Sperrle left Germany by air on 31 October 1936 and arrived in Seville, via Rome on 5 November. Sperrle was sent a "Kampfgruppe" (bomber group—K/88), "Jagdgruppe" 88 (fighter group 88—J/88) and "Aufklärungsstaffel" (reconnaissance squadron—AS/88). They were supported by a "Flak Abteilung" (F/88) with three heavy and two light batteries with communications, transport and maintenance units. The Germans could not afford to fully equip the Legion, and so the air group made use of Spanish equipment. Of the 1,500 vehicles used, there were 100 types creating a maintenance nightmare. The first mission for the Legion was to airlift 20,000 men of the African Army. These veterans, once landed, provided a core of battle–hardened veterans.