Brazilian M4 Sherman tanks and their crews, Italian front, date unknown. Original color.

Brazilian tanks

Pisa, San Giusto airfield, Italy, Spring 1945: Brazilian Air Force’s 1° Ten. Av. (1st Lt) Othon Corrêa Neto, nickname “Serião”, in the cockpit of his aircraft, the Republic P-47D-25-RE Thunderbolt, s/n 42-26766, Code B4 (aircraft number 4 of the Esquadrilha Amarela/Flight Yellow, aircraft code B), all finish olive drab. Othon Corrêa Neto, born on 18 February 1921, was one of the 48 pilots which served in the 1° Grupo de Aviação de Caça or 1° GAvCa (1st Fighter Group) of the Força Aérea Brasileira (Brazilian Air Force) during the Italian Campaign from late October 1944 to early May 1945. On 26 March 1945, during his 58th war mission, a rocket attack on anti-aircraft positions on Casarsa bridge, West of Udine, North-East Italy, Corrêa Neto was hit by the AA fire, bailed out successfully and was taken prisoner becoming one of the five Brazilian pilots POW (other three bailed out over hostile territory but escaped to capture thanks the help of Italian partisans or local populace). He returned to the squadron 7 days after the end of war and among many awards, he received US DFC and Air Medal and British DFC. Othon Corrêa Neto, which leaved the Brazilian Air Force with the rank of Brigadier General, passed away on 7 April 2008, aged 87 years. Victor Sierra

A pilot you greeting

Infantrymen of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force chill in the Appenines, Winter 1944-'45.  JR.