Portugal maintained an official stance of neutrality during World War II, but its strategic location and resources made it a key player behind the scenes.
The country, under the Estado Novo regime led by António de Oliveira Salazar, balanced relationships with both the Allies and Axis powers.
Portugal’s neutrality allowed it to trade wolfram (tungsten), a critical resource for wartime industries, with both sides.
Portugal’s neutrality led to some interesting acquisitions.
Allied aircraft en route to North Africa occasionally landed in Portugal due to technical issues or navigational errors.
These planes were confiscated by Portuguese authorities, as their landing violated Portugal’s neutral status.
Many of these aircraft were incorporated into the Portuguese Air Force.
This unique situation allowed Portugal to bolster its air force without direct involvement in the conflict.
During World War II, Portugal’s air force primarily consisted of a mix of domestically acquired and confiscated aircraft.
These aircraft were used for home defense and other military purposes.
Aircraft
Airspeed Oxford I
Avro 626 Floatplane
Avro 626 Prefect
Bell Airacobra
Breda Ba 65
Bristol Blenheim
Caproni Ca.100
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Curtiss H75A-4 Hawk (Mohawk IV)
De Havilland DH.84M Dragon II
De Havilland DH-88 Comet
Fleet F-10B
General Aircraft Monospar ST-12
Gloster Gladiator
Grumman G-21B Goose
Hawker Hind Mk.I
Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Osprey III
Junkers Ju 86K
Lockheed Hudson IIIA
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Miles Master
Miles Martinet TT.Mk I
Short Sunderland III
Supermarine Spitfire
Credits
Airspeed Aircraft Since 1931-H A Taylor.
Airspeed Oxford and Consul (Warpaint No 136)-William Harrison.
Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939-1945- Neill Lochery.
