Spain Officially Restores Legacy of Aviation Pioneers Emilio Herrera and Irene Aguilera

Spain has taken a historic step in recognizing and rehabilitating Emilio Herrera Linares and Irene Aguilera Cappa, who suffered legal and social persecution under Francisco Franco's dictatorship. On December 12, 2025, their four great-grandchildren were presented with a restitution document by the Secretary of State, formally acknowledging the couple's contributions and the injustices they endured.

This act of restitution, facilitated by Law 20/2022, comes 58 years after Herrera's death in exile. It nullifies the 1942 resolution that branded Herrera in rebellion, restoring his honor and military rank as General of the Army, a title he was granted in 1938 but which the Franco regime had ignored. For Irene Aguilera, the restitution symbolizes official acknowledgment of her persecution, including loss of property and hardships faced during exile alongside Herrera.

The ceremony was held at the Historical Archive of the Air Force in Villaviciosa de Odón, where Herrera's historical documents, including his handwritten memoirs, were entrusted to the Air and Space Historical and Cultural Service (SHYCEA) for preservation. A significant digitization project funded by the ENAIRE Foundation with a €43,000 donation will ensure these vital records are preserved digitally. Additionally, an exhibition honoring Emilio Herrera will be permanently featured at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.

While Herrera has received some recognition in past decades, this is the first official recognition of the couple together and of Irene Aguilera’s pioneering role in Spanish aviation. Historians credit her as the first Spanish woman to fly, after learning to pilot a biplane in 1911. Family descendants recall her extraordinary yet difficult life, marked by exile and the loss of a son in the Spanish Civil War.

Historian Emilio Atienza described their experiences as emblematic of their generation, emphasizing the debt that Spanish democracy owes to the couple for their resilience amid civil war and dictatorship. This recognition marks the culmination of a long journey that began with the repatriation of Herrera's remains to Granada in 1993, finally restoring their rightful place in Spanish history.