Brazilian fighter

[Brian]

Hi guys

I think this query may stump you all! I have no information.

At the beginning of May 1940, a Brazilian fighter engaged a patrolling Walrus amphibian from HMS Cornwall off the coast of Brazil.

Any idea as to what the Brazilian fighter may have been? And where would it have flown from?

Cheers
Brian

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello Brian!
If you could tell me more precisely if it was on the North-East or South-South-East coast, I could trace for you the probable unit and kind of aircraft!
We do have more than 8,000km of coast...! However, at that time there were very few airbases on the country.
I am actually flying - very very far from home ( some 2,500km ) - but I do promiss you to have a check on some books I do possess, when I will be home.
Meanwhile, if you could tell me where actually the Walrus was intercepted; if it was a single engined fighter or a twin, it could help me enormously!
I will not forget you Brian, be sure of that - please wait more 10 days or so...
Yours
Adriano Baumgartner ( from Brazil )

[Brian]

Hi Adriano

Great news. I will see what more I can find to help you provide relevant information.

2,500km away from home, high in the sky! Wow! Do keep your eyes on the 'road' and watch out for those lady drivers!

Many thanks
Brian

[Leendert]

Brian,

It appears that the only fighter Brazil had at that time was the Boeing Model 256 (F4B-4, or P-12).
Perhaps the Vought O2U Corsair scout plane is a candidate too....

HMS Cornwall returned 18 July 1940 at Gibraltar after her South Atlantic duties.

Nice question by the way. I hope Adriano can find something.

Regards,

Leendert

[Brian]

Thanks for that Leendert - we(I) learn all the time!

Adriano - the 'incident' occurred off PERNAMBUCO - the Walrus had intruded Brazlian waters. Hope this helps you pin down the unit/aircraft etc.

Cheers

Brian

(Are you flying the aircraft or are you a passenger?)

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Leendert: You are, once more, very very well informed! I am astonished by your vast knowledge! Yes, our Air Force had those birds at that time, but ( I do not have my sources on hand now ); if I do remember correctly, they were based around Rio de Janeiro ( If my memory do not play tricks ).
However, I can guarantee you that there is a good book, in portuguese, with the main feats of our Air Force. I helped once a German Naval Historian ( very famous, Rohmler or Rohmer ) to find out the crew of a B-25 that had attacked a U-Boat around our coasts. This book provided a very good account and the names of all the crew! So, I guess I will have the information you are looking for.
PERNAMBUCO, as I was wondering, is on the NE of our Coast - the very probable place I thought the accident took place. I thought that it was around NATAL, further to the north, but RECIFE was and still is an Air Force Base, as well as Natal ( later used by USAAF, US Navy and Ferry Command Crews ).
Brian, I am actually flying as 1st Officer on Grand Caravans C-208B, with a Multinational Company that do Survey Flights. We are flying on the Amazon Area now, the main reason I am very very far away from home! I will return on the 25th, and will be able to check the book for you on the 26th.
I must remember that at that time, our NAVY had an indeppendent Air Force too. Later, in 1941, when our Air Force was instituted, all aircrafts were handed out to the Air Force. So, perhaps it was a Navy craft. Will have to check the book. Sorry!
Meanwhile, all the best for you and thanks for adding the correct place where the incident took place. It will be more easy now to find out the Air Bases and aircrafts around...
Friendly yours
Adriano

[Adriano Baumgartner]

PS: I will try to scan and send you pictures of our F-2B and other aircrafts at that time. I do not know if our Air Force did preserve the records of all the Squadrons. I will try to find out, if the book do not give us the kind of information we are looking for...
Yours
Adriano

[Adriano Baumgartner]

I´ve got some photos for you
Will post the information later
Cheers
Adriano

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Brian,
The computer I am writting you do not have the latest version of the Word package. I will have to go home to send you the information about the 6th Air Regiment who flew at RECIFE. Unfortunately did not find out the name of aircrew involved, neither serial number of aircraft.
The photos scanned up there came from the book: "A História da Força Aérea Brasileira" by Tenente-Brigadeiro Lavenère-Wanderley.
Will post more info to you soon...
Adriano

[Brian]

Many thanks Adriano

So it was a Boeing P-12 of 6th Air Regiment flying from Recife airfield? Excellent information.

Cheers
Brian