Request: Map of northeast of Brazil - Natal – State of Rio Grande do Norte
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 supporting site to the operations in Africa.
With fundings of the US government, the "Parnamirim Field" was constructed. It became the largest US basis outside American territory.
Natal, the capital of Rio Grande do Norte in northeastern Brazil, has a strategic geographical position overall very important. It is the closest point to Europe of the entire South American mainland and the USA. This fact, the city did receive the two major U.S. military bases during the Second World War: one Naval Base and Parnamirim Field.
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.
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 passed by Natal, in transit. Parnamirim was the busiest airport in the world; flights were taking off and landing every three minutes.
German submarines attacked ships in the coast of Brazil and allied planes patrolling the area hunting these submarines.
By request of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a meeting between him and Brazilian President Getúlio Vargas took place in Natal, on January 27th 1943. The Presidents visited the bases of Air Force, Navy and Army. This meeting consolidated the relations between Brazil and US; in 1944, Brazil sent an Expeditionary troop to fight in Europe.
Because of its importance in the war, the Parnamirim Field was called “Trampoline to Victory”.
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Topic: MAP northeast of Brazil (Natal-RN) "Trampoline To Victory" (Read 2016 times)
