National Air and Space Museum Archives

Juan Calvo Papers

Summary

Collection ID:
NASM.2014.0035
Creators:
Calvo, Juan
Dates:
bulk 1936 - 1989
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1 Cubic foot
(2 boxes)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection contains material commemorating Juan Calvo's participation in the historic "Arnacal" flight of 1936. Materials in this collection include two scrapbooks, remnants of a partial scrapbook, photographs, newspaper clippings, and articles. The scrapbooks contain several media types, including: correspondence, first day covers, a variety of documents (both original and photocopies), photographs, and newspaper clippings.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Juan Calvo (ca. 1898-1945) was born in Madrid, Spain, but lived the majority of his life in Manila, Philippines. An early adopter of flight, Calvo received his flying certificate from the Curtiss School of Aviation in Parañaque in 1920. Seeking a full-fledged pilot's license, he later enrolled in the Valeriano Flying School where he met Antonio Arnaiz. The two hatched an idea to fly from Manila to Madrid, Spain, in homage of a Spanish duo's--Eduardo Gallarza and Joaquin Loriga--flight from Madrid to Spain in 1926. On May 29, 1936, Arnaiz and Calvo took off in their barebones Fairchild model 24--no radio, parachutes, or seat belts--dubbed Commonwealth of the Philippines. The dangerous "Arnacal" flight finally put the Philippines "on the map" in terms of aviation, with the two becoming the first Filipinos to cross the China Sea by air. After bouts with treacherous weather, a leaking gas tank, and multiple delays, the two arrived in Madrid on July 11. They landed amidst the outbreak of civil war in Spain but safely returned to Manila (without their plane) in September. After the flight, Calvo went on to serve as a captain during World War II. He led a guerilla unit, fighting against the Japanese Imperial Forces in Isabela province. He was captured in 1944, was imprisoned in Fort Santiago, and was executed upon the advance of Allied Liberation Forces in 1945. Calvo posthumously received the Award of the Outstanding Achievement Medal from the Republic of the Philippines Ministry of National Defense in April 1989.

Administration

Immediate Source of Acquisition
Raquel Fancher, Gift, 2014

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access.
Preferred Citation
Juan Calvo Papers, Accession 2014-0035, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Conditions Governing Use
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Aeronautics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aeronautics -- Records Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Philippines Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Arnaiz, Antonio. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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