![]() ![]() Corporal Ángel Canales López obtained the Individual Military Medal for his heroic behavior and courage in rescuing the survivors from the plane wreckage Lt. ![]() José Cañada Armengol of the 9th Company Corporal Juan Vargas Muñoz Paratrooper Legionnaires Carlos Ramos Suárez de Urbina, José Benítez García, Luís Cabo Hidalgo, Manuel Tabares Vargas and José Gómez Pazos, and Paratrooper Legionnaire José Cuesta Manzano of the 6th Company. ![]() On May 8th, a Junker - 52 plane carrying a 2nd Battalion’s parachute patrol crashed and caught fire, killing Lt. The unstable peace that had reigned in the area was broken by the first military incidents with armed gangs and irregular forces in the territory. In January 1957, it was relieved by the 2nd Battalion. On July 9, the 1st Battalion, in full force, was sent to Sidi Ifni, where it disembarked on July 25. This was done immediately, but curiously not by plane, but by truck to Cádiz, and from there to Puerto del Rosario, in the Canary Islands. The Command decided that the 1st Battalion should be transferred to Ifni. In April 1956, due to the instability of the Ifni region-invaded and traversed by "uncontrolled gangs"-, it was deemed necessary to reinforce this territory. This year also saw the first participation of paratroopers in Holy Week in Alcalá de Henares, Málaga and Álora. Major Pallás continued at the head of the 1st Battalion. Major Ramón Soraluce Goñi was appointed to command of the 2nd Battalion. Infantry Lieutenant Ignacio Crespo del Castillo was appointed to command this group. Given the excellent results obtained by the Battalion in exercises and maneuvers, and with the creation of 2nd Battalion already underway, an ARMY PARACHUTE BATTALION GROUP was created in 1955. Lieutenant Colonel Ignacio Crespo del Castillo took command of the newly activated Group of Battalions and began organizing the 2nd Parachute Battalion, which took the name of another famous Almogavar leader, ‘Roger of Lauria’. Events are held every year on that day to commemorate that historic date.Īfter two intense years of training and instruction, participation in numerous exercises demonstrated the Battalion’s great capacity as a combat unit, which is why the Group of Parachute Battalions of the Army was activated at the end of 1955. These new forces were activated on February 23, 1954, at the Air Force’s “Méndez Parada” Military School of Parachuting, in Alcantarilla (Murcia), during the paratrooper course. The battalion, stationed in the historic city of Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), was given the name ‘Roger de Flor’ and adopted the Fleur de Lis as its emblem, the symbol used by its famous namesake. The 1st Army Parachute Battalion was created by reserved order of the Minister of the Army on October 17, 1953, and Major Tomás Pallás Sierra was assigned as its first commander. The title of Sir/Lady Paratrooper Legionnaire (CLP/DLP, in Spanish), is a great incentive for its members one which encourages them to identify with the Spanish Legion’s military traditions. Heir to the traditions of our Tercios, its closest historical link is with the Spanish Legion. The 6th Paratroopers Brigade “Almogávares” received its name from the Almogavar warriors of Spain in the 13th and 14th centuries light infantry accustomed to making incursions deep into enemy territory and operating in the farthest reaches of the Mediterranean. ![]()
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