Click on the images to see a larger version and the back of the wing/badge
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For the first time I present the pilot wing of HISMA, or the Hispano-Marokkanische Transport-Aktiengesellschaft airline company. Perhaps this is the first instance of both a fake commercial airline created as cover for military operations and the first instance of a military logistics airlift. In July of 1936, right after the initial military rebellion broke open in Spanish Morocco that began the Spanish Civil War, a plan was hatched between a Nazi German businessman Johannes Bernhardt, Spanish officers and the local Nazi party official Adolf Langenheim to establish a new German-Spanish civilian air service company in Tetuán, Morocco. They flew to Berlin and pitched the plan to Hitler directly who immediately approved it. Ju-52s were provided and flown to Morocco where they airlifted local Spanish Moroccan colonial troops and the Spanish Legion back to mainland Spain to support the conflict under the direction of Francisco Franco. This is considered a key point of advantage for the rebel forces in the early stages as they did not command the Spanish navy or many of the domestic troops that remained loyal to the Republic.
German made badge in silver plated brass with enamel. It features the Spanish pilot insignia (four bladed propeller over a red circle) and the airline acronym in black enamel.
All information courtesy of Tod Rathbone
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Tod Rathbone Collection
07/29/2026
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Aviation Wings and Badges of the World Wars
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