Dispatch from Valencia: American Airpower Observations During the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39

American military attaches document the impact of airpower during the Spanish Civil War, featuring intervention by some of the strongest air forces in the world in a prelude to World War II. This is the story of airpower in the Spanish Civil War from the perspective of three key American figures: Colonel Stephen Fuqua, military attache to Republican Spain; Captain Townsend Griffiss, assistant military attache for air; and former U.S. Navy pilot Frank Tinker, who flew for the Spanish government as a mercenary. Through his analysis of the experiences and writings of these three individuals, author Christopher Marquis explores the lessons the conflict revealed regarding the use of airpower in war. The book first places the Spanish Civil War within the broader context of early U.S. airpower development, progressing through the narrative of the war while focusing on key air operations and technological advancements. Marquis begins with the early history of American airpower through World War I and the institutional development of the U.S. Army Air Service and U.S. Army Air Corps. He also covers the evolution of early airpower theories, particularly the idea of strategic bombing, which involved the bombardment of civil, industrial, and political targets to bring the war to a swift conclusion. The narrative then moves to Spain in July 1936 and follows the course of the civil war, with a focus on air operations. Some of the significant events covered in detail include the airlift of Nationalist troops from Morocco to Spain; defensive counterair missions above Madrid; the firebombing of Guernica; the destruction of the "Iron Ring" of fortifications around Bilbao; the bombing of Barcelona; and, finally, the air superiority achieved by the Nationalist air force and their allies. The U.S. observers witnessed the German Luftwaffe's intervention in the conflict as well as air forces from Italy, France, and the Soviet Union. Marquis concludes that the Spanish Civil War proved airpower was a critical element of modern warfare. He also points out that American airpower leaders were reluctant to acknowledge the lessons of the war because they did not definitively prove the effectiveness of strategic bombing. Despite that reluctance, America's subsequent actions in developing its aircraft inventory before World War II reflected some of the lessons learned from the air war in Spain.

About the Author :
Christopher G. Marquis is a retired U.S. Air Force officer. He received his MA in history from Auburn University. He works as a subcontract administrator for Northrop Grumman. Marquis lives in Melbourne, Florida, with his wife and five children.

Review :
"This is a deeply researched and well written military history of the Spanish Civil War.  In particular, it provides important new information and insights about aerial operations used by armies in World War II.  It is a relevant book to read today on how governments study each others' military operations as they unfold in war." —James W. Cortada, author of Modern Warfare in Spain "Marquis’s work is a masterclass in connecting historical air campaigns to the enduring principles of airpower. For today’s students and practitioners, this book offers not only a vivid account of the Spanish Civil War but also a vital framework for understanding how airpower shapes—and is shaped by—strategy, technology, and political will."  —Brent A. Lawniczak, author of Confronting the Myth of Soft Power in U.S. Foreign Policy and associate professor at the United States Air Force Air Command and Staff College