The Extraordinary Case of Captain Virgilio Leret Gerald Howson tells the tale of the Spanish republican who invented a jet engine and died during Franco’s coup. Gerald Howson | Published in History Today Volume 57 Issue 5 May 2007 To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive. Buy Online Access Buy Print & Archive Subscription If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.