron
6	16/09/36		1	Potez 54	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		Dequal Squadron
	16/09/36		½	Potez 540	Shared damaged	CR.32	3-51	Navalcarnero area	Dequal Squadron
7	20/09/36		1	Fury (a)	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51	Santa Olalla	Dequal Squadron
8	25/09/36		1	Breuget XIX	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51	Bargas area	Dequal Squadron
9	16/10/36		1	Loire 46	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51	Mocejon-Madrid area	Dequal Squadron
10	18/10/36		1	Breuget XIX	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		Dequal Squadron
11	18/10/36		1	Breuget XIX	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		Dequal Squadron
12	05/11/36		1	Potez 540	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51	Leganés-Madrid	Dequal Squadron
13	05/11/36		1	I-15	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51	Leganés-Madrid	Dequal Squadron
14	09/11/36		1	I-15	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		Dequal Squadron
15	13/11/36		1	I-15 (b)	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51	Pasco de Rosales	Dequal Squadron
	13/11/36		1	SB	Damaged	CR.32	3-51	Getafe-Cuatro Vientos	Dequal Squadron
	13/11/36		1	SB	Damaged	CR.32	3-51	Getafe-Cuatro Vientos	Dequal Squadron
	13/11/36		1	SB	Damaged	CR.32	3-51	Getafe-Cuatro Vientos	Dequal Squadron
	1937
16	03/01/37		1	SB	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		Patrulla Azul
17	03/01/37		1	SB	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		Patrulla Azul
18	18/02/37	morning	1	I-15 (c)	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51	Jarama area	Patrulla Azul
19	04/06/37		1	I-16	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		2-G-3
20	12/06/37		1	R-5	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		2-G-3
21	14/06/37		1	I-15	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		2-G-3
22	14/07/37		1	R-Z	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		2-G-3
23	14/07/37		1	R-Z	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		2-G-3
24	15/07/37		1	I-16	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		2-G-3
25	15/07/37		1	I-16	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		2-G-3
26	18/07/37		1	R-Z	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		2-G-3
27	02/09/37		1	I-15 (d)	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51	Belchite area	2-G-3
28	04/12/37		1	I-15	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51
	1938
29	12/03/38		1	I-15	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51
30	12/03/38		1	I-15	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51
31	25/06/38		1	R-Z	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		3-G-3
32	25/06/38		1	R-Z	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		3-G-3
33	01/08/38		1	I-15	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		3-G-3
34	14/08/38		1	I-16 (e)	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51	Gandesa area	3-G-3
35	??/09-10/38		1	I-16 (f)	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		3-G-3
36	22/09/38		1	I-15	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51		3-G-3
37	24/12/38		1	R-Z	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51	20km N Balaguer
38	24/12/38		1	R-Z	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51	20km N Balaguer
39	24/12/38		1	R-Z	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51	20km N Balaguer
	1939
40	19/01/39		1	I-15	Destroyed	CR.32	3-51

Biplane victories: 40 destroyed, 3 and 1 shared damaged.
TOTAL: 40 destroyed, 3 and 1 shared damaged.
(a) No Fury was destroyed in combat.
(b) The Republican pilots claimed six victories for the loss of two I-15s (Ivan K. Kovtun and Petr A. Purov killed). The Nationalist pilots claimed six victories and three damaged for the loss of one CR.32 and a second force-landed.
(c) 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.
(d) Not confirmed with Government records.
(e) Claimed in combat with I-16 from 1st, 3rd and 4th Squadrons who lost at least one I-16 and got three more damaged while claiming 3 CR.32s and 1 He111. 2-G-3 claimed three I-16s and 3-G-3 claimed two more while losing one CR.32 and getting 3 more damaged.
(f) Claimed between 20 September and 3 October.

Sources:
Air Aces - Christopher Shores, 1983 Presidio Press, Greenwich, ISBN 0-89141-166-6
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
Joaquin Garcia-Morato - Best Ace of Spanish Civil War (WWII Ace Stories) - Mihail Zhirohov, 2003
Några leva än - F. G. Tinker, 1939 T. V. Scheutz Bokförlag AB, Stockholm
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 Eugenio Costigliolo, Stefano Lazzaro and Ondrej Repka.