Paul H. Hazelrigg
(Picture ceded by Nuno Silva)
Date
Location
Force
Aircraft
From-To
Crew
15-01-1943
Portela Airport - Lisbon
USAAF 350FG
Bell P-400 Airacobra BX369
Land's End (GB) → Port Lyautey (Marrocos)
2Lt. Paul H. Hazelrigg USA
An Airacobra squadron was using a B-25 as guide plane, but because of a navigation error the bomber went too far into the Atlantic. When they found out it was impossible for the fighter’s to reach Gibraltar because of fuel shortage, so they where guided to Lisbon.
While the bomber kept flying to North Africa the fighters had to land in the Portela airport.
This Airacobra landed on 15.05 hours.
It will became part of the P-39 and P-400 fighters bought by Portugal for 20.000 dollars and belonged to the OK Squadron from the Portuguese Aeronáutica Militar.
The pilot was interned in Elvas for some time.
Resources:
* “Aviões da Cruz de Cristo” – Mário Canongia Lopes
* "Spitfires e Hurricanes em Portugal - Mário Canongia Lopes.
* ARQUIVO ANA -Aeroportos de Portugal
* Site: "http://raf-112-squadron.org/index3.html"
* Site "armyairforces.com"
* Robert Brown
