WI:Spain Permits Luftwaffe Training 1939-1944

[politicalnomad]

How big of a difference would it make if Franco’s Spain allowed the Luftwaffe to have a safe haven to train its pilots up until around the D-Day landings in 1944? I’m thinking that it becomes a bigger advantage as the war drags on and Allied fighters are increasingly able to range deeper into occupied Europe. Big question is, does this allow the Luftwaffe to survive things like Operation Argument (Big Week) and remain as a much stronger force deeper into the war?

 

[sonofpegasus]

This would become known to the allies very quickly. Spain would be told in no uncertain terms that this action meant that they were not a neutral nation but a co-belligerent with the Axis. In other words "Cease and Desist or face the consequences". This is the same reason that the Luftwaffe did not set up flight schools in Vichy, Neutral Nations have to be seen to be Neutral.

 

[Carl Schwamberger]

This.

This would become known to the allies very quickly. Spain would be told in no uncertain terms that this action meant that they were not a neutral nation but a co-belligerent with the Axis. In other words "Cease and Desist or face the consequences". This is the same reason that the Luftwaffe did not set up flight schools in Vichy, Neutral Nations have to be seen to be Neutral.

The trickle of oil imports rationed to Spain would be be cut off, or reduced significantly, and lists of specific items to be cut off next sent to the Spanish government.

Beyond that Allied air attacks 1943-44 did not directly interfere with German pilot training. The Luftwaffe was tracking the raiders and could ground student flights or divert them from danger. What wrecked pilot training were: 1. increasing fuel shortages. 2. Sending unready students into combat out of desperate need for any pilots. By mid 1943 the Luftwaffe fighter groups were out numbered by about 3-1 by all the Allied air forces combined. 3. Training policies reaching back to 1939.