Uma Ideia Desse Retorno e Os Momentos Desses Militares em Parnamirim Field
Autor – ELTON C. FAY – Redator da equipe da Associated Press.
Publicado Originalmente no THE BINGHAMTON PRESS, de Binghamton, New York, EUA, edição de sábado, 25 de agosto de 1945
CADERNO DE CORRESPONDENTES: SOLDADOS RETORNANDO AOS ESTADOS UNIDOS POR VIA AÉREA A UMA TAXA DE 700 HOMENS POR DIA.
Natal, Brasil – Mais de 32.000 soldados vindos da Europa para casa, am por esta Base Aérea dos Estados Unidos na região oriental da América do Sul. Eles am em um fluxo constante. Mais de 700 homens por dia vem em aviões de Casablanca, Norte da África, em voos de até 17 horas. Apenas alguns dias a mais e eles estarão em casa.
Esses jovens tiveram sorte. Eles são prioridade máxima. Em geral, eles são homens destinados a baixa do serviço ativo. Separados de suas antigas organizações militares e movendo-se como indivíduos eles não teriam prioridade de viagem, que foi definida originalmente quando era urgente a redistribuição de soldados para os campos de batalha do Pacífico. Sob circunstâncias normais eles seriam os últimos a sair Europa por navios oceânicos, demorando alguns meses para isso.
Parnamirim Field – FOTO GETTY – IVAN DIMITROV
Mas a maior companhia aérea do mundo – A Força Aérea do Exército dos Estados Unidos e o seu Comando de Transporte, no entanto, tinha aviões – centenas deles a mão.
Este é um exemplo aonde o caminho mais curto para casa pode ser através do trecho mais longo. De navio eles teriam de percorrer cerca de 3.000 milhas, e de avião mais do que o dobro dessa distância. Seguindo uma rota descendo para Casablanca, Marrocos, cruzando a linha do equador e atravessando o Oceano Atlântico até Natal. Depois voando através do Caribe até os Estados Unidos. Em navios de transporte de tropas os soldados levariam em média 10 ou 12 dias através do Atlântico Norte. Já fazendo a viagem aérea pelo Sul, eles alcançam os Estados Unidos em cerca de três dias.
O acampamento militar de Parnamirim Field – FOTO GETTY – IVAN DIMITROV
O Campo de Parnamirim e seu imenso acampamento militar é o ponto de transferência do soldado-viajante. Ele pousa aqui no meio do caminho para casa, geralmente em um avião de transporte quadrimotor Douglas C-54. Muitos talvez estejam cansados de ficar ouvindo o barulho dos motores por 17 horas e até um pouco mais. Fartos das rações K – mas com os Estados Unidos a apenas dois dias de viagem.
Desembarque de um militar americano de uma aeronave C-87, enquanto um técnico brasileiro prepara-se para colocdação de inseticida na aeronave contra a malária – FOTO GETTY – IVAN DIMITROV
O grande avião taxia até a linha principal, representantes do Exército Americano sobem a bordo, incluindo médicos que fazem a colocação de pesadas doses de spray inseticida que enche o avião. A ideia é evitar que os insetos que transmitem a malária desembarquem impunimente por aqui, ou sigam mais adiante.
Alguns Estão Assustados.
Douglas C-54 – Foto – US Army.
Um ou dois deles dormiram no caminho em seus assentos, ou enrolados em um cobertor no chão. Muitos dos homens, muitas vezes a maioria, nunca voaram antes.
Eles estão cansados. De vez em quando eles ficam com medo das sacolejadas no voo. A terra parece boa para eles. Eles contam e repetem o pior de seus medos que aram na viagem – o salto sobre a água, sobre o Atlântico (sem perceberem que logo mais adiante estariam voando centenas de quilômetros sobre a selva amazônica).
So9ldados americanos em trânsito por Parnamirim Field Fonte – FOTO GETTY – IVAN DIMITROV
Houve alguns casos tremendos em que os soldados recusaram a seguir de avião pelo medo. Nesse caso estes eram despachados para Recife afim de embarcarem para casa no próximo navio a vapor. O Exército não pode obrigar seus homens a voar.
Seria possível em menos de duas horas transferir esses soldados dos grandes aviões transoceânicos para os transportes bimotores menores com destino ao Estados Unidos, mas os homens são mantidos aqui (Parnamirim Field) para dormir em beliches e ter refeições regulares.
A média de permanência deles é de 24 horas. O mau tempo daqui até Miami, Flórida, às vezes reduz o número de operações de voo diárias e exige uma estadia um pouco mais longa.
Não Consigo Sair Do PX
O objetivo é tornar a vida tão mais agradável possível. (Nenhum lugar é melhor que casa para um soldado indo nessa direção.) Natal, por uma aberração do clima, é um local fresco, varrido pela brisa constante, mesmo localizado em uma região seca.
Trabalho normal e diário em Parnamirim Field – FOTO GETTY IVAN DIMITROV
Para seguir os regulamentos de saúde do governo brasileiro o soldado em trânsito não pode sair desse posto, até mesmo para a cidade próxima de Natal. Mas ele encontra aqui um entretenimento melhor que a configuração média e uma chance de se exercitar, comer e dormir.
Esses soldados vão encontrar, no entanto, alguns aborrecimentos antes que ele tenha aquele pedaço de papel que vai libertá-los das regras, regulamentos e do exército. O oficial de instrução que conheci a bordo do avião me disse, com um sorriso irônico: “– Você vai descobrir que quanto mais perto chegar de casa, mais difícil será a guerra. Mantenha a camisa abotoada e as calças arregaçadas”.
Para um soldado que deseje realizar uma viagem de compras, este é o lugar. Possui um dos maiores posto de trocas (PX) do exército. Mensalmente, as vendas aumentam como US$ 500.000 (quinhentos mil dólares). O produto que está no topo da lista dos soldados para compras é a “bota mosqueteira”, uma meia bota de couro fabricada em toda a América do Sul. Bolsas de couro de jacaré vem em segundo lugar.
Outro aspecto do C-54 – Foto – US Army
Alguns homens, cerca de meia dúzia por dia, descobrem que pequenas doenças interrompem a viagem para casa. Se eles mostram temperaturas alteradas, ou outras evidências de doenças, elas permanecem em Parnamirim até o problema desaparecer e assim evitar que alguma doença contagiosa se instale.
ELTON C. FAY foi um repórter da Associated Press que atuou nos conflitos que envolveram os Estados Unidos, desde a Segunda Guerra Mundial até a Guerra do Vietnã. Ele foi um dos poucos repórteres informados antes dos bombardeios do general Jimmy Doolittle contra no Japão em abril de 1942 e durante o resto do conflito escreveu sobre os principais eventos da guerra. Esteve em duas ocasiões em Natal e Parnamirim Field. Fay ingressou no serviço de notícias em Albany, New York, e mudou-se para Washington em 1932, cobrindo o antigo Departamento da Marinha e depois junto ao Pentágono. Faleceu aos 81 anos, em 1º de setembro de 1982.
“Nenhum conteúdo desse site, independente da página, pode ser usado, alterado ou compartilhado (além das permitidas por meio de botões sociais e pop-ups específicos) sem a permissão do autor, estando sujeito à Lei de Direitos Autorais n. 9.610, de 19 de fevereiro de 1998”.
No one disputes the importance of Natal in the context of Brazil’s participation in World War II. The existence of an intense traffic of transport planes and bombers, between the air bases on the island of Ascension, Dakar and Accra, was a contributing factor in the Allied victory in this conflict. In addition to point for air, do not forget that Natal aircraft patrolling the Brazilian coast were destroyed and also some submarines.
But Natal was not just the only Brazilian city that participated in this effort by the Allied victory. Even to a limited extent, other cities also had air bases and helped Brazil in its war effort. Fortaleza, capital of Ceará state, was one of them.
The city of Fortaleza in 1937
The First Air Bases and the Americans arrived
In this city the first airfield was the “Alto da Balança”, which became a point of of the Brazilian National Air Mail planes.
The site was maintained by a unit of the Brazilian Army since September 21, 1936 and also served for the Brazilian and foreign airlines. In the history of the “Alto da Balança” Field, was stopping point for various foreign aviators who carried out air flights. One of these was the famous American aviatrix Amelia Mary Earhart, that landed in Fortaleza on June 4, 1937.
The researchers Augusto Oliveira and Ivonildo Lavor, authors of “The history of aviation in Ceara”, when the Americans were deploying their bases in the Northeast of Brazil, even before the Brazilian declaration of war against and Italy, they decided that Fortaleza on the air base site would be built on old farm called “Sítio Pécy”, which became known as “Pici Field”, and construction has started in July 1941.
When the track was still in its final construction phase, it was opened prematurely when a B-17 landed, when lost in relation to its original route. According to the two authors of “The history of aviation in Ceará,” the big four-engine plane caused some panic in Fortaleza.
Also according to Augusto Oliveira and Ivonildo Lavor, with the growth of air traffic for Natal, and the fact landing strip in “Pici Field” had completed a limited size, the command of the USAAF in the region decided to build a second landing strip at Fortaleza. The “Pici Field” was then under the responsibility of the U.S. Navy and the new site was given the name “Adjacent Field” and this was near the “Pici Field”.
Weapons being transported to Lockheed PV-1 Ventura U. S. Navy in “Pici Field”.
Inaugurated on December 10, 1943, “Adjacent Field” served a great purpose for five months until May 14, 1944, in order to vent the air traffic in Natal, the site was the starting point of large four-engine aircraft, most of them belonging to the 15th Air Force which had bases in southern Italy and moved non-stop directly to Dakar.
The American detachment that operated the base was known as 1155th Army Air Force Base Unit – Fortaleza (AAFBU Fortaleza), which was part of the South Atlantic Division, all subordinate to ATC – Air Transport Command.
Fortaleza before the Second World War. Source – Book “Ah Fortaleza!”, Gilmar Chaves, Patricia Veloso, Peregrina Capelo, organizers. Fortaleza: Terra da Luz Editora, 2006, pg. 49.
During this period the use of “Adjacent Field” was very intense. 1.778 crossings were made from this base. From May 15, 1944, this type of operation, received only ing airliners or some aircraft that had an emergency.
Taking the “Land of the Sun”
Yet despite this apparent limited use between 1942 and 1945, there was always the presence of U.S. military personnel in the city of Fortaleza. There was even a local branch of the USO.
The USO headquarters in Fortaleza, actually known as the notorious “Estoril Restaurant” in Iracema Beach. Source – Book “Ah Fortaleza!”, Gilmar Chaves, Patricia Veloso, Peregrina Capelo, organizers. Fortaleza: Terra da Luz Editora, 2006, pg. 62.
Its USO headquarters in Fortaleza was a sumptuous residence on the seaside on Iracema Beach. The old Fish Beach was a place still so little used by local people, where there were few vacation homes. The residence used by the Americans, a real palace, was built in 1920 by a wealthy city dweller who first called initially “Vila Morena”.
My friends in Fortaleza have commented, that information from their grandparents and parents who lived those days of North American presence in the city, it was thought that these foreign military headquarters USO was a nice place with an inviting breeze, a great swimming place in deliciously warm water under a blazing sun. And then enjoy delicious coconut water.
The U.S. military in a moment of relaxation.
Apart from exploring the nature seaside, the U.S. military took advantage of other good things of Ceará. They maintained cordial relations with the girls in town. These were traditional families, usually beautiful, elegant, educated and did not care for criticism of local society. Soon these young men were derisively dubbed the “Coca-Colas.” It is said that the name in a derogatory way, they appeared to have the privilege of drinking the famous American soft drink, which at the time, was only seen on the big screen. They probably drank Coca-Cola plant from “The Coca-Cola Company” in Natal.
This is B24H, No. 41-28750, named as “The Thunder Mug”, belonging to 789 Squadron, the 467th Bomb Group, commanded by Lieutenant Charles Kagy on the transatlantic route across South America At the bottom of the control tower “Adjacent Field”- http://moraisvinna.blogspot.com
Memoirs
Despite this positive climate, the age of aircraft by the Northeast of Brazil toward Africa was not without its problems.
In archives of the United States Army Air Force – USAAF, there are three unpublished reports of accidents with aircraft B-24, “Adjacent Field” which has as its point of departure or arrival.
The legendary B-24.
Manufactured by Consolidated Aircraft, the legendary B-24, known as the “Liberator,” was a strategic bomber, with ten machine guns 12.7 mm Browning M2 model defense. He airplane had a total weight of 29,500 kg, could take nearly six tons of high-explosive bombs, at a maximum speed of 470 km / h, at a maximum altitude of 8,500 meters, with a range of 6,000 kilometers. The crew usually consisted of 10 militaries. This was the model airplane seen more in Fortaleza during the busiest time of the aircraft toward Africa.
Group B-24 bombers in the Pacific Island before takeoff.
The Problems with the B-24
The first accident occurred in the region on January 22, 1944, when the B-24 ed with the numeral 42-100307, led by second lieutenant Henry A. Daum, around one o’clock in the afternoon amid heavy rain, crashed into a mountain 25 miles southwest of Fortaleza. All six people on board died.
Details of the briefing paper from falling B-24 No. 42-100307, commanded by second lieutenant Henry A. Daum in collision with a mountain in Ceará – Source – National Archives, Washington, D. C., United States.
Limited information and few details, the report of the destruction of the B-24 pilot by second lieutenant Daum shows that the accident probably occurred in the mountains between the towns of Caucaia and São Goncalo do Amarante.
The second accident occurred on the morning of February 8, 1944, when the B-24H, 41-29293 belonging to 758 Squadron, the 459th Bomb Group, commanded under the second lieutenant Daniel B. MacMillin, of Stephenville, Texas, left for Dakar, Senegal’s capital today.
Details of the report on the disappearance of the B-24H, No. 41-29293 – Source – National Archives, Washington, D. C., United States.
At that time, according to the documentation, each plane that took off from Fortaleza was obliged to send a coded message, in periods of pre-determined time, for they knew they were flying and their position. In the first three hours the message arrived, then nothing. The B-24 and his ten crewmen were lost. The documents show that for ten days were accomplished visual search tasks, but never heard what happened to this aircraft, with the lieutenant Daum and his crew.
Group B-24 over the sea. Source -Archive Life Magazine.
But the best documented case was the crash of a B-24 bomber in Fortaleza.
The Tragedy of the B-24 of Lt. Brock
At around midnight and fifty minutes on February 28, 1944, the B-24H, numeral 42-52645, commanded by second lieutenant William M. Brock Jr., took off toward Dakar, but due to problems in one of the engines, made a turn to land and fell.
Part of the report by Major Ernest E. Dryer, classified as “SECRET” – Source – National Archives, Washington, D. C., United States.
The operations officer “Adjacent Field”, major Ernest E. Dryer prepared a brief report about the tragic fact.
Major was called shortly after one o’clock, where he was informed by the officer of the day on 1155th AAFBU who had a major fire southwest of the “Adjacent Field” and that a Brazilian had said that a plane had crashed. For major Dryer this fire was too strong to be just a housing problem in any one local residence, and one of the planes to fly took off from the base site. But the fire covered a large area, the operations officer and a group of men did not even wait the return of the plane and left in car to investigate.
B-24 bombers of the 15th Air Force, attacking the refinery in Ploesti, Romania.
Upon arriving at the scene of the fire, major Dryer found that it actually was an accident with a B-24 model airplane, with the number 42-52645. At the site were already of the police and fire department of the city of Fortaleza to keep the fire under control.
The operations officer, took command and sent a messenger back to base to inform the medical officer to bring ambulances and military police. Immediately work was started to report the details of the accident. They soon found that all ten crew had died.
Airplane parts, broken bodies and personal belongings were scattered over a distance of 1000 feet. The body of one crew member was hanging from a tree. American guards were placed to guard the wreck and waited for the medical officer of the base to take over the charge of the bodies.
Checking the number of the plane with the boot record, it was discovered that one B-24 was the last to leave the base that night and crashed three minutes after takeoff.
B-24 burning.
The plane was so damaged that a check of the controls was not possible. It was noted that the right wing had hit a tree and was broken. For this reason the path of the plane was close to the ground and had shifted about 90 degrees to the right. Then hit the ground, and was dragged in a straight line for about 1000 feet, disintegrating along the way.
Finally, the B-24 hit a tree, stopped in a ditch and exploded, throwing debris over a wide area. In the fall the aircraft destroyed an empty shack and an oil tank was thrown through the roof of another hut, but no one on the ground died.
Highlights of the testimony of the Brazilian woman about the fall of the B-24.
The documentation by the main witness, the Brazilian, Laura Ramos Barreto, who lived about a mile away from the base, which today is probably in the neighborhood of Montese.
In her report delivered at the premises of the 1155th AAFBU, Laura said she always listened at night the planes taking off from “Adjacent Field” and heard that on this occasion an aircraft whose engines stopped suddenly near her residence. She was surprised, when looking at the plane she saw three explosions on the ground, followed by heavy fire.
An accident of an unusual B-24 in Italy.
To Major Ernest E. Dryer, examination of the propellers showed that at least three of the engines had operational capacity, but that could not be given a conclusive opinion, due to the extent of damage.
The investigations showed that the cause of the accident was a failure in one engine, which was certainly the most destroyed immediately after takeoff. Probably the pilot retracted the flaps at a very low altitude, thus making the B-24 fly too close to the ground, hitting a tree, tearing the plane’s right wing and causing the explosion.
The bodies were buried in Fortaleza and transferred to the United States in 1947.
They were part of the following crew of the B-24H, 42-52645;
-Second Lieutenant William M. Brock Jr., pilot -Second Lieutenant Robert D. Wear, co-pilot -Second Lieutenant James H. Beatty, navigator -Second Lieutenant William D. Davies, bomber -Sergeant Kelley L. Epley, flight engineer -Sergeant Homer E. Hill, radio operator -Sergeant William C. Ship, gunner -Sergeant Thomas M. Bassett, gunner -Sergeant Leo P. Desjardins, gunner -Sergeant Jack Z. Roby, gunner
Second Lieutenant Robert D. Wear, co-pilot.
Sergeant Jack Z. Roby, gunner.
The participation of air bases in Brazil was not only restricted to Natal, these reports show that there are certainly many stories to be told.
P.S. – I would like to thank the researcher Ângelo Osmiro, for your in this work.
Hoje Realizei Uma Entrevista Sobre Esse Local de Tanta Importância Histórica Para Natal e O Rio Grande do Norte – Está Recuperada e Tudo Ficou Muito Bonito – Agora é Aguardar a Inauguração.
Rostand Medeiros – Instituto Histórico Geográfico do Rio Grande do Norte
Hoje eu tive a oportunidade de retornar ao prédio histórico da Rampa, às margens do rio Potengi, um local cheio de belezas e de muitas histórias, principalmente sobre aviação e a presença das tropas americanas em Natal durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Essa reportagem foi produzida pela TV Tropical de Natal, que retransmite o sinal da TV Record para todo o Rio Grande do Norte e foca em aspectos ligados à questão do turismo histórico na capital potiguar. Este trabalho está recebendo o apoio da Secretaria Municipal de Turismo, através do competente Secretário Fernando Fernandes. Já o contato com a TV Tropical foi organizado por Kelly Barros e conduzida de forma muito positiva pela jornalista Mara Godeiro. Eu aproveito e agradeço a todos pela atenção a mim dispensada nessa atividade.
Na oportunidade eu falei sobre os aspectos históricos que envolvem esse local, tais como a agem dos grandes hidroaviões da empresa aérea Pan American Airways, dos Estados Unidos, e da sua subsidiária brasileira, a Panair. Comentei igualmente sobre a presença dos presidentes Roosevelt e Vargas naquele local em janeiro de 1943, quando ambos realizaram a chamada “Conferência do Potengi” e visitaram o prédio com arcos da Rampa. Também comentei sobre a utilização do local como base de hidroaviões pela Marinha dos Estados Unidos durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Realmente a recuperação do prédio, conduzida pela Secretaria Estadual de Turismo, que deu todo apoio para a realização dessa entrevista, ficou muito bem feita e o prédio histórico da Rampa e o seu entorno está realmente muito bonito. Está como se diz por aqui – “Estalando de novo”.
Esperamos ansiosos pela inauguração deste espaço, onde desejamos que ele seja um marco de mudanças positivas nos processos de ampliação da democratização e também de valorização da informação histórica sobre esse período tão intenso e interessante de Natal e do Rio Grande do Norte.
Brazil’s participation in World War II was the culmination of a foreign policy emphasis that began in 1902. That year, Foreign Minister Rio Branco set Brazil on a course of close relations with the United States. He believed that ties with the United States, a growing world power, would promote Brazil’s aims at leadership in the Latin American region and provide international prestige.
Geopolitical Situation
After the 1930 revolution and 1937 coup that brought Getúlio Dornelles Vargas to power, Brazil’s political priorities were industrialization and the build up of military power. The country balanced its relationship with the United States through closer ties with the Axis powers of Nazi , Italy and Japan.
became the biggest buyer of Brazil’s cotton and its main supplier of weapons. Brazil’s leading politicians were divided between “Pro-USA” and “Pro-Axis” factions. Concern that the Latin American region could shift away from the United States politically prompted the istration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt to launch its “Good Neighbor” policy of cultural and economic assistance in place of an earlier policy of direct intervention in Latin American affairs.
Military Bases
Brazil and the United States adopted neutral positions in September 1939 on the outbreak of war in Europe. However, the United States became concerned about a potential German attack on the Western Hemisphere should Britain fall, figuring the most likely route for this to be from North Africa to northeastern Brazil. In 1941, Brazil agreed to the construction and enlargement of American air bases in northern and northeastern Brazil.
Parnamirim Field in Natal, Northeastern Brazil, the most important air base in the southern hemisphere
When the United States entered the war in 1941, the U.S. Navy was allowed to use Brazilian ports in its anti-submarine campaign. The air bases became an essential part of the Allied air transport system, a stopover for planes heading to Africa, the Mediterranean and points beyond.
Natal, the largest and most important air base in Brazil
The World War II gave an impulse to the growth of Natal and surroundings.
Seaplane at Potengi River. For the US government to Natal region is particularly important for its strategic position in the South Atlantic
It is estimated that, before the War, Natal had 40,000 inhabitants; after the war, not only the population doubled to nearly 80,000 inhabitants, but the city also had improvements in the infrastructure and one airport (the airport of Parnamirim).
The Americans only entered the War on December 7th 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour; however, since the eclosion of the conflict, in 1939, the Americans were watching with preoccupation the expansion of the Axis powers.
American strategists were concerned with an eventual movement from the Axis towards the American continent; since 1940, Italians and Germans were occupying positions in North Africa; the next step could be the invasion of South America.
In 1939, the Major Delos C. Emmons, commander of the US Air Force, overflew the coast of Brazilian Northeast, and concluded that Natal was the most strategic point, both for a German invasion and for the Allies to use as a ing site to the operations in Africa.
The US were not at war yet, and, to not create diplomatic tensions, decided to create a Program for Development of Airfields; to avoid the direct envolvement of the US government, the airline company PanAm was the co-signer of the agreement.
The first airplane to land in Parnamirim was the “Numgesser-et-Coli”, a monomotor Breguet-19, piloted by Dieu Coster et Le Brix, on October 14th 1927; before then, only aquaplanes arrived in Natal, on the waters of the Potengi River. According to Clyde Smith Junior, this was itself a Historic flight, because it was the first inter-Atlantic flight in the East-West direction. There was not an airport, however; instead, there was little more than the runway.
Hangar nose in Parnamirim Field
With fundings of the US government, the “Parnamirim Field” was constructed. It became the largest US basis outside American territory. Not only the airport, but also the infrastructure (roads, housing, etc) was built from ground.
Thousands of Brazilians migrated to Natal, looking for work. Also, Brazilian soldiers were sent to the Army and Navy bases. These movements explain the growth in population during the period.
After US entered the war, there was no more need for diplomatic actings. On December 11th 1941, a US Navy fleet composed by 9 aircrafts PB4 Catalina and one Clemson arrived in Natal; two weeks later, 50 marines arrived, to patrol the basis.
A maritime patrol aircraft PV-1 take off from Parnamirim Base
It is estimated that, during the War, between 3,000 and 5,000 Americans were located in Parnamirim. Also, tens of thousands of Americans and British ed by Natal, in transit. Parnamirim was the busiest airport in the world; flights were taking off and landing every three minutes.
Raw Materials and War Declaration
Brazil supplied iron ore, manganese, bauxite, tungsten, industrial diamonds and especially rubber to the United States during World War II. The Japanese occupation of Southeast Asia had halted 90 percent of world rubber supplies. Brazil received $100 million in arms and military equipment under the Lend-Lease Program, through which the United States supplied its allies.
Natal newspaper announcing the sinking of a Brazilian boat in March 1942
Brazil’s close cooperation attracted attacks on its merchant shipping by Axis submarines. Italian and German submarines sank a total of 36 Brazilian merchant ships by August 1942 when Brazil declared war on the Axis powers.
Expeditionary Force
After an initial reluctance to commit troops to the war effort, Brazilian politicians decided that their country’s direct participation would achieve it a special status after the war. The Brazilian Expeditionary Force started as a political project to make Brazil a “special ally” of the United States.
Brazilian Expeditionary Force shipping in Rio de Janeiro. Destiny – The Italian front.
Britain opposed the involvement of Brazilian troops partly because of perceived pro-Axis sympathies of some Brazilian politicians, and partly because of troops of too many nationalities in the Mediterranean Theater. Doubts that the BEF would be deployed in combat at all led to its nickname “the Smoking Cobras.” This referred to a Brazilian saying, equivalent to “pigs might fly,” stating that it would be more likely for a snake to smoke than for the BEF to be deployed. As a result, the BEF insignia was a coiled cobra with head upright and smoking a pipe.
Deployment in Europe
The U.S. government considered deploying the BEF in southern Brazil on the Argentine frontier following coups in Argentina in 1943 and 1944, and a 1943 Argentina-inspired coup in Bolivia. However, the Americans conceded to BEF deployment in Italy because of Brazilian wartime cooperation. A total of 25,335 Brazilian troops came under the command of the U.S. Fifth Army. They fought in battles at Castelnuovo, Monte Castello and Montese in the Apennines south of Bologna. Brazilian military and political leaders rejected Allied offers to remain as an occupying force in postwar Europe. In late 1945, the FEB returned home and was disbanded.
E os militares aproveitavam para se inteirar da cultura local e relaxar um pouco na praia. Como comentou o amigo Ormuz Simonetti, nesta foto só jumento é brasileiro!- Fonte – Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images, via – http://www.buzzfeed.com
São 22 fotos de alta qualidade, coloridas, com ótima resolução, que mostra Natal e Parnamirim Field em 1944, via o site http://www.buzzfeed.com, a quem agradecemos por haver publicado este material tão interessante para a história de Natal.
Agradeço de coração a dica da amiga Andreza Diniz, que acredita na nossa ideia de democratizar a informação histórica. Isso mostra a cores o que foi o impacto daqueles dias aqui em Natal e Parnamirim Field. Valeu amiga!
Olha o Morro de Ponta Negra ainda fechado e a natureza bem preservada das dunas no entorno – Fonte – Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images, via – http://www.buzzfeed.com
Não tenho certeza, mas acredito que menos o militar a direita, os outros dois parecem utilizar as afamadas “Natal Boots”, feitas pelo sapateiro Edísio – Fonte – Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images, via – http://www.buzzfeed.com
Me chamou atenção a quantidade de operários – Fonte – Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images, via – http://www.buzzfeed.com
Existe muita coisa a ser estudada nesta relação e na permanência dos americanos em solo potiguar durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial. Vou trazer um exemplo que surgiu após a publicação destas fotos, através de uma maravilhosa provocação do amigo Antônio Guedes Filho.
Ele lembra que da cidade de Currais Novos, no Seridó Potiguar, muita gente saiu de lá para trabalhar nas áreas militares construídas pelos americanos. Quando realizei meu 2º livro “João Rufino-Um visionário de fé”, sobre a vida do fundador do Grupo Santa Clara/3 Corações, eu estive por vários dias entre as cidades de São Miguel, Pau dos Ferros (no RN) e em Pereiro (CE). Nas três localidades encontrei relatos de pessoas cujos familiares vieram trabalhar na construção de Parnamirim Field e na Base Naval Natal. Todas praticamente “tangidas” pela seca de 1942 e pelas notícias trazidas pelos viajantes que comentavam como a grana corria solta em Natal. Muitos vieram e aqui ficaram, mas outros voltaram e deixaram histórias interessantes sobre as tropas estrangeiras, o movimento em Natal, a prostituição, o medo da guerra, as diferenças sociais e culturais, a carestia com a vinda dos americanos, o extremo desemprego com a saída deles e várias outras coisas.
Trabalhadores brasileiros em Parnamirim Field. Pessoas simples que ajudaram a construir esta grande unidade militar, muitos chegaram a região fugidos da grande seca de 1942 – Fonte – Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images, via – http://www.buzzfeed.com
O problema é que o Rio Grande do Norte é um lugar onde a história e a memória é extremamente relegada a poucos grupos sociais, a maioria da população não é incentivada a procurar o que existe e muitos não tem o a estas informações. Além disso, muitos dos que estudam o tema não se interessam pela sorte e relato daqueles mais humildes que estiveram envolvidos no processo, sejam por um extremo pedantismo, ou burrice mesmo. O foco é tão somente centrado nos americanos, nos equipamentos e como a elite de Natal na época interagiu com os estrangeiros.
Provavelmente o momento de finalização do trabalho e o embarque nos caminhões que os levariam as suas casas – Fonte – Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images, via – http://www.buzzfeed.com
Um Consolidated PB4Y-1 da US Navy. Havia em Parnamirim Field uma área da USAAF (Força Aérea do Exército dos Estados Unidos), uma da US Navy (a Marinha deles) e da nossa FAB- Fonte – Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images, via – http://www.buzzfeed.com
Certamente brasileiras que trabalhavam como enfermeiras, ou no Casino dos Oficiais, que acredito ser o mais provável – Fonte – Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images, via – http://www.buzzfeed.com
Estas mulheres junto aos oficiais da US Army provavelmente são americanas – Fonte – Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images, via – http://www.buzzfeed.com
Em um tempo que nas praias natalenses ainda se vendia lagostas na beira mar. Certamente estas mulheres eram moradores da Vila de Ponta Negra. Me questiono o quanto este contato foi positivo, ou negativo, para grande parte de nosso povo? – Fonte – Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images, via – http://www.buzzfeed.com
Nesta foto é possível ver com mais amplitude a área do Morro do Careca. Provavelmente o militar com um quepe a direita é brasileiro – Fonte – Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images, via – http://www.buzzfeed.com
Barracas de Parnamirim Field. Durante as chuvas, no começo da Base, provavelmente esta área entre as barracas poderia se transformar em um belo lamaçal! – Fonte – Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images, via – http://www.buzzfeed.com
Construção de alojamentos – Fonte – Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images, via – http://www.buzzfeed.com
Manutenção em um Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express em Parnamirim Field. Esta aeronave pertencia ao ATC – Air Tranport Command – Fonte – Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images, via – http://www.buzzfeed.com
Para muitos a primeira grande onda de “turismo” na capital potiguar – Fonte – Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images, via – http://www.buzzfeed.com
TOK de HISTÓRIA - ROSTAND MEDEIROS 