Doubts about the truth of how Guernica was destroyed even now cannot be said to be entirely eliminated. Much publicity has been given to the evidence of a German aviator who was brought down at Larrabeztta The fullest account of what he had to say was given by the Bilbao special correspondent of The Times. According to this Wendel did not take part in the alleged raid, though he stated that Guernica had been bombed, His diary shows the word " Guernica " on April 26.
The following is the account of Wendel's evidence taken from the Catholic French paper La Coix. It reads: " The communiques of Bilbao announce that an insurgent aeroplane was brought down near Larapetua. The aviator, of German origin, who saved himself by parachute, was taken prisoner.
" He declared before the authorities and journalists that he had taken part in the bombardment of Guernica.
"His name is Joachim Hans Wendel and be belongs to the& Lt. 88 Squadron."