401 Squadron "''Cientistas''" () was an

aerial reconnaissance Aerial reconnaissance is reconnaissance for a military or strategic purpose that is conducted using reconnaissance aircraft. The role of reconnaissance can fulfil a variety of requirements including artillery spotting, the collection of ima ...

photography Photography is the art, application, and practice of creating durable images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is employed ...

and maritime patrol

squadron Squadron may refer to: * Squadron (army), a military unit of cavalry, tanks, or equivalent subdivided into troops or tank companies * Squadron (aviation), a military unit that consists of three or four flights with a total of 12 to 24 aircraft, ...

of the

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

disbanded in 2011. The squadron also conducted counter-narcotic operations, monitoring of

marine pollution Marine pollution occurs when substances used or spread by humans, such as industrial waste, industrial, agricultural pollution, agricultural and municipal solid waste, residential waste, particle (ecology), particles, noise, excess carbon dioxid ...

in the Portuguese exclusive economic zone, and natural resource surveying.

Roles and missions

The primary mission of 401 Squadron was aerial reconnaissance and photography. It had as its secondary missions the support of

electronic warfare Electronic warfare (EW) is any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EM spectrum) or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponen ...

maritime patrol {{Unreferenced, date=March 2008 Maritime patrol is the task of monitoring areas of water. Generally conducted by military and law enforcement agencies, maritime patrol is usually aimed at identifying human activities. Maritime patrol refers to ac ...

, and

search and rescue Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...

. The squadron also performed medical evacuations in the archipelagos of

Madeira ) , anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira") , song_type = Regional anthem , image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg , map_alt=Location of Madeira , map_caption=Location of Madeira , subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...

and

Azores ) , motto =( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace") , anthem= ( en, "Anthem of the Azores") , image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg , map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union , map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...

, and surveillance against narcotic trafficking,

illegal fishing Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) is an issue around the world. Fishing industry observers believe IUU occurs in most fisheries, and accounts for up to 30% of total catches in some important fisheries. Illegal fishing takes pl ...

, and pollution. Additionally, it provided support to national agencies and institutions by conducting mineral and energy exploration surveys.

History

The origin of 401 Squadron dates back to the creation of the Transport and Liaison Squadron ( pt, Esquadra de Ligação e Transporte) in 1966, based at Air Base No. 1 ( pt, Base Aérea N º1, BA1), which performed aerial photography tasks. That same year, the squadron used a

Wild Wild, wild, wilds or wild may refer to: Common meanings * Wild animal * Wilderness, a wild natural environment * Wildness, the quality of being wild or untamed Art, media and entertainment Film and television * ''Wild'' (2014 film), a 2014 A ...

RC8 vertical metric camera to perform the first aerial survey in Portugal. In 1975 the squadron started operating the C-212-100 fitted with RC10 cameras and

geophysical survey Geophysical survey is the systematic collection of geophysical data for spatial studies. Detection and analysis of the geophysical signals forms the core of Geophysical signal processing. The magnetic and gravitational fields emanating from the E ...

equipment. In 1979 the squadron's designation and name were changed to Reconnaissance Squadron ( pt, Esquadra de Reconhecimento) and later in 1984 the squadron was assigned the

mission. In 1991 the squadron was added to the fishing activity control, inspection and surveillance integrated system's ( pt, Sistema Integrado de vigilância, Fiscalização e Controlo das Actividades da Pesca, SIFICAP) command and in 1995 started operational flights with the C-212-300 equipped for maritime patrol and fisheries protection. Its aircraft's equipment was upgraded in 1993, with the acquisition of

Leica Geosystems Leica Geosystems (formerly known as Wild Heerbrugg or just Wild) based in eastern Switzerland produces products and systems for surveying and geographical measurement (geomatics). Its products employ a variety of technologies including GPS sat ...

RC30 cameras and GPS equipment. The squadron was re-designated as 401 Squadron in 1995, for the last time, and was assigned the search and rescue mission. In 2008 the squadron was assigned all the missions of 502 Squadron, which was transitioning from the CASA C-212 to the then entering service

EADS CASA C-295 The CASA C-295 (now Airbus C295) is a medium tactical transport aircraft that was designed and initially manufactured by the Spanish aerospace company CASA. Work on what would become the C-295 was started during the 1990s as a derivative of t ...

aircraft, and in May 2009, was relocated from BA1 to Air Base No. 6 ( pt, Base Aérea Nº 6). On December 6, 2011, a ceremony took place at BA6 signaling the disbandment of the squadron. 502 Squadron was then assigned 401 Sqn.'s original aerial reconnaissance, maritime patrol, and fishery protection missions.

Lineage

* Constituted as ''Esquadra de Ligação e Transporte'' (Transport and Liaison Squadron) in 1966 * Re-designated as ''Esquadra de Ligação e Fotografia'' (Photography and Liaison Squadron) in 1973 * Re-designated as ''Esquadra de Reconhecimento e Pesquisa de Recursos'' (Resource Research and Reconnaissance Squadron) in 1974 * Re-designated as ''Esquadra de Reconhecimento'' (Reconnaissance Squadron) in 1979 * Re-designated as ''Esquadra 401'' (401 Squadron) in 1995 : Disbanded on December 6, 2011

Aircraft

Beechcraft Model 18 The Beechcraft Model 18 (or "Twin Beech", as it is also known) is a 6- to 11-seat, twin-engined, low-wing, tailwheel light aircraft manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. Continuously produced from 1937 to November ...

(1966–1975) *

Douglas C-47 Dakota The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota ( RAF, RAAF, RCAF, RNZAF, and SAAF designation) is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in ...

(1974–1976) * CASA C-212-100 Aviocar (1975–2011) * CASA C-212-300 Aviocar (1994–2011)

References

Bibliography