Ceremony for the Fallen Held at the 'Marfil' Tactical Air Detachment in Dakar

• In this African country, ‘we remember those who came before us, we honour their memory, and we will always keep their sacrifice for Spain in mind’, stated the Commander of the DAT 'Marfil'

At the ‘Escale Aéronautique Commandant LEMAITRE’ facilities at Blaise Diagne International Airport in Dakar, Senegal, the Tactical Air Detachment (DAT) 'Marfil' held a solemn ceremony in honour of the fallen. During the commemoration, and following the reading of the Royal Regulations, three significant events that had a major impact on our Armed Forces were recalled and remembered, with their anniversaries approaching in the near future.

On 25^th  March 2003, in Pollensa Bay, an aircraft from the 43rd Air Force Group was involved in an accident. The aircraft was participating in a SURMAR exercise, where crews train for survival at sea. In this accident, Sergeant Manuel Fernández Carrascosa and Sergeant José Ramón Fábrega Salas of the Spanish Air Force lost their lives.

On 11^th  April 2006, First Corporal Javier López Peláez of the Spanish Army tragically passed away from a heart attack while deployed in the Spanish mission in Kosovo.

Finally, on 16th April 2010, a helicopter from the ‘Hispaniola’ contingent, which was participating in the humanitarian mission following the Haiti earthquake, crashed while returning from a mission. The four crew members lost their lives: Commander Luis Fernando Torija Sagospe of the Corps of Intendancy; Lieutenant Francisco Forne Calderón of the Marine Infantry; Ensign Manuel Dormido Garrosa; and Chief Petty Officer Eusebio Villatoro Costa of the Marine Infantry.

As recalled during this emotional ceremony, Article 21 of the Royal Regulations for the Spanish Armed Forces states that ‘members of the Armed Forces shall consider themselves heirs and custodians of the Spanish military tradition. The homage to the heroes who forged it and to all those who gave their lives for Spain is a duty of gratitude and a source of inspiration to continue their work’.

In the words of the Commander of the Force, ‘From this corner of Spain in Africa, we remember those who came before us, we honour their memory, and although their families will likely never know what we have done here today, we want them to know that their sacrifice was not in vain, and we will always keep their devotion to Spain in our hearts’.

'Marfil' Detachment

The DAT 'Marfil', consisting of personnel from the Spanish Air and Space Force, forms part of the Mali Support Operation (A/M). The detachment operates from the ‘Escale Aéronautique Commandant Lemaitre’, located at the French Elements in Senegal (EFS) facilities at Blaise Diagne International Airport.

This detachment is assigned various tactical and logistical air transport missions within the operational theatre, as well as in-flight refuelling tasks whenever available capabilities allow. All these missions, under the operational direction of the MOPS, are carried out with the main objective of supporting the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region.

Currently, the DAT 'Marfil' consists of 15 military personnel from various units of the Spanish Air and Space Force, with the most numerous being the Air Deployment Support Squadron (EADA) and the Airborne Alert and Control Group (GRUALERCON). This permanent staff is reinforced by personnel from Wing 35^th  when temporary deployments of the T.21 are made.

This detachment clearly reflects the capabilities that the Spanish Air and Space Force, and the Spanish Armed Forces in general, provide to allied and friendly nations, always prioritising availability and operational readiness. The extreme temperatures, heavy rainfall, and unprepared terrain present considerable challenges to crews and personnel.

After more than twelve years of continuous operations, since January 2013, the DAT 'Marfil' has strengthened the contribution of the Spanish Armed Forces to the international arena and reinforced the State's commitment to global peace and security.