The Impact of the German Air Force on the Spanish Civil War

The most well-known German contribution was the Condor Legion. Four bomber squadrons of Hünker JU-52s and four fighter squadrons equipped first with Hinkle 51 biplanes, and then later with Messersmith Bf-109s. The Legion was a valuable asset for the nationalists as it provided both support for ground troops and air superiority to be maintained at some points in the war. This is because this was one of the first times that modern aircraft would face off in real combat. A full discussion of the impact of these events on the various militaries around Europe will have to wait until the last episode of this series.