Aircraft 1943

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           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)

18-12-1943   Short Sunderland III                    DW106 (⇓Vila do Bispo)

31-12-1943    Lockheed Hudson IIIA                FK761 (⇓Grândola)







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)