201 Squadron (Portugal)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Esquadra 201
201 Squadron


caption=
dates= February 4 1958 — July 31 1980, as 50 and 51 Squadron
October 1993
country= flag|Portugal
branch= Air Force
type= Fighter squadron
role=
size=
command_structure=
garrison=Air Base 2 (1958—1959)
Air Base 5 (1959—present)
garrison_label=Home Base
nickname="Falcões" (Falcons)
patron=
motto="Guerra ou paz tanto nos faz" (War or peace, it doesn't matter to us)
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equipment=
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battles=
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disbanded=
commander1=Major Luís Serôdio
commander1_label=
commander2=
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commander3=
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notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=Diving Falcon
identification_symbol_label=Badge
identification_symbol_2=
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identification_symbol_3=
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aircraft_fighter=F-86 Sabre (1958—1980)
Fiat G-91 (1965—1974)
F-16 Fighting Falcon
aircraft_trainer=T-33 Silver Star (1961—1970)
T-38 Talon (1976—1980)The 201 Squadron "Falcões" ("Esquadra 201") is fighter squadron of the Portuguese Air Force, which operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Roles and missions

The 201 Sqn. has as its primary mission the execution of air defense operations and conventional attack:
* Air defense operations;
* Offensive air operations, with the exception of suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD);
* Anti-surface operations (ASFAO), to include aerial interdiction (AI), close air support (CAS), anti-surface warfare (ASuW) with the exception of anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

History

The origins of the 201 Squadron "Falcões" date back to the 50 Squadron "Falcões", based at Ota (then designated Air Base 2), operating the F-86F Sabre. On September 11 1958 the squadron's designation was changed to 51 Squadron and it was later transferred to Air Base 5, in Monte Real, on October 4 1959.

In August 15 1961, eight F-86F fighters were deployed to Guinea-Bissau until October of 1964, having executed 577 missions, of which 430 were ground-attack missions.

From 1961 to 1970 the 51 Squadron operated also five T-33 AN Silver Star aircraft; having also operated Fiat G-91 R4 from November of 1965 to 1974, which were used in the transition of pilots to operate in the Portuguese African colonies. From 1976 to 1980 the squadron additionally operated six T-38A Talon training aircraft which were transferred to the 103 Squadron in July 1980.

In 1978 the 51 Squadron designated was changed to 201 Squadron.

The F-86F Sabre ended its service in the Portuguese Air Force officially with the deactivation of the 201 Squadron on July 31 1980.

In 1981, the 302 Squadron, to which the missions of tactical air support for maritime operations (TASMO) and air interdiction were assigned, was activated and the squadron continued to serve with the traditions of the squadron "Falcões".

The 201 Squadron was reactivated on October of 1993, with the mission of aerial defense, the first F-16 Fighting Falcon arriving in June 1994. In 1997 the squadron initiated its qualification in air-to-ground missions and on July of 1998 it was attributed the primary missions of air defense operations and as secondary missions the close air support and air interdiction. In 1999, the tactical air support for maritime operations (TASMO) was also assigned as one of its secondary missions.

Aircraft

* F-86 Sabre F (1958—1980)
* Five T-33 Silver Star AN (1961—1970)
* Fiat G-91 R4 (1965—1974)
* Six T-38 Talon A (1976—1980)
* F-16 Fighting Falcon A (1994—present)

Notable pilots

* Captain António Roque: First Portuguese pilot to reach 1000 flight hours in F-16 (1999)

Deployments

* Operation Allied Force (March 23 1999 — June 10 1999)
The 201 Squadron was deployed to Italy with a detachment of three F-16. Since these fighters were not converted to MLU standards, they were restricted to combat air patrol (CAP) missions during the conflict.
* Exercise Red Flag (2000)
The Portuguese detachment was constituted by six F-16 fighters.
* Operation Baltic Air Policing (November 1 2007 — December 15 2007)
The 201 Squadron participated in the patrol of the skies of the Baltic states (Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia) with four F-16 A Block 15 along with two F-16 AM of 301 Squadron.

ee also

* Portuguese Air Force
* List of F-16 Fighting Falcon operators
* Portuguese Colonial War
* 301 Squadron
* 302 Squadron
* Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

External links

* [http://www.emfa.pt/www/esquadrasdetalhe.php?lang=ing&cod=e201 201 Squadron information] at the Portuguese Air Force official website
* [http://www.falcoes.net Unofficial website dedicated to the 201 Squadron] pt icon
* [http://callsignafp.blogspot.com/2007/08/esquadra-201-comandantes.html List of commanders of the 201 Squadron] pt icon
* [http://www.emfa.pt/baltics/index.php?lang=ing PoAF participation in the Baltic Air Policing '07] , Portuguese Air Force official website dedicated to the operation
* [http://www.f-16.net/units_article289.html PoAF 201st "esquadra"] , squadron information at F-16.net