Ángel Salas Larrazábal

Ángel Salas Larrazábal (1 October 1906 – 19 July 1994) was a Spanish military officer, military attaché, and flying ace. He fought for the Nationalist faction during the Spanish Civil War and was the first commander of the Blue Squadron of World War II during Operation Barbarossa.

Salas began his military career in the Spanish Army as an artilleryman. He joined the Spanish Aviation Corps in 1928 and became a fighter pilot. Salas helped suppress the Asturian Revolution of 1934. While he was assigned to the Spanish protectorate in Morocco, he joined the Nationalists of the Spanish Civil War. He engaged in several aerial battles and became a flying ace. He became the first commander of the Blue Squadron that fought alongside the Luftwaffe during Operation Barbarossa. Salas became a military attaché in 1944 and was a Spanish representative to Nazi Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, and France.

Salas was a flight instructor for the North American F-86 Sabre during the 1950s. He became a member of the Regency Council in 1974 and was one of three people who led Spain in an interim capacity from 20 to 22 November 1975 after the death of General Francisco Franco. In 1991, King Juan Carlos I promoted Salas to captain general of the Air Force . Salas died in Madrid on 19 July 1994.

Early life

Ángel Salas Larrazábal was born on 1 October 1906 in Orduña, Spain. His parents were Emerico Salas Orodea and María Jesús Larrazábal Echeguren. At the age of six, four of Salas' younger siblings died within weeks of each other.

Military career

Early career

Salas enrolled in the Segovia Artillery Academy on 27 July 1921. He was promoted to lieutenant on 10 July 1926 and was assigned to the 2nd Heavy Artillery Regiment in Mérida. He was reassigned to the 1st Foot Artillery Regiment on 10 December 1926. Salas was transferred to the 11th Light Regiment in Burgos in May 1927 before being reassigned to 3rd Battery of the Melilla Field Artillery Group in Spanish Morocco on 5 September 1927. The Blue Squadron first saw action on 2 October 1941 as a part of the 27th Assault Group. Salas achieved five aerial victories in his first two weeks of combat. By the end of Operation Barbarossa, Salas had achieved his 24th aerial victory of his career. Salas returned to Spain in February 1942 and he was promoted to lieutenant colonel later that year to recognize his combat accomplishments. Salas became an air force reservist in 1976. Juan Carlos I appointed Salas to the Senate of Spain on 15 June 1977 as one of 40 senators appointed for the 1977–1978 term. Salas resigned from the Senate on 2 January 1979 after the constitution of Spain was approved and he withdrew from public life.

Later life and death

On 26 April 1991, Juan Carlos I promoted Salas to Captain General of the Air Force in recognition of Salas' "exceptional personal merits" (""). Salas died in Madrid on 19 July 1994.

Personal life

Salas met Rosario Collantes Álvarez-Buylla in Navia, Asturias in 1937. They married shortly after the end of the Spanish Civil War on 25 July 1939. The couple had seven children.

Awards and decorations

Salas received the following awards and decorations throughout his career.

Military ranks