Julio Salvador Díaz-Benjumea had flown for 550 hours when the Spanish Civil War began.
He was an artillery Lieutenant in 1930 and became a pupil pilot at Albacete.

He showed exceptional ability from early days and was first posted to the Seville Nieuport 52 Squadron and later to the group at Granada.

In July 1936, he was sent to Gancedo’s squadron, at Tablada, and moved with them to Algeciras and Malaga on the morning on 18 July.

He then began flying in Nieuport 52s, and quickly moved to Burgos with Senra.

A small fighter squadron was formed in Burgos and for a brief period it was under the command of Captain Chamorro, although he soon went on to pilot Dragon Rapides and an Airspeed Envoy, in which he was killed whilst escorting General Mola. Pilots who flew with this squadron included Salvador, Guerrero, Martín Campos and Senra, Lieutenants García Pardo and Ramiro Pasual, and occasionally Captain Ángel Salas.

On 28 July, after the arrival at Burgos of two Nationalist fighters from Tablada airfield, Seville, there was the first combat between Ni.52s from both sides of the conflict, over the Sierra de Guadarrama. Aircraft 3-43, flown by teniente Julio Salvador Díaz-Benjumea, hit another aircraft with machinegun fire and the government aircraft fled, conspicuously hit, towards the Santillana dam.
Teniente Salvador's aircraft, suffering from a faulty engine, had to land at the airfield of Los Negredos.
It is possible that Salavdor's victim was teniente Francisco Márques Yanguas Benavides, who according to an official order of the republican Subsecretaría de la Aviación was killed on this day. Márques Yanguas was a fighter pilot of the former Grupo n^o 12 at Granada and he had flown to Getafe with capitán Méndez Iriarte's Escuadrilla. On 5 May 1938, Márques Yanguas was posthumously promoted to mayor de Caballeria.

When Heinkel He51s arrived in Seville he, like Joaquín García-Morato, joined Rambaud Squadron.

On 17 August, he claimed his first victory when he claimed a Potez 54 over Santa Cruz de Mudela.

Next day, on 18 August, he claimed one Ni.52 and two Breuget XIXs over Merida.

On 27 August, Captain Ángel Salas took off from Aragon in a Nieuport aircraft, eventually arriving at Olmedo. He had written to Joaquín García-Morato, from Saragossa hospital, asking if he could occupy the vacant place in the He51 squadron. Morato had replied to the effect that the situation, so far as the He5ls were concerned, was not very hopeful, but that he had heard some Fiat fighters were due to arrive in Seville, and suggested that it might be better for him to try to get one of these machines allocated to him.
In fact, Salas went to Cáceres, where for some days he acted as a machine-gunner in Ricardo Guerrero's squadron of Ju52s, and from there he went to Seville in company with Salvador.

In the beginning of September, Ángel Salas and Salvador arrived at Tablada, offering to serve with the Italians in the Dequal (‘Limonesi’) Squadron (Joaquín García-Morato was at this time already serving in this Fiat CR.32 squadron).
Initially they were unwilling to accept them in the squadron, but after Captain Salas had given them a demonstration of his flying ability, including some manoeuvres, which even the Italians, had not attempted in the Fiats, they were finally convinced.

On 20 September, Ángel Salas and Salvador joined the forces in Cáceres, where they continued to operate with the Fiat squadron.

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 Joaquín García-Morato, Ángel Salas and Salvador, being alternated with Fiats.

On 5 November came the first big aerial battle of the war. Nine Fiats from Torrijones, led by Maccagno (their pilots included Joaquín García-Morato, Ángel Salas and 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”. Joaquín García-Morato claimed one, Ángel Salas damaged three and 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.”

In December, he followed Morato to the south, and they formed the nucleus of the first Spanish Fiat patrol in the end of the month. Another pilot in the patrol was Bermúdez de Castro, and they were joined shortly afterwards by García Pardo.

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 Salvador 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.

After the combat on 18 February 1937, he was proposed for the Military Medal.

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

Between 11 and 16 July, he claimed two R-5s, one I-16, a A-101 and an additional enemy aircraft.

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 Salvador (two each) and by Joaquín García-Morato, Allende and Careaga.

The Group moved to Leon aerodrome on 10 September to support the offensive, which General Aranda had begun on the 9th.

In March 1938, the Group took part in Aragón offensive and on the 12th of the month, 2-G-3 encountered enemy aircraft attempting to stop the sweeping advance. During the afternoon eighteen Fiats, led by Ángel Salas, escorted Ju52s on a raid, and having completed this task made a sweep of the front as far as Híjar, where they encountered twenty Chatos. In the ensuing dogfights, Salas claimed one probable, while Garcia Pardo destroyed one Chato, which fell near Híjar. The wreckage of this machine was recovered subsequently, and a piece of it was retained, on which ensuing victories of 2-G-3 were recorded, as well as the names of all those in the group who were killed. Guerrero set fire to another Chato, whose pilot took to his parachute from a very low height. Salvador attacked another machine, which began to trail smoke, but he was unable to continue his attack as his Fiat was almost out of fuel; unable to return to his base at Tauste, he had to land at Saragossa. Carlos Serra, Carlos Bayo and de Hemricourt each were successful in shooting down an enemy machine.

After a short pause, the attack to the north of the River Ebro was resumed on the 22 March. Eighteen Fiats from 2-G-3 supported the Navarre Army Corps as they entered the Huesca sector.
The next day 2-G-3 carried out five sorties in this sector, two by the entire group, one with two squadrons and two with patrols. At 13:15, Salas and Vázquez took off to locate a battery, which was firing at the pontoon bridge in Quinto. During the course of this patrol, they spotted twelve Chatos flying above them and immediately climbed to attack. Salas and Vázquez both made a number of passes at the enemy without registering any vital hits, and just before the Chatos withdrew Vazquez's machine-guns jammed. Salas returned to base and Vázquez continued a reconnaissance on own. He spotted a battery of three guns, which were being dismantled and loaded on to lorries. When he returned to the airfield the group had already taken off, under Pardo's leadership, which meant that only Salas, Julio Salvador and Vázquez were available to mount an attack against the enemy battery. Only minutes elapsed before all three were in the air, and so fast had been their action that the battery was still in the same position. Low-level attacks soon had five lorries in flames, one of which carried the battery's ammunition, and which exploded spectacularly.

On 31 May, 2-G-3 took off with a total of eight machines, in company with Captain Murcia’s squadron (3-G-3). Their task was to escort a number of Ju52s and Ro.37s over the Puebla de Valverde sector.
On arrival, they encountered 25 Chatos and ten Ratas. Combat began immediately but the Nationalist crews were successful in protecting the bombers, which, their task completed, made good their escape.
Eight I-15s and two I-16s were shot down without losses. The successful pilots were de Hemricourt (I-15), Salvador (3 I-15s and 1 I-16), Simon (I-15), Vázques (I-15), Murcia (2 I-15s) and Meurza (I-16).
During this combat Ángel Salas was attacking a Chato when three enemy fighters in turn attacked him. His Fiat was hit several times before he managed to break away from the attack, but his machine was vibrating so badly that he had to return to base.

During a second sortie on 19 June, ten Fiats of 2-G-3 took off at 18:00 led by Commander Ángel Salas, to escort Ju52s bombing Puebla de Valverde. They encountered a formation of 18 Chatos, which they chased as far as Alcublas, where nine Ratas joined the fray. Salas dived over the Chatos to attack, but was unable to fire his guns because a leak had emptied his compressed air bottle. Despite this, he continued to make dummy attack during a battle, which ranged as far as Alcublas, being hit five times by the Ratas, one bullet puncturing the coolant radiator. Salvador enjoyed better luck, destroying two Chatos, one of which exploded in the air, the other following in flames. He then had to retire with an overheating engine. García Pardo effectively removed a Rata from the tail of Aristides’ Fiat by shooting it down. De Hemricourt downed a Chato near Alcublas, then a Rata to the north of Villar del Arzobispo, and saw a Chato turn somersault as it attempted to land at its aerodrome. Esteban Ibarreche fired at a Chato close to the ground, and this separated from the rest of the formation and fell near to Higueruela. Ansaldo had to return to base when an engine cowling parted company from his Fiat.

On the 25 August, 2-G-3 shot down two Chatos (Ángel Salas and Salvador) and lost Etayo, who died of injuries after trying to land his burning Fiat.

On 3 October 1938, neither Salvador nor Joaquín García-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.

During the war, Salvador claimed 24 biplane victories and 1 balloon.
During the Spanish Civil War, he accumulated 1,066 flying hours in 567 operational sorties. With the Fiat CR.32 alone, he flew 515 sorties totalling 893 hours. Among his claims were 13 I-15s.

When the war ended, he was sent to the 22nd Fighter Regiment (Tablada) and was later named as leader of the Fighter School, which had been moved from Villanubla to Reus and then to Morón, where it remained until it was disbanded in 1953.

He relieved Salas in Command of the expeditionary squadron in Russia, where he remained from March to November 1942.

In the afternoon on 22 August, the Bf109F-2s of 15. (Span)/JG 51 were involved in combat with Soviet LaGG-3s.
At 17:25, they made two claims when Salvador claimed one and Manuel Bengoechea Menchaco (4th and last claim) a second.

On 29 October, Salvador claimed a LaGG-3.
15. (Span)/JG 51 made one additional clam this day when Carlos Serra Pablo-Romero (his only claim) claimed another LaGG-3 at 12:25, at 600 meters south-east of Kislino.

He returned to Morón, remaining there until he was named as Air Attaché in Washington.

Salvador ended the war with 24 biplane victories and a total of 26.

Later, he was Director of the Academia General del Aire, Chief of Staff for the Straits Air Region, leader of the Defensive Air Forces and second in command of the Alto Esládo Mayor.

In November 1969, he was named Air Minister and in 1970 was promoted to Lieutenant-General.

Salvador passed away on 22 June 1987.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1936
	28/07/36		1	Ni.52 (a)	Damaged	Ni.52	3-43	Sierra de Madrid
1	17/08/36		1	Potez 54	Destroyed	He51		Santa Cruz de Mudela	Rambaud Squadron
2	18/08/36		1	Ni.52	Destroyed	He51		Merida	Rambaud Squadron
3	18/08/36		1	Breuget XIX	Destroyed	He51			Rambaud Squadron
4	18/08/36		1	Breuget XIX	Destroyed	He51		Merida	Rambaud Squadron
5	13/11/36		1	I-15 (b)	Destroyed	CR.32		Pasco de Rosales	Dequal Squadron
	1937
6	18/02/37	morning	1	I-15 (c)	Destroyed	CR.32		Jarama area	Patrulla Azul
7	??/07/37		1	R-5	Destroyed	CR.32			1-E-3
8	??/07/37		1	R-5	Destroyed	CR.32			1-E-3
9	??/07/37		1	I-16	Destroyed	CR.32			1-E-3
10	??/07/37		1	A-101	Destroyed	CR.32			1-E-3
11	??/07/37		1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	CR.32			1-E-3
12	??/??/37		1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	CR.32			1-E-3
13	02/09/37		1	I-15 (d)	Destroyed	CR.32		Belchite area	1-E-3
14	02/09/37		1	I-15 (d)	Destroyed	CR.32		Belchite area	1-E-3
15	??/12/37		1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	CR.32			1-E-3
	1938
16	31/05/38		1	I-15	Destroyed	CR.32		Sarrion airfield	1-E-3
17	31/05/38		1	I-15	Destroyed	CR.32		Sarrion airfield	1-E-3
18	31/05/38		1	I-15	Destroyed	CR.32		Sarrion airfield	1-E-3
19	31/05/38		1	I-16	Destroyed	CR.32		Puebla de Valverde area	1-E-3
20	19/06/38	18:00-	1	I-15	Destroyed	CR.32		Puebla de Valverde area	1-E-3
21	19/06/38	18:00-	1	I-15	Destroyed	CR.32		Puebla de Valverde area	1-E-3
22	25/08/38		1	I-15	Destroyed	CR.32		Zújar area	1-E-3
	??/??/3?		1	Barrage balloon	Destroyed	CR.32			1-E-3
23	03/10/38		1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	CR.32		Ebro area	1-E-3
24	03/10/38		1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	CR.32		Ebro area	1-E-3
	1942
25	22/08/42	17:25	1	LaGG-3	Destroyed	Bf109F-2		Russia	15. (Span)/JG 51
26	29/10/42		1	LaGG-3	Destroyed	Bf109F-2		Russia	15. (Span)/JG 51

Biplane victories: 24 destroyed, 1 damaged, 1 balloon destroyed.
TOTAL: 26 destroyed, 1 damaged, 1 balloon destroyed.
(a) Possibly teniente Francisco Márques Yanguas Benavides, who was KIA on this day.
(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.

Sources:
Air Aces Home Page - Jan Safarik
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 Eugenio Costigliolo, Stefano Lazzaro, Ondrej Repka and Jan Safarik.