Monte Real Air Base
Encyclopedia
Monte Real Air Base in Monte Real
, Leiria
, Portugal
, was initially opened on October 4, 1959. The mission of this Air Base is to guarantee the readiness and deployment of the air force units attributed to it, and several operational Squadrons have already been based there, equipped with F-86 Sabre, Fiat G.91, T-33
Shooting Star, T-38 Talon
and A-7 Corsair II
aircraft.
, was founded at Air Base 2 but then moved to Air Base 5 after the completion of construction at Monte Real.
Adopting the motto "Alcança Quem Não Cansa," the pilots of Operational Group initially formed two squadrons: the 51st Squadron "Falcões" (Falcon
s) and the 52nd Squadron "Galos" (Rooster
s). Together the squadrons totaled nearly 50 F-86F combat aircraft. On the 4th of October, 1959, the President of the Republic Admiral Américo Tomás officially inaugurated Air Base 5.
On the 24th of December, 1981, a new chapter began at Air Base 5 with the arrival of first nine A-7P Corsair II fighter aircraft. The number eventually grew to 20, and these aircraft formed 302 Attack Squadron, taking on the symbols and traditions of the 51st Squadron "Falcões."
On the 28th of June 1984, during a meeting of the NATO Commission of Infrastructures in Brussels, the aerodrome of Monte Real was formally accepted as NATO infrastructure to be equipped with two attack squadrons of A-7P aircraft and a future interceptor squadron.
On the 25th anniversary of the inauguration of Monte Real Air Base, the 4th of October, 1984, the 304 Attack Squadron was officially activated and became the second attack squadron with A-7P aircraft. This squadron became the heir of the traditions, symbols, and deeds of the 93rd Squadron "Magníficos" (Magnificents), deactivated at Air Base 9, in 1973 in Luanda, Africa.
On the 4th of October, 1993, the 201 Squadron was reactivated and equipped with F-16s. This squadron resumed the mission of Air Defense, and inherited the traditions and symbol of the "Falcões."
On November 25, 2005, the 301 Squadron was transferred to Air Base 5 from Air Base 11 in Beja. The 301 Squadron received the first F-16AM (F-16A with the Mid-Life Update) for the Portuguese Air Force
. The 301 Squadron maintained the symbol and traditions of the "Jaguares" (Jaguar
s).
Both squadrons fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Monte Real
Monte Real is a town and a parish in the municipality and District of Leiria. It covers an area of 12.23 km² and has a population of 2,778 people. Monte Real, which in English means Royal Mount, was once a municipality , before being anexed to Leiria municipality.Monte Real hosts an air base ....
, Leiria
Leiria
Leiria is a city in Leiria Municipality in the Centro Region, Portugal. It is the capital of Leiria District. The city proper has 50,200 inhabitants and the entire municipality has nearly 120,000...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, was initially opened on October 4, 1959. The mission of this Air Base is to guarantee the readiness and deployment of the air force units attributed to it, and several operational Squadrons have already been based there, equipped with F-86 Sabre, Fiat G.91, T-33
T-33
T-33 may refer to:*T-33 Shooting Star a U.S. jet trainer*T-33 Light Amphibious Tank a Soviet light tankSimilar designations:*Alfa Romeo Tipo 33*London Buses route T33*Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T33...
Shooting Star, T-38 Talon
T-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first supersonic trainer and is also the most produced. The T-38 remains in service as of 2011 in air forces throughout the world....
and A-7 Corsair II
A-7 Corsair II
The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the United States Navy's Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, initially entering service during the Vietnam War...
aircraft.
History
In 1958, the 51st squadron was formed as the first of two F-86 Sabre squadrons of the new Operational Group 501. Operational Group 501, the second fighter group in the Portuguese Air ForcePortuguese Air Force
The Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
, was founded at Air Base 2 but then moved to Air Base 5 after the completion of construction at Monte Real.
Adopting the motto "Alcança Quem Não Cansa," the pilots of Operational Group initially formed two squadrons: the 51st Squadron "Falcões" (Falcon
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
s) and the 52nd Squadron "Galos" (Rooster
Rooster
A rooster, also known as a cockerel, cock or chanticleer, is a male chicken with the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels...
s). Together the squadrons totaled nearly 50 F-86F combat aircraft. On the 4th of October, 1959, the President of the Republic Admiral Américo Tomás officially inaugurated Air Base 5.
On the 24th of December, 1981, a new chapter began at Air Base 5 with the arrival of first nine A-7P Corsair II fighter aircraft. The number eventually grew to 20, and these aircraft formed 302 Attack Squadron, taking on the symbols and traditions of the 51st Squadron "Falcões."
On the 28th of June 1984, during a meeting of the NATO Commission of Infrastructures in Brussels, the aerodrome of Monte Real was formally accepted as NATO infrastructure to be equipped with two attack squadrons of A-7P aircraft and a future interceptor squadron.
On the 25th anniversary of the inauguration of Monte Real Air Base, the 4th of October, 1984, the 304 Attack Squadron was officially activated and became the second attack squadron with A-7P aircraft. This squadron became the heir of the traditions, symbols, and deeds of the 93rd Squadron "Magníficos" (Magnificents), deactivated at Air Base 9, in 1973 in Luanda, Africa.
On the 4th of October, 1993, the 201 Squadron was reactivated and equipped with F-16s. This squadron resumed the mission of Air Defense, and inherited the traditions and symbol of the "Falcões."
On November 25, 2005, the 301 Squadron was transferred to Air Base 5 from Air Base 11 in Beja. The 301 Squadron received the first F-16AM (F-16A with the Mid-Life Update) for the Portuguese Air Force
Portuguese Air Force
The Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
. The 301 Squadron maintained the symbol and traditions of the "Jaguares" (Jaguar
Jaguar
The jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
s).
Units
Monte Real Air Base hosts the 51st Operations Group (GO51). The GO51's operational fighter squadrons are:- 201 Fighter Squadron "Falcões" (Falcons)
- 301 Fighter Squadron "Jaguares" (Jaguars)
Both squadrons fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon.