In 1943, with the reinforcement of operational areas around the world, dozens of airplanes will cross the Portuguese sky and, as a consequence, more of them will be lost for mechanical problems or accidents in the contry.
This intense activity also started to have effects in the Portuguese colonies of the time with several planes landing in the African territories.
The beginning of the “Operation Torch” represent’s the increase in the number of aircraft that crossed the sky, and also the arrival of the first Americans. One of them was even able to escape with his plane hours after the landing…
Most of the airmen arriving at the planes will be detained in Elvas, where they will be in contact with the local population, especially some students who could speak English.
The Portuguese army will be able to build squadrons only from interned aircraft.
15-01-1943 Bell P-39L Aircobra 42-4495 (⇓Lisbon)
15-01-1943 Bell P-400 Aircobra BX306 (⇓Lisbon)
15-01-1943 Bell P-400 Aircobra BX434 (⇓Lisbon)
15-01-1943 Bell P-400 Aircobra BX292 (⇓Lisbon)
15-01-1943 Bell P-400 Aircobra BX412 (⇓Lisbon)
15-01-1943 Bell P-400 Aircobra AP310 (⇓Lisbon)
15-01-1943 Bell P-400 Aircobra BX297 (⇓Lisbon)
15-01-1943 Bell P-400 Aircobra AP273 (⇓Lisbon)
15-01-1943 Bell P-400 Aircobra BX369 (⇓Lisbon)
15-01-1943 Bell P-400 Aircobra BX432 (⇓Lisbon)
15-01-1943 Bell P-39L Aircobra 42-4517 (⇓Lisbon)
15-01-1943 Bell P-400/ P-39L Aircobra (⇓Aveiro)
24-01-1943 Bristol Blenheim V BB166 (Setúbal)
26-01-1943 Lockheed P-38 F Lightning 43-2148 (⇓Albufeira)
27-01-1943 Bristol Beaufort I DW898 (⇓Setúbal)
08-02-1943 Bell P-39L Aircobra 42-4527 (⇓Lisbon)
26-02-1943 Bristol Blenheim V BB101 (⇓V. N. Milfontes)
05-03-1943 Short Sunderland MkIII W6065 (⇓Oporto)
14-03-1943 Bristol Blenheim V EH332 (⇓Póvoa do Varzim)
18-03-1943 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (⇓Guiné)
22-03-1943 Consolidated Catalina IB FP154 (⇓Vila do Bispo)
31-03-1943 Consolidated Catalina IB FP286 (⇓Torres Vedras)
02-04-1943 Douglas Boston IIIA BZ306 (⇓Faro)
11-04-1943 Lockheed Hudson VI FK714 (⇓Lisbon)
19-04-1943 Vickers Wellington X HZ255 (⇓Vila do Bispo)
27-04-1943 Bell P-39 Aircobra 42-4854 (⇓Lisbon)
27-04-1943 Bell P-400 Aircobra AP292 (⇓Lisbon)
27-04-1943 Bell P-400 Aircobra BX175 (⇓Lisbon)
07-05-1943 Supermarine Spitfire XI EN419 (⇓Aveiro)
29-05-1943 Bristol Blenheim V EH459 (⇓Oporto)
03-06-1943 Bell Aircobra P400 BX187 (⇓Aljezur)
04-06-1943 Vickers Wellington HE268 (⇓Ovar)
13-06-1943 Vickers Wellington X HZ542 (⇓St. Maria da Feira)
17-06-1943 Supermarine Spitfire MB782 (⇓Monforte)
01-07-1943 Bristol Beaufighter XIC JL895 (⇓Figueira da Foz)
02-07-1943 Consolidated B-24 Liberator 42-40783 (⇓Lisbon)
09-07-1943 Focke-Wulf FW200 C4 W.Nr.0178 (⇓Aljezur)
14-07-1943 Bristol Beaufighter X JM337 (⇓Lisbon)
19-07-1943 Martin B-26C Marauder 41-35037 (⇓Lisbon)
23-07-1943 Martin B-26 Marauder 41-35150 (⇓Quarteira)
30-07-1943 Consolidated Liberator V BZ730 (⇓Lisbon)
04-08-1943 Consolidated B-24 Liberator 42-40801 (⇓Lisbon)
16-08-1943 Handley Page Halifax DJ994 (⇓North Coast)
20-08-1943 Short Sunderland EJ131 (⇓Mozambique)
20-08-1943. Consolid. B-24D Liberator 42-40772 (⇓Lisboa)
23-08-1943 Airspeed Horsa I LH122 (⇓Leiria)
29-08-1943 Lockheed Hudson VI FK538 (⇓Sintra)
07-09-1943 Handley Page Halifax EB178 (⇓Peniche)
07-09-1943 Airspeed Horsa DP824 (⇓Peniche)
07-09-1943 Bristol Beaufighter II T3423 (⇓Odemira)
15-09-1943 Airspeed Horsa LJ209 (⇓Sines)
15-09-1943 Bristol Blenheim IV L8837 (⇓Sintra)
17-09-1943 Avro Lancaster III EE106 (⇓Vila do Conde)
20-09-1943 Douglas C-47A Skytrain 42-24171 (⇓Sagres)
28-09-1943 Consolid. B-24D Liberator 42-63803 (⇓Lisbon)
02-10-1943 Bristol Beaufort I DW980 (⇓Sagres)
03-10-1943 Lockheed Hudson IIIA FH260 (⇓Lisbon)
24-10-1943 Boeing YB-40 42-5737 (⇓Lisbon)
25-10-1943 Martin B-26C Marauder 41-32014 (⇓Vieira de Leiria)
05-11-1943 DeHavilland DH-85 Leopard Moth (⇓Angola)
24-11-1943 Bristol Beaufort IA JM513 (⇓Leiria)
30-11-1943 Consolidated PB4Y-1 BuN63931 (Faro)
05-12-1943 B-17F Flying Fortress 42-3294 (⇓Sesimbra)
Sources:
Publicações/ Publications
Aviões da Cruz de Cristo – Mário Canongia Lopes / / "The Bristol Blenheim" - Graham Warner / / "Bloody Biscay" - Chriss Goss //Lokheed Hudson in World War II - Andrew Hendrie // Revista "Mais Alto" - Diversos // Jornal "O Algarve" - várias edições // "Spitfires e Hurricanes em Portugal - Mário Canongia Lopes // Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War - W.R. Chorley // "The Portugal News" // Newspaper "The Algarve Resident" // Newspaper "London Times" // "They called me Dixie" - Captain Richard L. Alexander // The Short Sunderland - Chaz Bowyer
Documentos e Arquivos/ Documents and Archives
Arquivo do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros - Portugal // Evade & Escape Report - National Archives - London, Kew // Portreath ORB - National Archives - London Kew // Arquivo ANA -Aeroportos e Navegação Aérea de Portugal - Lisboa // Report of Aircraft Accident - AFHRA // Missing Aircraft Report - AFHRA, footnote.com // Ficha de saída dos Bombeiros Municipais de Faro - Arquivo Distrital de Faro // NARA - National Archives and Record Administration - Washington // Arquivo da Associação de Defesa do Património Histórico de Aljezur - ADAPHA // Arquivo Notarial de Faro // 230 ORB - National Archives UK - London, Kew //295 ORB - National Archives UK - London, Kew // National Archives of Australia
Sites e Fóruns
Commonwealth War Graves Commission - site CWGC // rafcommands.com // http:/raf-112-squadron.org/index3.html // armyairforces.com // footnote.com //
Pessoas/ People
Chriss Goss // Mário Canongia Lopes // Jack Gompf // Robert Brown// Martin Gleeson // Vitorino Guerra // Victor Reynolds // Elisabete Rodrigues // Harry Heaps (Letters)// Dennis Burke // Isidoro Correia // Jock Manson (53 Sqn Association) // Lyle Van Hook// Gordon Brandt // Donald R.S.Howell // Rich Marionovich// Francis Stetson // Edwin Johnson (diary)
