The 304 Squadron "''Magníficos''" () is an attack and air defense squadron of the

Portuguese Air Force , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = 1 July , equipment = , equipment_label ...

(PoAF) disbanded in 1999.

Roles and missions

Primary missions: * Tactical air support for maritime operations (TASMO), *

Aerial interdiction Air interdiction (AI), also known as deep air support (DAS), is the use of preventive tactical bombing and strafing by combat aircraft against enemy targets that are not an immediate threat, to delay, disrupt or hinder later enemy engagement of fr ...

(AI) Secondary missions: * Defensive counter air operations (DCA), * Offensive counter air operations (OCA)

History

In May, 1983,

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

concluded the renegotiation of the contract for the purchase of ex-

USN The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage of ...

A-7 Corsair II The LTV A-7 Corsair II is an American carrier-capable subsonic light attack aircraft designed and manufactured by Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV). The A-7 was developed during the early 1960s as replacement for the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Its design was ...

aircraft, resulting in a second order of 30 Corsair II (24 A-7P and six TA-7P), adding to the 20 A-7P already delivered between 1981 and 1982. Subsequently to this additional purchase the 304 Squadron "''Magníficos''" was activated on October 4, 1984, commanded by Major Botelho da Costa. The primary missions of tactical air support for maritime operations (TASMO) and

aerial interdiction Air interdiction (AI), also known as deep air support (DAS), is the use of preventive tactical bombing and strafing by combat aircraft against enemy targets that are not an immediate threat, to delay, disrupt or hinder later enemy engagement of fr ...

(AI), and the secondary missions of defensive and

offensive counter air Offensive counter-air (OCA) is a military term for the suppression of an enemy's military air power, primarily through ground attacks targeting enemy air bases: disabling or destroying parked aircraft, runways, fuel facilities, hangars, air traffi ...

operations (DCA/OCA) were assigned to the squadron upon its creation. It was disbanded in July, 1999, with the retirement of the A-7P Corsair II fleet in service with the Portuguese Air Force.

Aircraft

LTV A-7P Corsair II The Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) operated 50 LTV A-7 Corsair II aircraft in the anti-ship, air interdiction and air defense roles between 1981 and 1999. The Portuguese government acquired the Corsair II to replace the PoAF's North American F-86 Sa ...

(1984–1999) * TA-7C Corsair II (1984)
Nicknamed ''pomba branca'' (White dove) due to its white

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

painting, this aircraft was leased to Portugal for the operational conversion of A-7 pilots before the delivery of the first TA-7P Corsair II bought in a second order that same year.

Commanders

Major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

PILAV Tito Botelho da Costa (October, 1984 – January, 1988) *Major PILAV Carlos Donato (January, 1988 – October, 1988) *Major PILAV José Araújo Pinheiro (October, 1988 – September, 1990) *Major PILAV José Ramos Tareco (September, 1990 – May, 1991) *Major PILAV Fernando da Silva Dias (May, 1991 – November, 1992) *Major PILAV Vítor Francisco (November, 1992 – September, 1993) *Major PILAV António Leitão (September, 1993 – May, 1994) *Major PILAV Joaquim Nunes Borrego (May, 1994 – January, 1996) *Major PILAV Otílio Machado (January, 1996 – May, 1997) *Major PILAV Manuel Rafael Martins (May, 1997 – July, 1998) *Major PILAV Rui Elvas (July, 1998 – July, 1999)

External links

List of commanders of 304 Squadron
{{in lang, pt
Archived
2009-10-23), website about the service of the A-7 Corsair II in the PoAF Portuguese Air Force aircraft squadrons

Roles and missions

History

Aircraft

Commanders

See also

External links