Larache-Canaries Raid

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Category: Memory · Subcategory: Memory spaces · Year: 1924

This name refers to the first air expedition carried out by a military patrol with the objective of linking mainland Spain and the Canaries, through various stops at strategic points in North Africa.

The expedition consisted of three Breguet XIV type planes (named: Archipiélago Canario , Tenerife and Gran Canaria ) and a Dornier J. Wal seaplane. The itinerary, of 1,500 kilometres, included stops in Casablanca, Agadir, Cabo Juby, Las Palmas and the final destination in Tenerife.

On 6 January 1924, the three planes took off from the Larache aerodrome; the seaplane, from Cádiz via Melilla, joined them in Casablanca. On 18 January, after days of bad weather and repair of some aircraft, the entire air fleet departed from Cabo Juby heading to Gran Canaria. When the news became known in Las Palmas, there were fireworks, bell ringing and sirens from ships and factories.

At five to four in the afternoon on that 18 January 1924, the squadron flew over the city, where a crowd applauded and waved flags. While the seaplane landed safely in the Port of La Luz, the other three planes headed to Gando, where both the Las Palmas City Council and the island Cabildo had carried out, with their own funds, the necessary works to enable a provisional aerodrome.

The aviators were the object of great honours. On the 20th, a thanksgiving mass was held in the Cathedral, followed by a tribute at the Club Náutico and a reception at the City Hall.

On 31 January 1924, the expedition took off for Tenerife, the final destination of the raid.

It was the first experience of landing in the Canaries by a patrol of Spanish military aircraft.

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