Books

Summary

American military attachés 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 attaché to Republican Spain; Captain Townsend Griffiss, assistant military attaché 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.

— Originally published by U.S. Naval Institute

Endorsements

"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."

— Dr. 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."

— Dr. 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

Acclaim

Recent Reviews

"Christopher G. Marquis’ U.S. Mercenaries and the Condor Legion: Airpower in the Spanish Civil War provides a compelling, deeply researched account of an often-overlooked dimension in the conflict that foreshadowed World War II. Marquis’s narrative begins by setting the Spanish Civil War in the broader context of early U.S. airpower development, deftly weaving American, German, and Spanish threads into an illuminating tapestry that reveals how mercenary pilots and the Condor Legion shaped the air war and, by extension, the fate of the Republic itself. The book excels in exploring the motivations and backgrounds of the American pilots who flocked to Spain—not for political conviction, but largely driven by adventure and lucrative pay, such as the generous $1,500 monthly salary and bonuses per enemy aircraft brought down. Marquis contrasts these pragmatic mercenaries with the ideological International Brigades, highlighting how complex individuals navigated the clash between idealism and profit amid the brutalities of a modern civil war. A major strength is Marquis’s rigorous analysis of operational tactics, based on rare archival material and firsthand accounts. The tactical adaptability of the German Condor Legion, from daytime air superiority missions to night bombing in response to shifting battle conditions, is described with clarity and nuance. Marquis demonstrates how the Legion not only devastated Republican forces—most notoriously at Guernica—but also refined Luftwaffe doctrine, thereby influencing Germany’s air campaigns in the coming world conflict. U.S. Mercenaries and the Condor Legion is also a visual history, featuring maps, photographs, and data-driven tables that augment readers’ understanding of shifting frontlines and the impact of airpower on ground operations. Marquis’s clear prose and judicious analysis make this a definitive account for military historians, airpower scholars, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology and ideology on the eve of global war. Ultimately, Marquis offers a nuanced, balanced work that reveals the fraught role of Americans and the tactical lessons exported from Spain. The result is a vital addition to the literature on airpower and the international legacy of the Spanish Civil War."

— Chad T. Manske, Brigadier General, USAF, Ret.

Connect with the Author

For inquiries, e-mail christopher.george.marquis@gmail.com