Other Forces

One of the last “Chirris”?

kevsaviationpics.blogspot.com

This no doubt in poor conditions “Chirri” fighter biplane, in the markings of the Ejército del Aire, the new Spanish Air Force established on 7 October 1939 after the end of the Civil War, is may be one of last airplane of this type employed in Spain. The “Chirri”, built by Hispano Aviación from 1939 to 1942, as HA-132-L (Spanish military designation C-1), is the Spanish version of the Italian Fiat CR.32, the most important Nationalist fighter during the Civil War. Hispano produced about 100 “Chirris” added to the Italian CR.32s still in Spain after the end of the Civil War and transferred by the Italian Air Force to Ejército del Aire and to the planes of same type directly purchased in Italy by the Franco’s Government. The last “Chirris” was phased out on 1953 and the plane of this photo is may be the same aircraft which, restored as the 3-52 of the Civil War, is today in Spanish Air Force Museum on Cuatro Vientos airfield, near Madrid. Ironically also the CR.32 of the Italian Air Force Museum, itself in the Spanish Civil War’s colors, is a Spanish-made Hispano “Chirri” given to Italian Air Force from the Spain around half-Fifties. Victor Sierra