At the end of 1942, the Brazilian government decided to send military units to fight alongside the allied nations in Europe by making available the so-called Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB).
An air component consisting of the 1st Fighter Aviation Group (1st GpAvCa) and since 1st Liaison and Observation Squadron (ELO).
On August 22, 1942, following the torpedoing of Baependi which caused enormous losses of human lives and material resources, the Brazilian government declared a state of war against Germany and Italy.
To modernize its fleet, Brazil purchased twelve Curtiss P-1942 fighters, two Douglas B-36s and six NA B-18 fighters from the United States in 25. Mitchell. Twenty-six A-28As followed Hudson.
On December 18, 1943, he was created in the Brazilian Air Force 1st Fighter Aviation Group (1st GAvCa), composed of volunteer FAB pilots and, on 20 July 1944, the 1st Liaison and Observation Squadron (ELO).
Major aviator Nero Moura and captain aviator João Affonso Fabrício Belloc were appointed respectively to command the FAB air units in Italy (following photo).
The 1st GAvCa left Brazil with 350 men, including 43 pilots, arriving in Livorno as part 350th fighter group (350th FG) of the US Army Air Force, a unit formed on 1 October 1942 in England. Equipped with P-47 fighter-bombers Thunderbolt, was known as 1st Brazilian Fighter Squadron with code "Jambock" and with battle cry "Fenta a pua!" which was suggested by then Lieutenant Rui, who had heard it from Capt. Firmino Alves de Araujo, at the Salvador air base; it was an expression that urged his companions and subordinates to quickly complete the missions and orders received from him.
Before being deployed in Italy, the group's pilots were sent to the bases of the 6th Air Force of the United States in Panama to receive training in modern air combat tactics. The aircraft used were versions of the Curtiss P-40 (opening photo) which had already been used by the group's pilots in Brazil.
The 1st GpAvCa embarked for Italy on 19 September 1944, arriving in Livorno on 6 October, aboard the troop transport ship UST Colombia. The 1st GpAvCa joined the 345th fighter squadron ("Devil Hawk squadron"), 346th FS ("Checker Board squadron") and 347th FS ("Screaming Red Ass squadron") to form the 350th fighter group, under the operational command of the 62nd fighter wing, XXII tactical air command and 12th Army Air Force of the United States (USAAF).
The group was divided into four squadrons, Red, Yellow, Blue and Green and each squadron consisted of approximately 12 pilots. The tasks consisted of direct support to the ground forces, interdiction of the battlefield, preventing the arrival of supplies and reinforcements; and the destruction of industrial and military installations in northern Italy.
On 4 December 1944, the 350th FG was transferred to Pisa, to a former Italian Air Force base, which offered better conditions of employment and, moreover, was much closer to the front line, thus increasing the autonomy of flight of the Thunderbolt (photo).
On April 16, 1945, the US 5th Army began its offensive along the Po River. The number of pilots had dropped to 25, some having fallen in combat or captured. Consequently the Yellow Squadron was deactivated and its pilots redistributed among the other squadrons. Each pilot flew an average of two missions per day.
On 19 April the German front was broken. On 22 April 1945 the three squadrons of the group took off at 8:30 in the morning at intervals of 5 minutes from each other to attack targets in the San Benedetto area, destroying bridges, ferries and vehicles. At the end of the day the group had flown 44 individual missions, two P-47s were damaged by the "Flak" and a third was shot down. From 11 November 1944 to 4 May 1945 the 1st GPAvCa flew a total of 445 missions, 2.550 individual missions and 5.465 combat flight hours.
The "XXII tactical air command" recognized the high efficiency demonstrated by the group, certifying that, in the period between 6 and 29 April 1945, it carried out only 5% of the total missions carried out by all the groups under its control , but destroyed: 85% of ammunition depots, 36% of fuel depots, 28% of bridges (19% damaged), 15% of motor vehicles (13% damaged) and 10% of retractable mobile vehicles (10% damaged).
The 1st Liaison and Observation Squadron in the Italian campaign was intended to support the divisional artillery of the FEB, carrying out observation, liaison and reconnaissance operations. Its commander was Capt. João Affonso Fabrício Belloc, who was promoted to the rank of major-av. during the Campaign in Italy.
The squadron operated with Piper L-4H aircraft (photo), a single-engine high-wing aircraft, equipped with a 65 HP engine, a speed of 121 km/h and the ability to carry a payload of 180 kg.
The 1st ELO landed in Naples on 6 October 1944, together with the 2nd echelon of the FEB, proceeding on troop landing barges towards Livorno and the staff was made up of 11 aviation officers, 1 quartermaster officer, 8 aeronautical mechanical sergeants, 2 radio sergeants and 8 maintenance auxiliaries.
Their first base was at the Royal Estate of San Rossore until 13 November 1944. The squadron also operated from bases in San Giorgio (PT), Suviana, Porreta Terme, Montecchio Emiglia, Piacenza, Portalbera and Bergamo in June 1945. On the 1st ° ELO flew 684 missions in almost 200 days of operations.
The courage and high degree of efficiency and availability demonstrated by the 1st GAvCa were such that the group was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation granted by the United States government. During the ceremony, Secretary of the United States Air Force E. Aldridge Jr. stated: "Their deeds will live as long as men fly. Their victories on the battlefield will be in our hearts as long as men honor heroism and courage."
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Photo: Força Aérea Brasileira / US Air Force / web
