Base Aérea de Natal – Força Aérea Brasileira

Nov 17, 2024 | Aviation Article

Author: Ian French
Photography: Ian French & Força Aérea Brasileira
Base Aérea de Natal (BANT) was originally called Parnamirim Airport and was a significantly strategic base during World War II for missions to West Africa.
BANT was used by the Brazilian Air Force, US Army & Navy and the RAF during World War II. It was commissioned as a military base in March 1942 and became operational in November of that year with 2º Grupo de Caça operating the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.

Before the war, Parnamirim Airport was a combined land and marine airport used by flying boats from the late 1930s. In 1940 the Italian airline LATI began a land based service using Savoia-Marchetti Tri-motor aircraft.

In 1953 the airport was renamed as Augusto Severo Airport. In 2014 a new larger international airport was opened nearby at São Gonçalo do Amarante and all civilian activity was moved there leaving Augusto Severo Airport as a purely military base.

Today, the following squadrons are based at Natal and constitute Ala 10 (which reports to the North East Air Command (II COMAR)):
– 1 Esquadrão /5 Grupo de Aviação
– 2 Esquadrão /5 Grupo de Aviação
– 1 Esquadrão /8 Grupo de Aviação
– 1 Esquadrão /11 Grupo de Aviação
– 2 Esquadrão de Transporte Aéreo

1° Esquadrão 5° Grupo de Aviação (1/5° GAv)
“Rumba”
1/5GAv was established in 1947 at Natal with the North American B-25J Mitchell in the bomber training role. These were replaced by the Douglas B-26B/C Invader from 1958. In 1971 the unit relocated to Recife and was later disbanded in 1973.

The unit was reactivated in 1981 to operate the Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante (C-95) in the multi-engine advanced training role. From 1987 the unit re-equiped with the Embraer EMB-312 Tucano (T-27) before being disbanded again in 1994.

in 2001, the squadron reactivated again, this time at Fortaleza, and again operating the C-95 and from 2008 the C-95A and from 2013 the C-95AM. The unit relocated to Natal in 2014.

2° Esquadrão 5° Grupo de Aviação (2/5° GAv)
“Joker”
2/5 GAv was formed in 1947 but did not activate until 1953 to operate the Republic F-47 Thunderbolt in the fighter trainer role. In 1956 the squadron re-equipped with the North American B-25J Mitchell and became a bomber training unit. From 1958 the unit converted to the Douglas B-26B/C Invader. In 1962 the Morane-Saulnier MS.760 Paris I (C-41) was introduced and from 1964 the North American T-6G Texan and two Beech TC-45T. The squadron was disbanded in 1970.

2/5 GAv was reactivated in 1980 to operate the Embraer EMB-326GB Xavante (AT-26). From 2004 these were replaced by the Embraer EMB-314B Super Tucano (A-29B).

1° Esquadrão 8° Grupo de Aviação (1°/8° GAv)
“Falcão”
1/8 GAv was formed in 1980 at Belém/Pará with Bell UH-1d Iroquois although it moved to Manaus later that same year. The UH-1D were replaced by Helibras HB.350B Esquilo (H-50) and Aérospatiale AS.355F2 Fennec (CH-55) from 1987, the latter being replaced by the Bell UH-1H Iroquois (H-1H) from 1997. In 1992 the unit moved back to Belém/Pará.

From 2010 the Eurocopter EC.725 Cougar (H-36) was introduced and the UH-1H was finally withdrawn in 2014. Following a major restructuring of the organisation of the Air Force, 1/8 GAv relocated to Natal in 2018.

1° Esquadrão 11° Grupo de Aviação (1°/11° GAv)
“Gaviao”
1/11 GAv was formed in 1967 as the Centro de Instrução e Emprego de Helicópteros (CIEH) at Santos, Sao Paulo with four Sikorsky S-55 Chickasaw (SH-19) and 36 Bell 47G-2 (OH-13H) to undertake the helicopter training role. It was renamed 1/11 GAv in 1979. The H-1H and H-50 replaced these helicopters. The squadron relocated to Natal in 2006.
2 Esquadrão de Transporte Aéreo (2 ETA)
“Pastor”
2 ETA was formed in 1969 at Base Aérea de Recife, Pernambuco subordinated directly to the Comando de Transporte Aéreo. The squadron became part of Núcleo do Comando da Primeira Força Aérea de Transporte Aéreo in 1969 and II Comando Aéreo Regional (II COMAR) in 1979. Recife was deactivated in 2018 and 2 ETA relocated to Natal.

2 ETA has operated the Douglas C-47 Dakota from 1969 to 1975, the C-95 from 1975, the C-95A until 2009, the Embraer EMB120 (C-97) from 2008, the Cessna 208A (C-98) from 2009, the C-95B from 2009 & the C-95M from 2013.

Aviation Press would like to thank the Força Aérea Brasileira for their hospitality and assistance with the article.

2020 C-97 of 2ETA

2299 C-95AM of 1/5 GAv

2317 C-95BM of 1/5 GAv

5906 A-29B of 2/5 GAv

5910 A-29B of 2/5 GAv in special marks to commemorate Natal Air Base’s participation in World War II

5914 A-29B of 2/5 GAv

5915 A-29B of 2/5 GAv in special marks to commemorate the unit’s 70th anniversary

5919 A-29B of 2/5 GAv

5926 5936 5952 & 5958 A-29B of 2/5 GAv

5926 A-29B of 2/5 GAv

5927 A-29B of 2/5 GAv

5927 A-29B of 2/5 GAv

8513 H-36 of 1/8 GAv

8514 H-36 of 1/8 GAv

8519 H-36 of 1/8 GAv

8776 UH-50 of 1/11 GAv

8776 UH-50 of 1/11 GAv

8782 UH-50 of 1/11 GAv

A-29Bs of 2/5 GAv at Sunset

A-29Bs of 2/5 GAv taxiing out for a mission

A-29Bs of 2/5 GAv taxiing out for a mission

An H-36 of 1/8 GAv approaches

A line of H-50 of 1/11 GAv

Aviation Articles:

Base Aérea de Boa Vista – Força Aérea Brasileira

Base Aérea de Boa Vista – Força Aérea Brasileira

Author: Ian French Photography: Ian French & Força Aérea BrasileiraBase Aérea de Boa Vista (BABV) was commissioned in 1984 and shares its facilities with the civil Atlas Brasil Cantanhede International Airport.The civilian airport, which was opened in 1973, was named...

Base Aérea de Belém – Força Aérea Brasileira

Base Aérea de Belém – Força Aérea Brasileira

Author: Ian French Photography: Ian French & Força Aérea BrasileiraBase Aérea de Belém (BABE) was established in 1944 and is a shared facility with Val-de-Cans/Júlio Cezar Ribeiro International Airport.Belém, along with other airports along the north east coast of...

Photo Reports:

Polish Air Force 100 Year Anniversary

Polish Air Force 100 Year Anniversary

The Polish Air Force celebrated its 100 year anniversary in late August 2018.  Celebrations included a families open day at Dęblin-Irena followed by an airshow at Radom-Sadków.  Ian French produced this photo report. All rights belong to Aviation Press Limited....