Joaquín García Morato facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joaquín García-Morato
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| Birth name | Joaquín García-Morato y Castaño |
| Born | 4 May 1904 Melilla, Spain |
| Died | 4 April 1939 (aged 34) Griñón, Spain |
| Buried |
Málaga, Spain
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| Service/ |
Air Force |
| Years of service | 1920–1939 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands held | Blue Patrol |
| Battles/wars | Rif War Spanish Civil War |
| Awards | Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand |
Joaquín García-Morato (born May 4, 1904 – died April 4, 1939) was a very skilled pilot from Spain. He became the top fighter pilot, known as an "ace," for the Nationalist side during the Spanish Civil War.
He is famous for shooting down 40 enemy planes. Four of these victories were while flying a German Heinkel He 51 plane. The other 36 victories were with an Italian Fiat CR.32 plane.
Before the war, Joaquín García-Morato was already an excellent pilot. He served in Morocco, helping to fight against rebels during the Rif War. He was also great at flying stunts (aerobatics) and taught others how to fly using instruments.
Contents
Joaquín García-Morato and the Spanish Civil War
When the Spanish Civil War began, Joaquín García-Morato was on holiday in England. He quickly returned home to join the Nationalist forces.
First Victories
He achieved his first victory on August 12, 1936. He was flying a Nieuport-Delage 52 plane when he shot down a Vickers Vildebeest over Antequera.
Soon after, he started flying one of the first Heinkel He 51 planes that arrived from Germany. On August 18, he shot down two more planes: a Republican NiD 52 and a Potez 540. He got another NiD 52 on September 2.
Flying the Fiat CR.32
Later, he began flying the Italian Fiat CR.32. On September 11, he shot down another NiD 52. This was his fifth victory!
He then created a group of three CR.32 planes called the Patrulla Azul, which means "Blue Patrol." In the autumn of 1936, he added six more French-made planes and one British Hawker Fury to his list of victories.
On November 5, he got his 12th victory by shooting down a Potez 540. After that, he shot down his first Soviet-built Polikarpov I-15 fighter.
Battle of Jarama
On January 13, 1937, Joaquín García-Morato shot down two Tupolev SB-2 bombers. These bombers were faster than his Fiat, but he attacked them from above. These were his 16th and 17th victories.
On February 18, during the battle for Jarama, he was protecting three Junkers Ju 52 bombers with his "Blue Patrol" teammates. Suddenly, 36 I-15 biplanes attacked them. The "Blue Patrol" quickly attacked the enemy fighters, breaking their formation.
Morato hit one I-15, which spiraled down with smoke. He then avoided another enemy fighter and hit a second I-15. The pilot of that plane collapsed in the cockpit. Soon, 21 Italian CR.32s arrived to help Morato, and the Republican fighters flew away. For his bravery in this battle, Morato received Spain's highest military award, the Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand.
Brunete and Cap de la Serra Battles
In July 1937, there were huge air battles near Brunete. On July 14, Morato's squadron had a very successful day. With his fellow pilots, he found a group of Polikarpov R-Z Natasha biplanes that were protected by Polikarpov I-16 Rata fighters.
The Nationalist pilots flew through the enemy fighters, scattering them. Then, they attacked the R-Zs, shooting down five of them. Two of these victories were credited to Morato.
On December 24, 1938, Morato had another very successful day. He was protecting Ju 52 and SM.79 bombers when they saw eleven R-Z "Natashas" with Rata escorts. The Nationalist pilots attacked, and in just a few minutes, they destroyed nine of the R-Zs. Three of these were credited to Morato.
Overall Achievements
Joaquín García-Morato achieved 40 confirmed victories against Republican aircraft. He flew for 1,012 hours during the war. He was only shot down once, on October 3, 1937, by a new pilot he was training.
Death
The war ended, but shortly after, on April 4, 1939, Joaquín García-Morato died. He was performing low-flying stunts for newsreel cameras when his Fiat CR.32 plane crashed.
See also
In Spanish: Joaquín García-Morato para niños
