List of Portuguese Air Force aircraft squadrons and flights, past and present.
Squadron designations[]
The basic aircraft unit of the Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) is the squadron (Portuguese language: Esquadra ), which is under the command and part of an operational group (Portuguese language: Grupo Operacional ). These operational groups are dependent of an air base and commonly use a numerical designation related to the air base's own numerical designation. (Example: Grupo Operacional 11 is dependent of Air Base No. 11.)
Since the Air Force's reorganization of 1978, squadrons have used a three digit designation, with some squadrons starting to adopt this designation system in 1977. The first digit indicates the squadron's primary mission, while the second digit indicates the type of aircraft operated, and with the third digit being a sequential number.
Primary mission designation:
- 1 - Instruction squadron;
- 2 - Fighter squadron;
- 3 - Attack squadron;
- 4 - Reconnaissance squadron;
- 5 - Transport squadron;
- 6 - Maritime patrol squadron;
- 7 - Search and Rescue squadron;
- 8 - Special function squadron;
Designation of the type of aircraft operated by the squadron:
- 0 - Fixed-wing aircraft;
- 1 - Mixed;
- 5 - Rotary-wing aircraft;
Until 1977, and prior to this designation system, the PoAF used both numerical designations and names for its flying squadrons. Names were almost exclusively used for small local liaison and transport units and dedicated training squadrons.
The squadrons that used a numerical designation received it based on the air base or base airfield number at which they were based in addition to a sequential number. In example, 51 and 52 Squadron were based at Air Base No. 5 and 122 Squadron was based at Air Base No. 12. Units based at base airfields (Portuguese language: Aeródromo Base ) received a zero as an additional digit in their numeric designation to help differentiate them from units based at air bases. In example, 501 Squadron was based at Base Airfield No. 5.
Aircraft squadrons[]
| Squadron | Nickname | Active | Base | Aircraft | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Transport Squadron | 1952—1953 | Portela Airfield | C-54 Skymaster | Transport squadron, replaced by 81 Squadron | |
| 81 Squadron | 1953—1972 | Portela Airfield | C-54 Skymaster | Transport squadron, re-designated as 131 Squadron | |
| Liaison and Training Squadron | Ota AB | Avro Anson T.1, T-6 Texan, Miles Magister I | |||
| 10 Squadron | 1952—1956 | Ota AB | F-47D Thunderbolt | Transferred to Tancos Air Base in 1955 | |
| 11 Squadron | 1952—1956 | Ota AB | F-47D Thunderbolt | Transferred to Tancos Air Base in 1955 | |
| 41 Squadron | 1952—1976 | Lajes AB | SB-17G Flying Fortress, Douglas C-54 Skymaster, SC-54/HC-54 Searchmaster | Search and rescue and maritime patrol squadron. Replaced by 42 Squadron and 503 Squadron Golfinhos | |
| 20 Squadron | 1953—? | Ota AB | F-47D Thunderbolt, T-33 Shooting Star | Air combat and training squadron. First squadron of the Portuguese Air Force to be equipped with jet aircraft | |
| 21 Squadron | 1954—? | Ota AB | F-84G Thunderjet | Air combat squadron | |
| 22 Squadron | 1955—1956 | Ota AB | F-84G Thunderjet, T-33 Shooting Star | Air combat and advanced combat training | |
| E.I.C.P.[nb 1] | Caracóis (Snails) | 1956—1957 | Ota AB | T-33 Shooting Star | Re-designated as E.I.C.P.A.C. |
| E.I.C.P.A.C.[nb 2] | 1957—1977 | Monte Real AB | T-33 Shooting Star | Training and fighter operational conversion. Re-designated as 103 Squadron | |
| E.I.B.P.[nb 3] | 1964—? | São Jacinto AB | T-6 Texan | Basic flight training | |
| E.I.C.P.A.P.[nb 4] | 1960—? | Lajes AB | C-47 Dakota, C-54 Skymaster | ||
| Liaison and Training Squadron | 1955 | Tancos AB | Airspeed Oxford, Piper L-21 | ||
| 61 Squadron | 1956—1977 | Montijo AB | PV-2 Harpoon, P2V-5 Neptune | Anti-submarine and maritime patrol squadron | |
| 62 Squadron | 1956—1961 | Montijo AB | PV-2 Harpoon | Anti-submarine, maritime patrol and ground attack. Deployed to Africa | |
| 50 Squadron | 1958 | Ota AB | F-86F Sabre | Reformed as 51 Squadron | |
| 51 Squadron | Falcões (Falcons) | 1959—1978 | Monte Real AB | F-86F Sabre, Fiat G.91, T-38A Talon | Aircraft assigned to the squadron used a blue tail scheme |
| 52 Squadron | Galos (Roosters) | 1959—1961 | Monte Real AB | F-86F Sabre | Aircraft assigned to the squadron used a red tail scheme |
| 82 Squadron | 1961—1972 | Portela Airfield | DC-6 | Transport squadron. Re-designated as 131 Squadron | |
| 91 Squadron | 1961—1975 | Luanda AB[nb 5] | PV-2 Harpoon, Fiat G.91R/4 | Ground attack and reconnaissance | |
| 92 Squadron | Elefantes (Elephants) | 1961—1974 | Luanda AB | Nord Noratlas | |
| 93 Squadron | Magníficos (Magnificences) | 1961—? | Luanda AB | F-84G Thunderjet, B-26 Invader | |
| 94 Squadron | Luanda AB | Alouette III | Tactical transport squadron | ||
| 103 Squadron | 1962 | Beira AB[nb 6] | PV-2 Harpoon | Ground attack and reconnaissance squadron. Activated on February 1 and re-designated as 101 Squadron on November 19, 1962 | |
| 101 Squadron | 1962—? | Beira AB | PV-2 Harpoon | Ground attack and reconnaissance squadron | |
| 102 Squadron | 1962—? | Beira AB | Nord Noratlas | ||
| Liaison and Training Squadron | Beira AB | Auster D.5, T-6 Texan | |||
| 121 Squadron | Cafeteiras (Coffee pots) | 1965 | Bissau AB[nb 7] | Dornier Do 27 | Forward air controller, liaison and close air support squadron |
| 121 Squadron | Tigres (Tigers) | 1966 | Bissau AB | Fiat G.91 | Close air support and air defense squadron |
| 122 Squadron | Canibais (Cannibals) | 1969—? | Bissau AB | Alouette III | Close air support and tactical transport squadron. Armed with 20 mm cannons |
| 123 Squadron | 1969—? | Bissau AB | Nord Noratlas, Dornier Do 27 | ||
| E.L.T.S.[nb 8] | 1970—? | Portela Airfield | C-47 Dakota, C-45 Expeditor, Max Holste Broussard | Liaison, transport and search and rescue squadron | |
| 31 Squadron | 1970—? | Tancos AB | T-6 Texan, Dornier Do 27, Auster D.5 | Liaison, reconnaissance and close air support squadron. Mix Operational Squadron (Portuguese language: Esquadra Operacional Mista
) | |
| 32 Squadron | 1970—? | Tancos AB | Junkers Ju-52, Nord Noratlas | Transport Aircraft Squadron (Portuguese language: Esquadra de Aviões de Transporte
) | |
| 33 Squadron | Zangões (Drones) | 1970—1978 | Tancos AB | Alouette II, Alouette III | |
| 402 Squadron | Saltimbancos (Mountebanks) | 1969—1975 | Henrique de Carvalho[nb 9] | Alouette III | |
| 501 Squadron | Tigres (Tigers) | 1969—? | Nacala[nb 10] | T-6 Texan, Dornier Do 27 | Close air support and reconnaissance squadron |
| 502 Squadron | Jaguares (Jaguars) | 1969—? | Nacala | Fiat G.91R/4 | Close air support, air defense, and reconnaissance squadron |
| 503 Squadron | Índios (Indians) | 1969—? | Nacala | Alouette III | |
| 701 Squadron | Tete[nb 11] | T-6 Texan, Dornier Do 27, Cessna 185 | Liaison and close air support squadron | ||
| 702 Squadron | Escorpiões (Scorpions) | 1969—? | Tete | Fiat G.91R/4 | Close air support, air defense, and reconnaissance squadron |
| 703 Squadron | Vampiros (Vampires) | Tete | Alouette III, SA 330 Puma | Transport and MEDEVAC squadron | |
| B-26 Detachment | Diabos (Devils) | 1970 | Bissau AB | B-26 Invader | Operational testing of the B-26 in tropical environment |
| 801 Squadron | Lourenço Marques[nb 12] | C-47 Dakota | Transport squadron | ||
| 131 Squadron | 1971 | Portela Airfield | DC-6 | Transport squadron | |
| 132 Squadron | 1971—1976 | Portela Airfield | Boeing 707-3F5C | Transport squadron | |
| 42 Squadron | 1976—1977 | Lajes AB | SA 330 Puma | Search and rescue squadron. Re-designated as 752 Squadron | |
| 101 Squadron | Roncos (Roars) | 1978—curr. | Sintra AB | TB 30 Epsilon | Elementary and basic flying training squadron |
| 102 Squadron | Panchos (Panchos) | 1977—1992 | Beja AB | Cessna T-37C | Elementary flight training squadron |
| 103 Squadron | Caracóis (Snails) | 1955—curr. | Beja AB | T-33 Shooting Star, T-38 Talon, Alpha Jet | Complementary flight training and operational transition training squadron |
| 111 Squadron | 1978—1993 | Tancos AB | Alouette II, Alouette III, C-212 Aviocar | Fixed-wing multi-engine flight and helicopter flight instruction | |
| 201 Squadron | Falcões (Falcons) | 1993—curr. | Monte Real AB | F-16 Fighting Falcon | |
| 301 Squadron | Jaguares (Jaguars) | 1978—curr. | Monte Real AB | Fiat G.91, Alpha Jet, F-16 Fighting Falcon | |
| 302 Squadron | Falcões (Falcons) | 1981—1996 | Monte Real AB | A-7 Corsair II | Attack and air defense squadron |
| 304 Squadron | Magníficos (Magnificences) | 1984—1999 | Monte Real AB | A-7 Corsair II | Attack and air defense squadron |
| 401 Squadron | Cientistas (Scientists) | 1966—2011 | Montijo AB | C-212 Aviocar | Photographic survey, reconnaissance, and maritime patrol squadron |
| 501 Squadron | Bisontes (Bisons) | 1977—curr. | Montijo AB | C-130 Hercules | Transport squadron |
| 502 Squadron | Elefantes (Elephants) | 1978—curr. | Montijo AB | C-212 Aviocar, C-295M | Tactical and general transport, maritime patrol, MEDEVAC squadron. Detachment operating from Lajes Air Base |
| 503 Squadron | Golfinhos (Dolphins) | 1977—1993 | Lajes AB | C-212 Aviocar | Transport and maritime patrol squadron, initially designated as Maritime Patrol and Transport Squadron (Portuguese language: Esquadra de Transporte e Patrulhamento Marítimo
). Merged into 711 Squadron |
| 504 Squadron | Linces (Lynxes) | 1985—curr. | Montijo AB | Dassault Falcon 20DC, Dassault Falcon 50 | VIP transport and medical evacuation squadron |
| 505 Squadron | Jakarés (Alligators) | 1994—2005 | Montijo AB | Cessna Skymaster FTB-337G | Liaison and transport. Previously designated as 505 Flight (Portuguese language: Esquadrilha 505
) |
| 551 Squadron | 1978—1986 | Montijo AB | Alouette III | Tactical air transport | |
| 552 Squadron | Zangões (Drones) | 1978—curr. | Beja AB | Alouette III | Tactical air transport, helicopter flight training squadron. Search and rescue detachment operating from Ovar |
| 711 Squadron | Albatrozes (Albatrosses) | 1993—2008 | Lajes AB | SA 330 Puma, C-212 Aviocar | Search and rescue and MEDEVAC squadron |
| 751 Squadron | Pumas (Pumas) | 1978—curr. | Montijo AB | EH-101 Merlin | Search and rescue and transport squadron. Detachment operating from Lajes Air Base |
| 752 Squadron | Pumas (Pumas) | 1977—1993 2008—2011 |
Lajes AB | SA 330 Puma | Search and rescue and transport squadron. Merged into 711 Squadron |
| 601 Squadron | Lobos (Wolves) | 1986—curr. | Beja AB | P-3 Orion | Maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare |
| 802 Squadron | Águias (Eagles) | 1977—curr. | Sintra AB | Schleicher ASK 21, DHC-1 Chipmunk, LET L-23 | Air Force Academy flight instruction squadron |
Army aviation flying units[]
| Squadron | Name | Native name | Active | Base | Aircraft | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.E.A.R. | Republican Aviation Squadrons Group | Grupo de Esquadrilhas de Aviação República | 1919—1927 | Amadora Airfield | Breguet 14, SPAD S.VII | G.A.I. |
| E.M.A.D. | Mix Depot and Aviation Flight | Esquadrilha Mista de Aviação e Depósito | 1920—? | Tancos Airfield | SPAD S.VII | |
| Lubango Expedicionary Flight | Esquadrilha Expedicionária do Lubango | 1918—1921 | Lubango, Angola | Transferred to Huambo, Angola | ||
| G.E.A.A. | Angola Aviation Squadrons Group | Grupo de Esquadrilhas de Aviação de Angola | 1921—? | Huambo, Angola | ||
| Fighter Flight No. 1 | Esquadrilha Nº1 de Caça | 1926—1927 | Tancos Airfield | Breguet 14 | G.I.A.P.C. | |
| G.I.A.P.C. | Aviation Combat Defense Independent Group | Grupo Independente de Aviação de Protecção de Combate | 1927—? | Tancos Airfield | Air defense | |
| G.A.I. | Information Aviation Group | Grupo de Aviação de Informação | 1927—1938 | Amadora Airfield | Reconnaissance | |
| G.I.A.B. | Independent Bombardment Aviation Group | Grupo Independente de Aviação de Bombardeamento | 1927—1940 | Alverca | Strategic bombing squadron. Transferred from Amadora | |
| Independent Assault Aircraft Squadron | Esquadrilha Independente de Aviões de Assalto | 1939—1941 | Granja do Marquês | Breda Ba-65 | Ground aircraft squadron | |
| Day Bombardment Group | Grupo de Bombardeamento de Dia | 1938—1940 | Ota Airfield | 10x Junkers Ju-52/3m | Strategic bombing squadron | |
| Day Bombardment Group | Grupo de Bombardeamento de Dia | 1940—? | Ota Airfield | 10x Junkers Ju 86K-7 | Strategic bombing squadron | |
| Night Bombardment Group | Grupo de Bombardeamento de Noite | 1940—? | Ota Airfield | 10x Junkers Ju-52 | Strategic bombing squadron | |
| Fighter Flight | Esquadrilha de Caça | 1940—? | Ota Airfield | Gloster Gladiator II (15x) | Air defense | |
| Expeditionary Fighter Flight No. 1 | Esquadrilha Expedicionária de Caça Nº 1 | 1941—? | Rabo de Peixe Airfield, Azores | Gloster Gladiator II | Air defense and patrol squadron. Transferred from Tancos | |
| Expeditionary Fighter Flight No. 2 | Esquadrilha Expedicionária de Caça nº2 | 1941—? | Achada, Azores | Gloster Gladiator II | Air defense and patrol squadron. Transferred from Ota | |
| Mohawk Flight | Esquadrilha Mohawk | 1941 | Ota Airfield | Curtiss 75A-4 Mohawk | Air defense. Squadron code XY | |
| Expeditionary Squadron No. 1 | Esquadrilha Expedicionária Nº 1 | 1941—? | Rabo de Peixe Airfield, Azores | Curtiss 75A-4 Mohawk | Air defense | |
| 4th Flight | Esquadrilha 4 | 1943—? | Ota Airfield | Bell P-39L Airacobra | Air combat squadron. Also designated as Airacobra Squadron/Flight. Squadron code "OK" | |
| SU Flight | Esquadrilha SU | 1943—1944 | Ota Airfield | Hawker Hurricane IIC | ||
| TY Flight | Esquadrilha TY | 1943—1944 | Ota Airfield | Hawker Hurricane IIB | ||
| VX Flight | Esquadrilha VX | 1943—1944 | Ota Airfield | Hawker Hurricane IIC | ||
| XZ Flight | Esquadrilha XZ | 1943—1944 | Tancos Airfield | Supermarine Spitfire I | Air defense squadron. Transferred to Ota as XZ 3rd Squadron | |
| Information and Reconnaissance Group | Grupo de Reconhecimento e Informação | 1943—1952 | Tancos Airfield | Westland Lysander IIIA | Reconnaissance and liaison squadron | |
| 1st Flight - MR | Esquadrilha 1 - MR | 1944—? | Ota Airfield | Supermarine Spitfire V | Air defense squadron | |
| 2nd Flight - RL | Esquadrilha 2 - RL | 1944—? | Ota Airfield | Supermarine Spitfire V | Air defense squadron | |
| E.I.A.C. | Independent Fighter Aviation Squadron | Esquadrilha Independente de Aviação de Caça (VX) | 1944—1946 | Portela Airfield | Hawker Hurricane IIC | Air combat squadron |
| ZE Flight | Esquadrilha ZE | 1944—? | Ota Airfield | Bristol Blenheim, Supermarine Spitfire | ||
| GL Flight | Esquadrilha GL | 1944—? | Tancos Airfield | Hawker Hurricane | ||
| 41 Squadron | 1947—1952 | Lajes Air Base | SB-17G Flying Fortress, Douglas C-54 Skymaster, SC-54/HC-54 Searchmaster | Search and rescue and maritime patrol squadron | ||
| RV Flight | Esquadrilha RV | 1942—1948 | Espinho Airfield | Hawker Hurricane | ||
| Independent Fighter Aviation Group | Grupo Independente de Aviação de Caça | 1948—1952 | Espinho Airfield | Hawker Hurricane | Air defense squadron. Merger of squadrons VX and RV | |
| E.T.T. | Training and Transport Flight | Esquadrilha de Treino e Transporte | 1947—1952 | Granja do Marquês Airfield | Avro Anson T.1, Avro 626 | Training and transport. Replaced by PoAF's 1st Transport Squadron |
See also[]
- Portuguese Air Force
- Portuguese Army
- Portuguese Naval Aviation
- Portuguese Armed Forces
- Portuguese Colonial War
- Portuguese Army Light Aviation Unit
- List of aircraft of the Portuguese Air Force
- List of Portuguese Air Force bases
- Portuguese military aircraft serials
- Portuguese aircraft serials
Notes[]
- ↑ Pilot Complementary Instruction Squadron (Portuguese language: Esquadra de Instrução Complementar de Pilotagem )
- ↑ Fighter Aircraft Piloting Complementary Instruction Squadron (Portuguese language: Esquadra de Instrução Complementar de Aviões de Caça )
- ↑ Basic Flight Instruction Squadron (Portuguese language: Esquadra de Instrução Básica de Pilotagem )
- ↑ Heavy Aircraft Complementary Instruction Squadron (Portuguese language: Esquadra de Instrução Complementar de Aviões Pesados )
- ↑ Air Base No. 9 (Portuguese language: Base Aérea Nº 9 , BA9)
- ↑ Air Base No. 10 (Portuguese language: Base Aérea Nº 10 , BA10)
- ↑ Air Base No. 12 (Portuguese language: Base Aérea Nº 12 , BA12)
- ↑ Liaison, Training and Rescue Squadron (Portuguese language: Esquadra de Ligação Treino e Socorro )
- ↑ Base Airfield No. 4 (Portuguese language: Aeródromo Base Nº 4 , AB4)
- ↑ Base Airfield No. 5 (Portuguese language: Aeródromo Base Nº 5 , AB5)
- ↑ Base Airfield No. 7 (Portuguese language: Aeródromo Base Nº 7 , AB7)
- ↑ Base Airfield No. 8 (Portuguese language: Aeródromo Base Nº 8 , AB8)
References[]
- "Esquadras" (in Portuguese). Squadrons. Portuguese Air Force. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. http://web.archive.org/web/20140228050047/https://www.emfa.pt/www/esquadras. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
- "Air Units". October 29, 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20091020034412/http://geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/9376/units.htm. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
External links[]
- Aircraft squadrons of the Portuguese Air Force, official website (Portuguese)
The original article can be found at List of Portuguese Air Force aircraft squadrons and the edit history here.