Capt Assis - 1st Brazilian Fighter Squadron - 350th Fighter Group USAAF - 12th AAF in Italian front (1944-45) - POW

[Victory Museum]

Hi,

Major General of Brazlian Air Force, Josino Maia de Assis.



Born in 1919, Bage/RS - Brazil

Officer of Brazilian Army Military Aviation before the creation of the Brazilian Air Force in 1941:



In WW2 - War name: 'Assis' - Function: Combat Pilot - Fighter pilot and squadron commander of the green squadroon with 41 war missions*



*Before going to the 1st Brazilian Fighter Squadron - 350th Fighter Group USAAF - 12th AAF in Italian front (1944-45), completed 166 Anti-Submarine Patrol missions in the Northeast of Brazil.



His first mission was in 06 NOV 44. In its 41 mission on 29 JAN 45, was shot down by enemy Flak. Jumped by parachute over enemy territory, having been imprisoned. He was arrested before being released by the Allies at the end of the war.



On 18 Jun 45, came from Pisa to the United States to bring new P-47 aircraft to Brazil.

Condecorations:



Brazlian Air Force Aviation Cross Type 'A' with 1 star for 30 missions)
Brazlian Air Force Aviation Cross Type 'B' with palm for 100 missions)
Brazlian Air Force Blood Cross
Brazlian Air Force Italian campaign medal
Brazlian Air Force South Atlantic Campaign medal
Order of Aeronautical Merit (Commander)
Merit Santos Dumont medal in Silver
Silver Military Medal for 20 years of service,
Distinguished Flying Cross (USA)
Air Medal with 1 Cluster (USA)
Distinguished Flying Cross (England)
Official Knight of the Italian Order of Merit
Presidential Unit Citation (USA)

He was a pioneers of the jet era in Brazil and brought the first jet fighter, Gloster Meteor, from England.



Returning to Brazil, he served for some time in Santa Cruz Air Force Base (Rio de Janeiro), where he became commander of the 2nd / 9th Fighter Group in 1950 and Commander of the 1st Fighter Group between 1954-1955.



Then it was transferred to the Base Canoas/RS for the command of the 1st / 14th Bombardment Group flying in the A-20 aircraft.

He was commander of the 5th Air Zone. Then he served in the Office of the Minister of Aviation and was Military Advisor to Brazil in Washington, DC (USA).

He was attached to the Brazilian Air Force in England, Norway and Sweden.

On 1966, he retired on Major General rank, a total of 7420 hours of flight.

After his retirement, he was one of the first directors of the Securities Carrier BRINK'S of Brazil.

In Dayton, USA at the inauguration of the monument to the 350th:





Death in 1996, Rio de Janeiro/RJ - Brazil

RIP

NEVER BE FORGOTTEN !!