Juan Calvo Papers

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.