1St BRAZILIAN FIGHTER SQUADRON

[[Gavca]CrossBones]

S!

Pictures of a 1St BRAZILIAN FIGHTER SQUADRON.

These images depict the first Brazilian fighter squadron, which fought admirably in Italy alongside U.S. units (350th Fighter Group) during World War II.



Squadron Insignia - 1st Brazilian Fighter Squadron
Senta a Pua!! - Hit Then Hard!!

[Gnomey]

Nice pics Crossbones.

[syscom3]

Did the Brazilian Thunderbolts ever get into any air-to-air fights?

[[Gavca]CrossBones]

Not... when the Brazil entered in the war, the allies already dominated skies of the Italy. Being thus, they had been used in ground attacks

Among the 48 pilots of the Brazilian Unit who carried out war missions, there was a total of 22 losses; five of the pilots were killed by anti-aircraft fire, eight had their planes shot down and baled out over enemy territory, six had to give up flying operations on medical orders, after suffering nervous breakdowns, and three died in flying accidents.

The remains of the brave Brazilian airmen who lost their lives in Italy were buried in the Brazilian Cemetery at Pistoia. Subsequently they were taken to Brazil and they are now in the crypt of the Monument of Dead of the Second World War, in Avenida Beira Mar, in Rio de Janeiro.

That is the story of the Brazilian Air Force activity in the Italian Campaign. The 1st Brazilian Fighter Group accomplished 445 missions, with a total of 2,546 flights and 5,465 hours of flight on active service. It destroyed 1,304 motor-vehicles, 13 railway waggons, 8 armoured cars, 25 railway and highway bridges and 31fuel tanks and munition depots.

The Brazilian Air Force, in its first experience of war outside Brazilian territory, sent to Italy an air unit, the 1st Brazilian Fighter Group, who staff came up to the highest expectations with respect to courage, sense of duty, spirit of sacrifice and professional skill.

Total of the operations of the First Brazilian Fighter Group in the Italy Campaign:

Missions accomplished...................................... ............ 445

Offensive missions.......................................... ............ 2,546

Defensive missions.......................................... ................... 4

Hours of flight in war operations.................................. 5,465

Total hours of flight accomplished................................ 6,144

Total Bombs dropped........................................... ...... 4,442

Incendiary Bombs (F.T.I)........................................... .... 166

Fragmentation Bombs (260 lbs)........................................ 16

Fragmentation Bombs (90 lbs).......................................... 72

Demolition Bombs (1.000 lbs)............................................ 8

Demolition Bombs (500 lbs)........................................ 4,180

Approximate total tonnage of bombs............................ 1,010

Rounds of .50 calibre ammunition fired.................. 1,180,200

Total rockets fired............................................. .............. 850

Liters of petrol consumed....................................... 4,058,651

Targets destroyed:

Targets/Objetives --------- ----- Destroyed ----------- Damaged


Railway engines ------------------------ 1 ---------------- - 13

Motorized transport --------- --------- 470 -------------- 303

Railway and tanks cars ----------------- 63 --------------- 163

Armoured cars ---------------------------- 7 ----------------- 11

Animal drawn vehicles------------------- 79------------------ 19

Railway and highway bridges------------- 4 ----------------- 14

Railway and highway cuttings ----------- 55 ------------------0

Buildings occupied by the enemy ---------129-------------- 92

Camps occupied by the enemy------------- 18 ------------ 14

Command posts ----------------------02---------------------- 02

Artillery positions ---------------------- 43 ----------------------7

Factories --------------------------------4 ---------------------- 3

Miscellaneous buildings-------------- 39 --------------------- 4

Fuel depots ----------------------------- 6 ----------------------2

Refineries ----------------------------------01 ------------------ 01

Radar stations----------------------------0 ---------------------2

[syscom3]

Thanks for the info. This is one of the under reported and covered aspect of the allied air war.

[Gnomey]

Originally Posted by syscom3

Thanks for the info. This is one of the under reported and covered aspect of the allied air war.

That it is. Thanks for that info Crossbones.

[Dogwalker]

Nice pics and good infos, thanks!

DogW

[FLYBOYJ]

Very cool info, very detailed!!! I love the "Animal drawn vehicles." I wonder if they kept records on the confirmed animal kills!