A Spanish Republican Air Force’s pilot standing in front to a “Chirri”, the Fiat CR.32 for the Spanish, captured intact. According Spanish sources, the CR.32, captured in flight conditions during the Civil War were at least six. One of this, but not the plane of this photo, was evaluated in flight on Los Alcanzares by Soviet pilots. Others was switched to the Escuadra 7 de Caza, 1st Escuadrilla. Victor Sierra

Chirri” captured

A Russian-built fighter Polikarpov I-15 of Fuerzas Aéreas de la República Española, the Spanish Republican Air Force during the Civil War. Dubbed “Chato” (snubnose in Spanish) by Republicans pilots and knew by Nationalist pilots, which not knowledge the real entity of this plane and its name, like “Curtiss” because a remote similarity with an America fighter biplane, the I-15 was the principal fighter of the Spanish Republican Air Force before the arrival of monoplane with retractable landing gear Polikarpov I-16. Armed with two 7,62 mm machine gun, this little and agile small biplane fighter characterized by a gulled upper wing was a fierce enemy for the Fiat CR.32s (”Chirri”for the Spanish) of the Nationalist Air Force and the Heinkel He-51 of German Condor Legion. An interesting detail of this photo is in the background: behind the I-15, with the tail hoisted on a dolly, appear the nose of a Fiat CR.32 captured intact. Victor Sierra

A fierce enemy of the “Chirri”

Flying instructors of Escuela Del Carmoli in front to a Fiat CR.32 captured by Spanish Republican Forces and allowed to this flying school for fighter pilots training. Victor Sierra