The War prevented the good progress of the works and the base ended only to be inaugurated in 1952, as the "Sacadura Cabral" Naval Aviation Centre.

The inauguration of the base happened during the process of the creation of the independent Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) and the transference of the Naval Aviation from the control of the Navy to the new branch.

[4] However, within the PoAF an independent group originating from the Naval Aviation units, known as "Forças Aeronavais", continued to operate from BA6 in the anti-submarine role.

[2] In 1993, with the arrival of the Portuguese Navy's first Westland Super Lynx Mk.95 for the Vasco da Gama-class frigates, the air base became home to a naval helicopter squadron.

[2] The Air Force Survival Training Center (Portuguese: Centro de Treino de Sobrevivência da Força Aérea, CTSFA) is based at BA6 with the mission of training PoAF personnel in survival and individual rescue, including in nuclear, radiologic, biological or chemical warfare environments, as well Explosive Ordnance Disposal.