viernes, 11 de enero de 2013

THE BIRTH OF SPANISH MILITARY AIR FORCE: LOS ALCAZARES AIR BASE

Since 1910, when the French man Henri Fabre flew for the first time a seaplane, it was outstanding including this type of machine within the newborn weapon of air force. 

Having in Spain more than 3000 kms of coast and the need of collaborate in military operations in the North of Africa meant that the seaplane would be of great importance. 

By the end of 1914 the Ministry of War ask the colonel of engineers, Pedro Vives y Vich (Director of Military Aeronautics), to look for the most adequate settlement for a seaplane air base. After covering all along the Spanish Mediterranean Coast (from Cadiz to Gerona), Vives finds Los Alcázares the place for the first seaplane air base in Spain. It is settled by the Mar Menor sea, little obstacles, quiet and not very deep sea and plenty of sunny days in a year. 

The new air base was started to be built in May 1915: hangars, workshops, piers, etc. In September 1915 and coming from U.S.A arrived the first machines: six seaplanes Curtiss JN-2. In November the pilot Albert Engel did the first try out flight. 

The 12th of December 1915, the cavalry lieutenant Roberto White Santiago did the first flight in a Spanish seaplane in Los Alcázares. Since then, Los Alcázares became one of the most important seaplane air base in the history of Spanish Military air force during the first half of 20th century. 

This first stage (1916-1920) had two main functions: settlement for the School of seaplanes and Centre of Basic Training for Pilots (1920-1921).

1 comentario:

  1. De lo más interesante y de lo más internacional, para la próxima visita a la base espero que me sirva toda la información que estoy adquiriendo leyendo cada día este blog, gracias por tu esfuerzo.

    Un saludo!

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