Former German Fiat G91R rediscovered in Portugal

UPDATE on identity

During the Tiger Meet exercise at Base Aerea 11 (BA11) Beja (Portugal) at the beginning of May 2021, a former Luftwaffe (WGAF, West German Air Force) Fiat G-91R/3 was rediscovered.

The aircraft was once preserved on a pole at Beja air base. Weathered by the Portuguese climate, the aircraft now shows several traces of its former identity. Lying on its belly in a lost corner of the air base, the G91R/3 now clearly shows the fake German serial 38+38.

This specific aircraft was registered 32+38 (construction number D502) in WGAF service. It suffered an accident at Beja on 14 May 1981 and subsequently the aircraft was declared a write-off. The air base decided to use this G91 as a gate guard and gave it the fake German serial. Later on this part of the fuselage was painted black, completely obscuring the German serial. Officially this G91 was never transferred to the to the Força Aerea Portuguesa (FAP, Portuguese Air Force), but just left behind.

The G91 was removed from the gate and according to the Scramble Magazine database records stored in the open at the air base with the Laboratorio de Investigacao de Acidentes/Inspecçao Geral da Força Aérea between October 1989 and October 2014.

Earlier we reported that this G91 was ex WGAF 30+38, which served as an instructional airframe with the Centro de Formaçao Militar e Tecnica da Forca Aérea at Ota air base from 1984 to May 1992. This aircraft seems to have been scrapped. Unfortunately we do not have details when exactly it was scrapped.

Photo via Scramble archives