The Portuguese Spitfires of 'UN Flight'

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Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XII - UN Flight, Aeronáutica Militar, 1949

In June 1949 an appeal was made by the United Nations (UN) for military support in the ongoing UN peacekeeping mission in the Kernan Valley district on the border between Dhimar and Paran. In response, the Portuguese government sent a combined Aeronáutica Militar force using men and machines drawn from Tancos Air Base and Ota Air Base to form a new squadron designated as the 'UN Flight'.

Initially formed at Tancos Air Base in July 1949, the UN Flight were equipped with eight Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XII fighter aircraft and deployed to Dhimar later in the same month becoming the first combat aircraft to operate on behalf of the UN. All eight Spitfires received UN identifying markings on their fuselage and wore large Cruz de Cristo roundels in all six position with their two-digit Aeronáutica Militar serial numbers carried on the fin and fuselage. Used mainly in the ground-attack and reconnaissance roles the Spitfires occasionally encountered Parani fighter aircraft including Avia-built Fw-190D's but combat was avoided by both sides with the Parani aircraft being escorted away from the Kernan Valley area.

The Autumn Truce of 1949 saw the deployment come to an end and the UN Flight returned to Tancos Air Base in November 1949 remaining in service until March 1955.

 

 

 

 

 

Skin Credit: Adapted by me from skins contained in the recent floatplanes released by Cliff7600