Editing Polikarpov I-15 (section)

===Spain===
The I-15 was used extensively in combat by the Republicans in the [[Spanish Civil War]] and proved to be one of the best fighter biplanes of its time. The Nationalists called the fighter "Curtiss", apparently believing it to be the [[Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk]].
The first batch of 25 Polikarpovs arrived in [[Cartagena, Spain|Cartagena]], Spain, on 28 October 1936,<ref name="Smith" /> with 15 pilots, led by future ace [[Pavel Rychagov]]. A few days later a further group of 10 pilots and 15 aircraft arrived in [[Bilbao]].<ref name="Maslov p. 16">Maslov 2010, p. 16.</ref><ref name="Smith" />

The Soviet pilots first went into action 4 November, when I-15s shot down two [[Junkers Ju 52]]/3ms and two CR.32s over Madrid, and forced a third Ju 52 and a Heinkel two-seater to crash-land.<ref name="Smith" /><!--was this attributed to the Red AF pilots, or Spaniards?--> No losses were reported among the Soviet pilots. During the next two days, ''Chato'' pilots claimed 12 more victories, at the cost of two I-15s lost.<ref name="Maslov p. 18">Maslov 2010, p. 18.</ref>

On 16 November, while dogfighting with [[Fiat CR.32]]s over Madrid, future ace Rychagov was shot down <ref name="Maslov p. 17">Maslov 2010, p. 17.</ref> and four days later the number of combat-ready Polikarpov in the central area had fallen to 15 aircraft: seven had been lost in combat, two had force-landed and one was undergoing repair.<ref name="Maslov p. 18"/>

In December 1936 and January 1937, two more shipments of 30 aircraft arrived in Spain, making it possible to form four full-strength I-15 squadrons.<!--Were they organized under a superior command? That's suggested by "4-squadron combat unit"--> Until the spring of 1937, central Spain was the main war theatre for I-15s. And in May 1937, another batch of 31 Polikarpov landed in Spain, taking the total number of I-15s delivered to 116.<ref name="Maslov p. 21">Maslov 2010, p. 21.</ref>

''Chato'' losses in the Spanish Civil War were comparable to those of its principal rival, the [[Fiat CR.32]]. By 1 January 1939, 197 Polikarpovs had been lost: 88 shot down by enemy aircraft and nine by anti-aircraft artillery, 27 destroyed on the ground and 67 written off in accidents.<ref name="Maslov p. 24">Maslov 2010, p. 24.</ref>