Aircraft 1939-1941 - Portugal 1939-1945

The first aircraft arriving in Portugal bring French and Belgian airmen escaping form the Nazis right after the invasion of France in 1940. They will keep fighting the Germans in the Royal Air Force or in the Free French Forces (FFL).

After the occupation of northern France the Fw-200 Condor's start to appear more frequently in the Portuguese coastal areas. Using the local airfields,especially in Bordeaux/ Merignacc, the Luftwaffe extends its patrols right into the middle of the Atlantic searching for British shipping and convoys. News from attacks and fighting near the coast start to appear and some of these German planes finish their missions in Portuguese territory or nearby.

The British intention to reinforce their presence in the Mediterranean, Africa and Middle East using routes over or nearby the Portuguese aerial space. With the intensification of these movements, between the United Kingdom and the other operational areas, also the RAF looses some aircraft and crews in Portugal. The first of them lands during one of the most mortal cyclones that ever hit the country...

Sources:

Publications
Aviões da Cruz de Cristo – Mário Canongia Lopes // "The Bristol Blenheim" - Graham Warner // "Royal Air Forces Bomber Losses in the Middle East and Mediterranean" - David Gunby & Pelham Temple // Revista "Mais Alto" // Jornal "O Algarve" // Sopwiths to Sunderlands: 210 Squadron 1917-1941 - John Evans // RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War 1941 - W. R. Chorley // RAF Coastal Command Losses of Second World War – Ross McNeill// "Battle-Axe Blenheim's" – Stuart R. Scott //

Documents and Archives
Arquivo do Ministério dos Negócio Estrangeiros - Portugal // Evade & Escape Report - National Archives - London Kew // Portreath ORB - National Archives - London Kew // Australian National Archives // 807 Operational Record Book - National Archives, London Kew // AERL - Royal Army Museum Collection - Belgica // Arquivo Histórico da Câmara Municipal de Moura // 95 Sqn Operational Record Book // The port Arthur News // The Winnipeg Evening Tribune // Arquivo da Associação de Defesa do Património de Aljezur

Sites and Fórums
Comonwealth War Graves Comission - site CWGC // "rafcommands.com" - varius threats //Fleet Air Arm Archive - http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net//Fórum 12oclockhigh.net

People
John "Tommy" Thompson// Jacques Schelfaut// Luc Wittemans // Guy Roberty // João Calado// José Carlos Carias Silva// Maria José Dias Leite // Olinda Couceiro //D. Smith //Chriss Goss