By Jerry A. Wells.

Over 3,000 Americans volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War in many different capacities in the International Brigades – even though the United States government had refused to permit its citizens to do so.

Here, we focus on the volunteer fighter pilots – although they received generous pay as mercenaries. The first contingent of American pilots arrived in Spain in late September of 1936 using aliases so as to remain undetected by American authorities:

Joseph Rosmarin, alias Jaime Field

Ed Lyons, alias Ed Lebowitz

Harold Evans Dahl, alias Hernando Diaz Evans

By January 31, 1937 twenty-one pilots had reported for duty, including Bert Acosta; Jim Allison;Albert J. (Ajax) Baumler; Orwin Dwight Bell; Gordon Berry;Sam Brenner; Nord Caldwell; Harold Whitey Dahl; Derek Dickinson; Eugene Finick, Manuel Gomez, Charles Koch; Benjamin David Leider; Frederick Ives Lord; Ed Lyons; Joseph Rosmarin; Vincent Schmidt; Edward Schneider; Edmond Semens; Arthur Shapiro; and John Glasgow Tinker.

Although all had stories to tell, the two most interesting were Charles Koch and Harold Whitey Dahl.

Charles Koch, at 42, was the oldest U. S. volunteer and the most experienced flyer with over 2,285 hours prior to arrival in Spain. Koch arrived December 9. 1936 graduating as a fighter pilot (Piloto de Caza) one month later and became known as “Tiny”. Arriving at the airfield Los Alcazares at the end of January 1937 Koch shot down two CR 32s on February 11, and a fiat in February 18 – the same battle in which Jim Allison’s plane was shot down by Italian fighters (Allison was wounded but lived to go home). Two envelopes from Koch to his wife are shown, one dated February 16, 1937 – five days after his first two kills- and one sent March 24, 1937 – a few weeks after his third. Koch was discharged April , 1937.

Harold Whitey Dahl (alias Hernando Diaz Evans): Dahl was 28 years old when he arrived in Spain in December of 1936, having previously received his wings after graduation at the Army Air bases at Kelly and Randolph Fields in San Antonio, U.S.A. Dahl was quite a colorful character, who had lost his commission as a result of compulsive gambling and a civil court conviction. He contracted to fly for the Republicans on one condition: that the Valencia government include his wife in his travel allowance. Dahl married Edith Rogers – a Swedish American bombshell showgirl who gave up her singing career with Rudy Vallee’s orchestra. Dahl was to be shipped to Spain on the Normandie, but missed the boat because while training in Texas he was arrested but released after one week – arriving eventually in December. While in Spain he was known as El Rubio (blonde headed) and favored the Florida Hotel in Madrid (same hotel as frequented by Ernest Hemingway). On February 18, 1937 he was shot down in the same battle with Charles Koch and Jim Allison but returned to continue flying for the loyalists.

On July 12, 1937 Dahl’s luck again ran out as he was captured by the Nationalists when his plane was shot down over Madrid. Dahl, along with two Russian pilots, was charged with rebellion against the state and was condemned to death. An American colonel who had fought with Franco in Morocco, telephoned Franco for clemency and Dahl was sentenced to life. However, the October 8, 1937 Dallas Dispatch paper reported that his life was spared after his wife sent a photo of herself to Franco and pleaded for the life of her husband begging “please don’t destroy the only happiness I have ever known.” Franco “was apparently touched by the letter, which appealed to his Latin love of youthful romance.” Dahl later returned to the United States in November of 1940. A very lucky man in more ways than one.

Bibliography:

Airmen Without Portfolio: U.S. Mercenaries in the Civil War of Spain, Edwards, John Carver 1997

The Dallas Dispatch, October 8, 1937

The Spanish Civil War, Thomas, Hugh 1986 Edition