What Country's Aircraft Spot this Insigna
 

Cruising off the Coast of Portugal in 1940 I was approached by this aircraft, but I don't recognize the insignia - so of course I dived.

What country is this plane flying from? Is it neutral?

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/2...nsignaisth.jpg

Anyone?

Portugeese (think thats how you say/spell it) probably, or spanish...

Portuguese and it is neutral.

yay, I was right!:DL

Congrats! :up: You win a bottle of Port.

lol, I was wondering awhile myself why I kept getting plane contacts off portugal...:hmmm:

But but But the portuguese never had hurricanes?:timeout:
i thought they had bought a bunch of Gladiators????


just joking...

Yes, we had and a spitfires also, but only after 43.

David I, the insignia is the Cross of the Knights of Christ or normally Christ Cross. Is one of our natiotal symbols and use by the military forces. Possibly similar to the Iron Cross in the German forces.
The Knights of Christ was the "descender" of the Temple Order, here in Portugal, heir to everything. Normally, one says that the red cross is is the templar one and with the white one in the middle.

Hey Rhodes, say - do you have an idea what kind of aircraft the Protuguese Flew throughout the war? from , lets say, 1936 to 1945?


I Did a search on the net a few months back but couldnt find anything substantial, except for the defence of the acores (the allied and german both wanted the islands as a naval base).

How did the Portuguese equip their air force in those times?:hmmm:

I have, just give some minutes! Yes, all wanted the Azores, we should rent them to all. Few islands to ones, a few islands to other, do some money...ehehheh. Allways thought how the u-boat campaign would have been if they had the azores has bases.

From 1934 we had, five hawkers fury. From 1937, four hawker hind. Then in 36 Portugal adquire junkers ju-52/3m and in 38, junkers ju-86; breda ba 65 bis; gloster gladiators II.
When the war began, we had 2 biplane squads, 2 squads of bombers and heterogenic conjunt of planes, all obselete. Total of 70.

During the war, we manage to get twelve gruman goose g-21, in 1940 from the americans. The order of hurricanes and spitfires had been made, but we never got it before 43.
Then we had 60 hurricanes-II, 34 spitfires I, 13 blenhein, 8 lysander, 6 martinet tt mk I and 6 oxford mk I. Also had 15 spitfire mk V after october 43 and more in 44 and to end of the war, 6 B-24D and C-47 Dakota.

Boa dude that was not an important force to defend your country...:cry:

and some of these planes were captured because the allied landed them in portugal i think.

I would have wished you at least something potent:up:, a hundred fighters and 50 light and Medium Bombers.

Hurricane IIc and Blenheims for 1941,
Spit V and a bunch of B-25Mitchells for 1944


Thanks for the info!:yeah:

No, from the sorce I use, all were bought, lend-lease, etc.

Ah, who would wanted to invade us...:haha::haha::haha:

The Vikings no doubt :DL

Damn it and we went after the Russians!:damn::damn::damn:

:D