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| PortugalPortuguese Air Force (Forca Aerea Portuguesa)
1912 to middle of 1930s
Wings | 
Rudder | 
Rudder (variant) |
|
The Cruz de Cristo [Christ's Cross] has been traditional national marking
of the Portuguese air forces since 1912. It was initially carried only on the wings in
the four standard positions. The national flag colours (both with and without the coat of
arms) were applied on the rudder in bands of unequal width.
Example: Martinsyde F.4/ADC.1 Buzzard
Middle of 1930s to 1952
Wings and fuselage | 
Rudder | 
Rudder (variant) | 
Tail (on British-built aircraft) |
|
In the mid-1930's, a new additional variant of the Cruz de Cristo was
introduced with a white disc background. Around 1939-1940, those started to be painted on
both sides of the fuselage, too. From late 1943 on, the fuselage crosses began to be
applied more and more without white disc background. Also from the mid-1930's, the army's
Arma de Aeronautica reduced the rudder markings of its planes to a small flag (either
with and without the national coat of arms).
Example: Curtiss P-36 Hawk/Hawk 75
A British-style fin flash was also used from the early 1940's, often to cover up
the RAF markings in which these aircraft were delivered to Portugal.
Example: Bristol Blenheim/Bisley/Bolingbroke
Wings and fuselage | 
Rudder | 
Rudder (variant) |
|
The navy's Aviacao Naval aircraft retained the earlier rudder markings in use
during the whole WWII period, sometimes supplemented with an additional small national
flag on the vertical stabilizer.
Black anchor | 
White anchor | 
Coat of arms |
|
An additional element designating attachment to naval air forces was a small
black or white anchor, painted ob both sides of the vertical fin.
Example: Bristol Beaufighter
1952 to Present
Wings and fuselage | 
Tailfin |
|
The current national markings were introduced on 1 July, 1952, when the Forca
Aerea Portuguesa was created as an indepen-dent force. The Cruz de Cristo with a white
background disc is to be carried in all six standard positions on winged aircraft and on
the fuselage sides only on helicopters. A fin flash in the form of the general layout of
the national flag (without the coat of arms) is to be carried on the tail.
Example: Fiat G.91
Wings and fuselage (variant) | 
Wings and fuselage (low-visible variant) |
|
The current national markings were introduced on 1 July, 1952, when the Forca
Aerea Portuguesa was created as an indepen-dent force. The Cruz de Cristo with a white
background disc is to be carried in all six standard positions on winged aircraft and on
the fuselage sides only on helicopters. A fin flash in the form of the general layout of
the national flag (without the coat of arms) is to be carried on the tail.
by Stephen Sender
Last update: 03/12/2005 |
