103 Squadron (Portugal)

The103 Squadron "Caracóis"(Esquadra 103) is ajetadvanced trainingsquadronof thePortuguese Air Force. Prior to 1978, the "Caracóis" also received following designations: 22 Squadron,Esquadra de Instrução Complementar de Pilotagem(EICP) andEsquadra de Instrução Complementar de Pilotagem em Aviões de Combate(EICPAC).
Its primary mission is the complementary flying training onjet aircraftand operational transition training.
The origins of 103 Squadron date back to 1953 with the beginning of the operational service of theLockheed T-33A Shooting Starand later that same year with the delivery of the first jet fighters, theRepublic F-84G Thunderjet, in service with thePortuguese Air Force(PoAF). These aircraft were assigned to then-Air Base No. 2(BA2),Ota, to equip the first jet fighter squadron,20 Squadron. That same year a newFlight(Esquadrilha de Voo sem Visibilidade, VSV) was created and integrated in 20 Squadron to train in the flight by instruments and the operational conversion on a twin-seat jet of the new pilots for the single-seat F-84. With the formation of a second jet fighter squadron,21 Squadron, in 1954, the VSV Flight became more independent.
In 1955, 22 Squadron, the third squadron of the 201st Operational Group of Air Base No. 2, was created and equipped with the totality of the existing T-33 fleet and a small detachment of F-84G – resulting in the T-33A being finally assigned to an independent squadron of its own.The primary mission of this squadron was to provide the conversion and transition training for jet fighters to pilots who had experience with conventional aircraft, like theRepublic F-47D ThunderboltandCurtiss SB2C Helldiver. This training consisted of about 40 hours of flight in basic flying, acrobatic flying, formation, flight by instruments, navigation, and night flight, and also the conversion to the F-84G before the pilots were assigned to an operational fighter squadron.
In 1956, with the complete conversion of the pilots of the last conventional fighter squadron, the 22 Squadron mission was changed from the conversion of pilots to jet fighters, to the instruction of pilots, thus adopting the new designation of Pilot Complementary Instruction Squadron (Portuguese:Esquadra de Instrução Complementar de Pilotagem, EICP).
In August 1957, the squadron was then transferred to then-Air Base No. 3(BA3) and assigned to the PoAF's Directorate of Instruction (DINST). The trainee-pilots where then transferred directly from the Pilot Basic Instruction Squadron (Portuguese:Esquadra de Instrução Básica de Pilotagem, EIBP),which was equipped with theNorth American T-6 Texan. The training in T-33A also was changed from 40 to 80 hours of flight and trips of navigation instruction to other countries were added.
On December, due to logistic-administrative reasons, the EICP adopted the designation of Combat Aircraft Piloting Complementary Instruction Squadron (Portuguese:Esquadra de Instrução Complementar de Pilotagem de Aviões de Combate, EICPAC), so that the subsidy of operational pilots in jet aircraft was also attributed to the squadron's instructors, also adding to the instruction subsidy.
In September 1960, the squadron was transferred back to Ota, and with the disbandment of the 20 and 21 Squadrons, the entire F-84G fleet was also assigned to EICPAC. This resulted in the squadron being organized in two independent Flights, having only the command of the squadron as common between them. The T-33 Flight continued with the mission of complementary instruction while the F-84 Flight had as mission the operational conversion of pilots for theNorth American F-86F Sabre. However, with the beginning of theconflict in Africa, the F-84 were transferred to new squadrons in the colonies, along with many of its pilot-instructors.
In November 1974, the squadron was transferred toAir Base No. 5, inMonte Real; by then with more than 90 hours of flight training.
In 1978, with the organic restructure of the Air Force, the squadron's designation is changed to 103 Squadron, while not losing the previous designation of EICPAC.
During July 1980, 103 Squadron started to receive theNorthrop T-38A Talon, until then operated by201 Squadron. This resulted in the EICPAC being organized, for the second time, in two independent flights. The T-38 flight was dependent of theOperational Command(COFA) while the T-33 flight continued under the command of the DINST.
In 1987, 103 Squadron was transferred toAir Base No. 11, inBeja. In January 1990, the Operational Introduction Course (Portuguese:Curso de Introdução Operacional, CIO) is implemented in the T-38 Flight, to provide operational introduction to the pilots trained in theUnited States, helping in their integration with the combat squadrons.
With the beginning of the retirement of the T-33 in 1988, the T-38 started replacing it in the main course of complementary instruction of combat aircraft.By 1991 the retirement of the T-33 was completed.
In 1993, Germany transferred 50Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jetsto Portugal as part payment for German use of Beja Air Base.In June 1993, the T-38 was retired and in November 103 Squadron started its first course on the Alpha Jet.In 1997 the aerobatic teamAsas de Portugalreformed with six Alpha Jets as part of 103 Squadron, but the team only carried out two displays before disbanding. A two-aircraft Alpha Jet team, theParelha da Cruz de Christo(the Cross of Christ Pair) was operated by the squadron in 2001 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Portuguese Air Force, and theAsas de Portugalwas reformed as part of 103 Squadron in 2004, continuing to operate until 2010.The number of Alpha Jets operated by the squadron gradually reduced as aircraft used up their flying hours, and by 2017 only 6 Alpha Jets were operational. The Alpha Jet was retired on 13 January 2018.
List of commanders of the 103 Squadron since the squadron's transference from Ota to Monte Real, in November 1974.