The Monument to the Fallen of the Parachute Flag “Roger de Flor” is located in the area of Tablero de los Llanos del Muchichafe, in the town of Tefía, and recalls one of the most tragic episodes that occurred in Fuerteventura during the twentieth century.
On April 12, 1972, within the framework of the military maneuvers called “Maxorata-72”, a serious accident occurred during a parachute jump exercise. About a hundred members of the “Almogávares” VI Parachute Brigade (BRIPAC), belonging to the 1st Parachute Band “Roger de Flor”, departed that morning from the Gando Air Base in Gran Canaria, bound for Fuerteventura.
During the jump operation, unexpectedly strong gusts of wind diverted the paratroopers to a steep area of cliffs and stone walls, located about three kilometers from the planned landing point. As a result of the accident, thirteen soldiers died, including two sergeants and eleven Parachute Legionnaire Knights (CLP), in addition to numerous injuries.
In the same place where the events took place, a commemorative monolith stands today, which pays permanent homage to the deceased soldiers. This monument has become a place of remembrance and recollection, integrated into the landscape of the interior of Majorca, and is a stop of historical memory within the cultural routes of Tefía.
The visit to this enclave invites reflection and respect, remembering an event that is part of the recent history of Fuerteventura and the link of the island with the Armed Forces.
