Battle of Sapotillal
Battle of Sapotillal | |||||||
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Part of the United States occupation of Nicaragua, Banana Wars | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United States Nicaragua | Sandinistas | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Lt. George J. O'Shea | Unknown | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
9 marines 1 sailor 10 national guard[2] | 400 guerrillas (conservative estimate)[3] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
2 USMC POWS Killed & 4 national guard killed[4] |
40-60 killed[5] 1 captured[6] |
The Battle of Sapotillal, or the Battle of Zapotillal or Zapotillo Ridge, took place on the 9 October 1927[7] during the American occupation of Nicaragua of 1926–1933 and the Sandino Rebellion. The battle was an unsuccessful attempt by American and Nicaraguan government forces to rescue two downed American airmen.
Background
On the 8 October 1927, USMC aviators Second Lieutenant Earl Thomas and his observer-gunner Sergeant Frank Dowdell, flying a Vought O2U Corsair, of squadron VO-8M, had to crash-land on a Nicaraguan ridge known as Sapotillal for unknown reasons.[8] After destroying the plane and its machine guns, the two American Marine airmen started to head for Quilalí on foot, using a map dropped by their wingman, Mike "the Polish Warhorse" Wodarczyk.[9] On their journey, the two aviators managed to fight off a group of fifteen Sandinistas with their pistols, killing five.[10] After being surrounded by forty guerrillas and running out of ammunition, Thomas and Dowdell were finally captured.[11] The two Americans were put on trial by the Sandinistas, "probably tortured," and executed.[12]The remains of Thomas and Dowdell were not recovered[13][14]
Battle
"Twelve miles north at
Early the following day,
Aftermath
Although their native guides had abandoned them during the fight and O'Shea had lost his compass,[27] the exhausted patrol arrived back in El Jícaro "just before midnight" on the 10 October.[28]
O'Shea guessed that the total number of Sandinistas engaged in the battle was about 400, although he said this was a "very conservative estimate."[29] Of these, at least 40 were killed or mortally wounded, but this number could actually be as high as 55 or 60.[30] One rebel was captured during the fighting, and his captors were prepared to shoot him, but decided not to, as it might give away their position.[31] Of O'Shea's men, four Nicaraguan National Guardsmen were killed.[32]
References
- ^ "O'Shea, Engagement at Sapotillal, with Sketch Map". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ^ Macaulay, Neill (February 1998). The Sandino Affair. Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 93.
- ^ "O'Shea, Engagement at Sapotillal, with Sketch Map". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ^ Macaulay, Neill (February 1998). The Sandino Affair. Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 95.
- ^ "O'Shea, Engagement at Sapotillal, with Sketch Map". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 322.
- ^ "O'Shea, Engagement at Sapotillal, with Sketch Map". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 320.
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 320.
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 320.
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 320.
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 320.
- ^ Thomas Find a grave
- ^ Dowell Find a grave
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 321.
- ^ "O'Shea, Engagement at Sapotillal, with Sketch Map". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ^ Macaulay, Neill (February 1998). The Sandino Affair. Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 94.
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 321.
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 321.
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 321.
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 321.
- ^ "O'Shea, Engagement at Sapotillal, with Sketch Map". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 322.
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 322.
- ^ Macaulay, Neill (February 1998). The Sandino Affair. Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 94.
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 322.
- ^ Macaulay, Neill (February 1998). The Sandino Affair. Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 94.
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 322.
- ^ "O'Shea, Engagement at Sapotillal, with Sketch Map". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ^ "O'Shea, Engagement at Sapotillal, with Sketch Map". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ^ Musicant, Ivan (August 1990). The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish–American War to the Invasion of Panama. New York City: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 322.
- ^ Macaulay, Neill (February 1998). The Sandino Affair. Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 95.