The
Polikarpov Design Bureau has a storied history and produced many aircraft which became iconic. However, one that is utterly forgotten today is the I-17S.
The I-17S was derived from the more famous
I-17. Due to problems with the retractable landing gear, the I-17S went into production with a fixed, spatted (yowsa!) undercarriage.
Despite those incredibly sexy spats, the Red Air Force never embraced the I-17S, so the entire production run was sent to Republican Spain. Whether the S stands for Spanish or Spats has been lost over time.
Due to the aircraft's diminutive size, it was often called the "Spanish Fly". One could be forgiven if this moniker brings something completely different to mind.
The first run of 5 aircraft were sent to Spain on three separate ships, two of which were sunk en route, so only one I-17S was actually delivered. Wearing the spurious code 847 in hopes of deceiving onlookers there were over eight hundred of the things, the Spanish Fly entered service in the summer of 1937. This would be fortunate timing indeed as that was exactly when the Fascists decided to attack.
Spain is known for many summer festivals and perhaps the most famous is the Festival of San Fermin, the Running of the Bulls.
Less well known is a similar celebration, the San Amphibian Running of the Bull Frogs.
Not that bull frogs are known for running...
It was at dawn 80 years ago today on August 3rd, 1937, that a Fascist column was spotted headed straight for San Amphibian. The first pilot to get airborne was flying the lone Polikarpov I-17S and he headed towards the enemy with all the speed he could wring out of his small fighter.
Six miles from town, the first elements of Fascist mechanized infantry became visible. With fatal over-confidence, the enemy did not provide its force with any air cover whatsoever, perhaps believing the Republican loyalists would be partying too hard to mount a defense.
The tiny Spanish Fly dove at the enemy column with reckless abandon, using the fighter's 41 m.m. cannon in the propellor hub to good effect. Even though only 11 rounds were carried for this gun, that was enough to completely obliterate the invaders.
The Spanish Fly flew strafing runs after the cannon ammo ran out, using its four 12.6 m.m. machine guns in the wings to rake the Nationalist troops again and again until they were decimated and any survivors on the run.
All that was left were the burned out hulks of Fascist avarice which littered the road to San Amphibian.
The Running of the Bull Frogs went off without a hitch, although some were a little disappointed with the Master of Ceremonies who was hard to hear due to having a frog in his throat.
Still, it could've been much worse.
This would be the only notable action the I-17S Spanish Fly took part in as it was beset by cooling problems, not having been originally designed for Spain's warm climate. The lone I-17S eventually over-heated and consumed its own vitals over Valladolid that September.
Only the first five Spanish Flies were ever produced. While utterly forgotten today, perhaps due to a lack of photographic evidence, for one brief shining moment the I-17S was able to hold the line so that the bull frogs could
run hop.
Brian da Basher
