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José Sanjurjo Plane Crash - Cascais, Portugal
Posted by:
RuiJSDuarte
N 38° 43.057 W 009° 27.609
29S E 459996 N 4285541
Sanjurjo died in a plane crash on July 20, 1936, when he tried to fly back to Spain. He chose to fly in a small airplane piloted by Juan Antonio Ansaldo. One of the main reasons for the crash was the heavy luggage that Sanjurjo took.
Waymark Code: WMJT04
Location: Lisboa, Portugal
Date Posted: 12/27/2013
Views: 9
"General José Sanjurjo y Sacanell, 1st Marquis of the Rif (March 28, 1872 – July 20, 1936) was a General in the Spanish Army who was one of the chief conspirators in the military uprising that led to the Spanish Civil War.
Sanjurjo died in Estoril in a plane crash on July 20, 1936, when he tried to fly back to Spain. He chose to fly in a small airplane piloted by Juan Antonio Ansaldo. One of the main reasons for the crash was the heavy luggage that Sanjurjo insisted on bringing. Ansaldo warned him that the load was too heavy, but Sanjurjo answered him:
I need to wear proper clothes as the new caudillo of Spain.
Ironically, Sanjurjo chose to fly in Ansaldo's plane rather than a much larger and more suitable airplane that was available. It was an 8-passenger de Havilland Dragon Rapide, the same one which had transported Franco from the Canary Islands to Morocco. Sanjurjo apparently preferred the drama of flying with a "daring aviator".
When Mola also died in an aircraft accident, Franco was left as the effective leader of the Nationalist cause. This led to rumors that Franco had arranged the deaths of his two rivals, but no evidence has been produced to support this allegation."
Web Address for Related Web Sites: [Web Link]
![](/images/spacer.gif) Date of Crash: 07/20/1936
![](/images/spacer.gif) Aircraft Model: De Havilland Puss Moth
![](/images/spacer.gif) Military or Civilian: Military
![](/images/spacer.gif) Cause of Crash: Excess luggage
![](/images/spacer.gif) Tail Number: Not listed
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