PPRuNe Forums - Sunderland 'Golden Horn' crashed Lisbon 1943

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Quote:

Originally Posted by chevvron (Post 11457350)

Maybe the photo wasn't taken in Lisbon? There's at least part of a letter 'V' painted on the large piece of what looks like a wing (although it could be part of an 'A' upside down, the reg being G-AFCK painted on camouflage) and at least 3 guys near the bobby are wearing ties, hardly the sort of garb for the Portuguese but common in the UK.

For me, the decider is the tiled paving. You see this all over Lisbon, but not many other places. I would discount the ties. This was the 1940s when such formal clothes were more common. I've spent a lot of time in Portugal (mainly Lisbon), and those who have senior positions still wear ties, even today. The language and the customs of Portugal remain more formal than those of many counties in Europe. Notice also how high the land is on the other side of the dock. Lisbon is very hilly, (said, like a number of other cities, to be built on seven hills).
I can't offer a sensible explanation for the bobby. Possibly from the embassy, because it seems unlikely that they would send one all the way from the UK to guard a piece of aircraft wreckage. One random thought - could he have been sent from Gibraltar?

Barry Lloyd. Very gpod suggestion

I can't see a policeman being brought in from anywhere else. What justification would there be in time of war?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHfan (Post 11458812)

I can't see a policeman being brought in from anywhere else. What justification would there be in time of war?

Exactly

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHfan (Post 11458812)

I can't see a policeman being brought in from anywhere else. What justification would there be in time of war?

So perhaps he was Portuguese after all. From Wiki:

The Portuguese Public Security Police (PSP) constables wore a custodian-style helmet from 1936 to 1958. The helmets were made of cork, covered with dark blue fabric, having on the front a silver PSP star (six points star with the Portuguese Shield in the centre).

The angle is not the best, but that could well be a six-pointed star.

Portugal has three policing agencies, the Polícia Judiciária wasn't formed until 1945 so can be discounted.

Guarda Nacional Republicana: National Republican Guard. A gendarmerie that mainly work out of major cities but in 98% of the Portuguese territory and provides a national highway patrol, a fiscal guard and a national environment protection police.
Polícia de Segurança Pública: Public Security Police. Civilian police force that works in larger urban areas.
Polícia Judiciária: Judicial Police. Overseen by the Public Ministry, they investigate criminal cases

The Polícia de Segurança Pública

Exclusive powers: responsible for weapons control, ammunition and explosives, outside the authority of the armed and security forces, as well as guaranteeing the security for personnel of domestic and foreign entities, and other citizens subject to threat of person
Special powers: responsible for airport security and the protection of diplomatic missions both locally and internationally

The foregoing would explain the policemans presence.

Te apparent star on the helmet possibly comes from the units insignia.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....47a03df2cf.png

I see you beat me to it barry