One of Brazil’s main combat groups during World War II was undoubtedly the 1st Fighter Aviation Group. This aviation group was created by Presidential Decree No. 6,123 on December 18, 1943, and Lieutenant Colonel Nero Moura, Vargas’ personal pilot and trusted confidant, was appointed as its commander. The group was entirely composed of volunteers. In January 1944, the selected pilots departed for the Air Tactical School in Orlando, United States, while the ground personnel — including mechanics and weapons specialists — headed to Halbrook Field base in Panama. Upon completing the course, the pilots also moved to Panama, where they began operating Curtiss P-40C fighters, receiving tactical training as a complete unit.
During training, the iconic battle cry that came to symbolize the unity of the Brazilian Air Force emerged: “Senta a Pua!”, a slang expression of the time meaning “fire away.” On May 11, 1943, the group began operating independently within the Panama Canal defense system. With the presence of the Minister of Aeronautics, Salgado Filho, on June 20, the group received their American graduation certificates, and six days later, they embarked for New York, arriving on July 4, American Independence Day. The pilots were sent to the Suffolk Air Base near New York for three months of training on the aircraft that the group would use in combat—the legendary Republic P-47D Thunderbolts.
On that occasion, the members of the group faced a challenge that already showcased the improvisational skills typical of Brazilians. During the graduation ceremony and welcome parade, the American troops sang the anthem of their Air Force. Moments before the Brazilian parade, as there was no anthem yet for the newly established Air Force, the detachment chief, Captain Marcilio Gibson, ordered the troops to sing “A Jardineira”, an old carnival hit well-known to everyone through Orlando Silva’s rendition. Thus, the old carnival march, composed in 1906 by Benedito Lacerda and Humberto Porto, was sung with full vigor by the aviators and served as the informal anthem of Senta a Pua!:
“Oh, gardener, why are you so sad…”
Ninety days later, with their training completed, it was time to head to the front. The group boarded the SS Colombie bound for Italy, arriving in Naples on October 4, 1944. During the journey, the group’s symbol was created: an ostrich. It might seem odd that a bird neither Brazilian nor capable of flight became the emblem painted on the noses of the planes of the 1st Fighter Group (I° GAvCa). The choice stemmed from a humorous incident when the pilots complained about the difficulty of adapting to the American diet: too much sweet beans, eggs with bacon, sausages, and grapefruit juice. According to Brazilian tastes, the members of the 1st Fighter Group needed an ostrich’s stomach to handle that food. Thus, the group’s artist, Captain Fortunato Câmara de Oliveira, sketched the bird that eats everything, which became the visual symbol of Senta a Pua!
After a day anchored, the Iº GAvCa set sail for Livorno, where it landed on October 6, and then proceeded to Tarquinia, a city located 150 kilometers from Rome. The Senta a Pua! began operating as the fourth squadron, joining the other three American squadrons that were part of the 350th Fighter Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces, and was designated as the 1st Brazilian Fighter Squadron. Initially, the group carried out reconnaissance missions to adapt to the command and communication systems. This Allied unit began operations in North Africa and expanded into Italy as the operations progressed.
The group’s actions contributed to consolidating Brazil’s image as a committed ally, marking its debut in international combat and strengthening relations with allied countries. Furthermore, the 1st Fighter Aviation Group (1º GAvCa) stood out for its efficiency, with a remarkable accuracy rate and international recognition, earning several decorations and honors.
Reference: BARONE, João. 1942: O Brasil e sua guerra quase desconhecida. Brazil: HarperCollins, 2018.
Matheus Araújo
Matheus is an entrepreneur at Araujo Media, where he serves as CEO and Creative Director. He shares analyses on his personal blog "blog.matheusaraujo.me" and is currently pursuing a degree in Advertising and Propaganda. Moreover, he has a passion for history, particularly that of Brazil, which led him to become the founder and editor of the Brazilian History portal.
