Portuguese Naval Aviation
Encyclopedia
The Portuguese Naval Aviation (more commonly known as Naval Aviation, although it received various official designations), was the air branch of the Portuguese Navy
until 1952, and is today the command of the Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships. Founded in 1917, it was integrated with the Portuguese Air Force
(PoAF) upon the creation of this new branch in 1952. The Naval Aviation was reborn in 1995, when the Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha (EHM) was formed.
The Naval Aviation origins begin in 1916, when two Portuguese Navy officers — Sacadura Cabral
and António Caseiro — were sent to France
to obtain their 'Wings'.
After their return, Sacadura Cabral was invited by the War Minister to designate an appropriate location for a future hydroplane Naval Air Station, which later became the Bom Sucesso Naval Air Station (Centro de Aviação Naval do Bom Sucesso). Meanwhile, Navy personnel started receiving flight and maintenance instruction at the School of Military Aeronautic (Escola de Aeronáutica Militar) and abroad, in France.
Since its official creation in 1917 the Portuguese Naval Aviation had the following designations:
From 1952 until 1958 the naval aviation's units formed inside the Portuguese Air Force a semi-independent branch designated Naval Air Forces (Forças Aeronavais). In 1958 this units were completely integrated with the Air Force, returning some of their pilots and technicians to the Navy.
helicopters on board the new Vasco da Gama class frigates
. The first two helicopters were delivered on July 29, 1993, and the pilots and maintenance crews started receiving training by the Royal Navy Air Arm
and Westland Helicopters
. In September 1995 the Navy's Helicopter Squadron was officially formed. This unit is currently based at the Montijo Air Base.
AgustaWestland Super Lynx Mk.95
, aircraft in service:?
Portuguese Navy
The Portuguese Navy is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the military defence of Portugal....
until 1952, and is today the command of the Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships. Founded in 1917, it was integrated with 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...
(PoAF) upon the creation of this new branch in 1952. The Naval Aviation was reborn in 1995, when the Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha (EHM) was formed.
History
Sacadura Cabral
Artur de Sacadura Freire Cabral, GCTE , known simply as Sacadura Cabral , was a Portuguese aviation pioneer who in 1922, together with Gago Coutinho , conducted the first flight across the South Atlantic Ocean, and also the first using astronomical navigation only, from Lisbon, Portugal, to Rio de...
and António Caseiro — were sent to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to obtain their 'Wings'.
After their return, Sacadura Cabral was invited by the War Minister to designate an appropriate location for a future hydroplane Naval Air Station, which later became the Bom Sucesso Naval Air Station (Centro de Aviação Naval do Bom Sucesso). Meanwhile, Navy personnel started receiving flight and maintenance instruction at the School of Military Aeronautic (Escola de Aeronáutica Militar) and abroad, in France.
Since its official creation in 1917 the Portuguese Naval Aviation had the following designations:
- 1917—1918: Navy Aviation Service (Serviço de Aviação da Armada);
- 1918—1931: Naval Aeronautics Services (Serviços da Aeronáutica Naval);
- 1931—1952: Navy Air Forces (Forças Aéreas da Armada).
From 1952 until 1958 the naval aviation's units formed inside the Portuguese Air Force a semi-independent branch designated Naval Air Forces (Forças Aeronavais). In 1958 this units were completely integrated with the Air Force, returning some of their pilots and technicians to the Navy.
Naval Air Arm
In 1992, the Portuguese Navy established a new aviation unit to operate the Navy's new Westland Super Lynx Mk.95Westland Lynx
The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
helicopters on board the new Vasco da Gama class frigates
Vasco da Gama class frigate
The Vasco da Gama class is a class of frigates of the Portuguese Navy. Named in honor of the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, the ships are based on the German MEKO 200 design, and are Portugal's major surface ships...
. The first two helicopters were delivered on July 29, 1993, and the pilots and maintenance crews started receiving training by the Royal Navy Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
and Westland Helicopters
Westland Helicopters
Westland Helicopters was a British aerospace company. Originally Westland Aircraft, the company focused on helicopters after the Second World War. It merged with several other British firms in 1961...
. In September 1995 the Navy's Helicopter Squadron was officially formed. This unit is currently based at the Montijo Air Base.
Aircraft inventory
The Naval Aviation uses the same designation system for aircraft as the PoAF.AgustaWestland Super Lynx Mk.95
Westland Lynx
The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
, aircraft in service:?
Naval air bases
- Lisbon Naval Aviation Centre: created in 1917 as a seaplane baseSeaplaneA seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
located at the Bom Sucesso Docks, being the first operational naval aviation base. On January 2, 1953, it was transferred to its new facilities in MontijoMontijo, PortugalMontijo is a town in Montijo Municipality in Portugal.The town has a population of 25,719.-References:...
that, besides a seaplane base, had an airfield, becoming officially designated as "Sacadura Cabral" Naval Aviation Centre. It was renamed as Air Base No. 6 on June 12, 1954. - Aveiro Naval Aviation Centre: was activated in 1918 on the Peninsula of São Jacinto, during World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, as a base for anti-submarine seaplanes operated by the French NavyFrench NavyThe French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
with the support of Portuguese land crews. In that same year it started to be operated by the Portuguese NavyPortuguese NavyThe Portuguese Navy is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the military defence of Portugal....
. Later an airfield was constructed and in 1953 it was converted into a Portuguese Air Force base. - Azores Naval Aviation Centre: seaplane base installed in 1918 in HortaHorta (Azores)Horta is a single municipality and city in the western part of the Archipealgo of the Azores, encompassing the island of Faial. Horta has a population of about approximately 15,038 people and an area of 173.1 square kilometers. The population density is about 88 persons per square kilometer...
during World War I. In 1919 it was transferred to Ponta DelgadaPonta DelgadaPonta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
, being deactivated in 1921. The centre was reactivated in 1941 during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
being definitely deactivated in 1946. - Macau Naval Aviation Centre: seaplane base installed at the TaipaTaipaTaipa is the smaller of the two islands in the Chinese special administrative region of Macao .- Geography :It is 2.5 kilometres from Macau Peninsula and east of the Lesser Hengqin Island of Zhuhai, Guangdong Province...
island in 1927 to support the naval forces that combated the piracyPiracyPiracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
on the seas of ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The centre was deactivated in 1933 but was reactivated in 1937, by occasion of the Chinese civil wars. In 1940 the centre was transferred to the new facilities constructed in the Exterior Port of MacauMacauMacau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
. In 1942 it was definitely deactivated. - Algarve Naval Aviation Centre: seaplane base constructed in 1918, at the Culatra IslandCulatra IslandCulatra Island is an island in the Algarve, Portugal. It is divided into three parts: Farol, Hângares and Culatra. It is 6 kilometres in length and 0.1 to 0.9 km width. There are about 1,000 inhabitants. The island is reached by Ferry from a pier at the eastern end of the Olhão and Faro seafront. A...
, on the coast of FaroFaro, PortugalFaro is the southernmost city in Portugal. It is located in the Faro Municipality in southern Portugal. The city proper has 41,934 inhabitants and the entire municipality has 58,305. It is the seat of the Faro District and capital of the Algarve region...
and OlhãoOlhãoOlhão , or Olhão da Restauração, is a city and a municipality in the Algarve region, in Southern Portugal. It is located near Faro, which is the district's capital and the capital of the Algarve. It is mostly a fishing port city...
, during World War I, to operate anti-submarine flying boatFlying boatA flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
s. Although its hangars and main infrastructures were built, it wasn't officially activated, serving later its facilities as support for a Navy's maneuvers and instruction zone.
Naval air units
- Military Aeronautics School: Portuguese ArmyPortuguese ArmyThe Portuguese Army is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in co-operation with other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of Portugal...
unit created in 1914, at Vila Nova da Rainha to train initial crew members for the Portuguese military aviation. Initially, besides the aeronautic personnel of the Army, the Naval Aviation personnel was also trained there. - "Almirante Gago Coutinho" Naval Aviation School : activated in 1928 to allow the complete formation of the Naval Aviation personnel , which instruction was, until then, partially done in foreign aviation schools. It executed its functions at the Aveiro Naval Aviation Centre facilities until 1952.
- B Squadron of the Navy Air Forces (Esquadrilha B das Forças Aéreas da Armada): land based naval attack bomber unit, dependent of the Lisbon Naval Aviation Centre, but based at the Lisbon AirportPortela AirportLisbon Portela Airport, also known as Lisbon Airport , is an international airport located north of Castle of São Jorge in the city of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal...
. Activated in 1942 and deactivated in 1949.
See also
- Aerial warfareAerial warfareAerial warfare is the use of military aircraft and other flying machines in warfare, including military airlift of cargo to further the national interests as was demonstrated in the Berlin Airlift...
- Anti-submarine warfareAnti-submarine warfareAnti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
- List of aircraft of the Portuguese Air Force
- Naval aviationNaval aviationNaval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...
- Portuguese Air ForcePortuguese Air ForceThe 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...
- Portuguese NavyPortuguese NavyThe Portuguese Navy is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the military defence of Portugal....