History of the Hellenic Air Force
The year of our Lord 1911 was the year in which the
Hellenic Air Force was established. Creators of this glorious branch of the Armed Forces
being Eleutherios Venizelos and the TiPsiIta (ΤΨΗ) law passed on March 27 1911. According
to this law, this force was to be established based upon French standards and prototypes.
To accomplish this, 13 officers from France were
transferred to Hellas to establish the foundation with which the Hellenic Air Force could
operate and expand on. The first officers to join this new branch were Dimitrios Kamperos
(First Lieutenant Artillery), Mihail Moutousis (First Lieutenant Corp of Engineers),
Mihail Adamidis (Second Lieutenant Cavalry), and a little later Loukas Papaloukas (First
Lieutenant Infantry), Markos Drakos (First Lieutenant Artillery), and Panoutsos Notaras
(Second Lieutenant Cavalry). These officers were trained in France, where they obtained
their diplomas.
Eleutherios Venizelos, as a sign of faith towards this
new weapon of the Hellenic arsenal, took flight with Emmanouil Argyropoulo on February 8
1912. The first official flight/appearance of the Air Force is considered to be May 13
1912 for a military exercise, during which Dimitrios Kamperos flew over Paleo Faliro. The
Air Force received her first aircraft, 4 Henri Farman's, on May 27 1912. The aircraft were
named Dedalos, Aetos, Gyps, and Ierax by Eleutherio Venizelo.
The arrival of the aircraft allowed the formation of
the first Air Force Company. The above aircraft were of course not designed for military
operations, so soon after operations started, the new Maurice Farman aircraft were
ordered. Pilots in the company were the officers Kamperos, Moutousis, Notaras, and
Adamidis. Added to the above four, by special law, was Second Lieutenant Emmanouil
Argyropoulos, who took part in the war with his privately owned aircraft.
Argyropoulos
also happened to be the first casualty incurred by the Air Force, when his airplane
crashed on April 4 1913.
The first operation took place on October 5 1912 by
Dimitrio Kampero, who flew over enemy lines in a recognizance mission. Many other
operations took place in which the Hellenic pilots didn't hesitate to drop special bombs
on Turkish positions.
Operational requirements by the Hellenic Navy led to
the creation of the Naval Aviation (Naval Cooperation Air Force). Naval Aviation acquired
her first hydroplane in November 1912. First pilot for this new naval weapon was First
Lieutenant Moutousis who was recalled from the Epirot front. On November 17 1912 the
aircraft was officially presented to the Navy, and named Nautilos.
First training flight took place on January 21 1913
with Moutousi and Ensign Moraiti flying all the way to the island of Tenedos. The first
operational flight took place on January 24 1913 with the same crew. On that day, the two
crew members not only bombarded the Turkish Navy in the Bay of Nagara, they also reported
the location of Turkish ships to the commander of the Hellenic Navy located in Moudrou,
Limnos. The mission took 2 hours 20 minutes, and the distance traveled totaled some 180
kilometers. This was the first ever combat naval cooperation mission
in the world!
Since that first flight of May 13 1912, the Hellenic
Air Force has written pages of glorious victories and of personal sacrifices for the
Nation. Since the first victories over the Turks in the First Balkan War, to the untold
victories taking place every day over the Aegean today, the Hellenic Air Force has always
provided the Nation with victories, even when numbers and odds should have proved
otherwise. This page and those presenting the history or current situation of our Armed
Forces is dedicated to the men and women who have given their lives or placed their lives
in danger, for the defense of our country. To these great Hellenes we owe our gratitude,
and this page is but a miniscule reminder.
Planes of The Past
(T)F-104 G Starfighter
The F-104 has gained many 'nick-names' through-out its
long career in many air forces around the world. Some of these include 'Widow Maker',
''Manned Missile', and 'Flying Coffin'! The Hellenic Air Force had a very good track
record with this aircraft, and if one is lucky, he might still see one over the skies of
Hellas.
Maximum Speed : 2.2 Mach
Maximum Range : 3015 km
Initial Climb Rate : 15000 m/min
Maximum Operational Altitude : 18300 m
(T)F-102 Delta Dagger
The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a delta-wing
interceptor that served in the Hellenic Air Force for a remarkably short period of time (1969-1975).
Maximum Speed : 810 mph
Maximum Range : 1000 miles
Maximum Operational Altitude : 55000 ft.
F-86 D Sabre
The F-86D was a great improvement at the time it
entered service, since it offered the capabilities of it's radar.
Maximum Speed : 715 mph
Maximum Range : 800 miles
Maximum Operational Altitude : 50000 ft.
F-84 F Thunderstreak
The Thunderstreak was developed to overcome the
limitations of the Thunderjet's straight flying surfaces. Other aircraft systems were also
revised. The F-84 F first flew in 1950.
Maximum Speed : 695 mph
Maximum Range : 1900 miles
Initial Climb Rate : 8200 ft/min
Maximum Operational Altitude : 44450 ft.
RF-84 F Thunderflash
The RF-84F was the reconnaissance version of the F-84 F
Thunderstreak. This aircraft remained operational with the 348 Tactical
Reconnaissance Squadron of the Hellenic Air
Force from 1956 to March 29th, 1991.
C-47 Dakota
The C-47 is the military version of the DC-3. It served
in the Second World War, as well as decades after that. Dakotas are still flown in many
countries around the world.
Maximum Speed : 232 mph
Maximum Range : 1513 miles
Maximum Operational Altitude : 24450 ft.
T-6 G Texan
The North American T-6 was acquired and used by the
Hellenic Air Force as a trainer, following World War II.
Maximum Speed : 210 mph
Maximum Range : 770 miles
Maximum Operational Altitude : 23200 ft.
H-19 D Chickasaw
The H-19 by Sikorsky was a utility rotorcraft used by
the Air Force.
Maximum Speed : 112 mph
Maximum Range : 330 miles
Maximum Operational Altitude : 15000 ft.
Marcel Bloch M.B.151
In 1939 an order for 24 of these
aircraft was entered to the company later to be named "Avions
Marcel Dassault". Only 9 of the aircraft reached Hellas, since the
outbreak of World War II prevented the French from completing the order.
The aircraft served in the 24th Pursuit Unit (MD - Moira Dioxis) of the
then Hellenic Royal Airforce (EBA).
Maximum Speed : 460 km/h
Engine / Horsepower : Gnome-Rhône
14N-35 920 HP
Boeing Stearman PT-13
The Boeing Stearman PT-13 was, and is a trainer. This
most popular US made biplane, is still flown in Hellas and other countries of the world,
by aviation enthusiasts and flight clubs. In Hellas it is currently operated by the
Thessaloniki flight club.
Maximum Speed : 200 km/h
Maximum Range : 750 km
Maximum Operational Altitude : 3400 m.
Tiger Moth
The Tiger Moth, De Havilland 82 was a trainer.
Maximum Speed : 175 km/h
Engine / Horsepower : DH Gipsy Major 130 HP
Maximum Operational Altitude : 4150 m.
De Havilland 9
The DH-9 was acquired by the Navy in 1918 for use
during the campaigns of the First World War. The aircraft never made it to the front
lines in time, and served only in the Asian Minor campaign.
Maximum Speed : 198 km/h
Engine / Horsepower : Liberty 12 400 HP
Maximum Operational Altitude : 5410 m.
De Havilland 4
The Navy acquired the DH-4 in 1918, at the same time it
aquired the DH-9 and Sopwith Camel. It saw action in the Asian Minor campaign.
Maximum Speed : 230 km/h
Engine / Horsepower : 275 kW RR Eagle VIII
Maximum Operational Altitude : 6700 m.
SOPWITH CAMEL F1
The Sopwith Camel was acquired by the Navy for use
during the campaigns of the First World War and the Asian Minor campaign.
Maximum Speed : 180 km/h
Engine / Horsepower : CLERGET 130 HP
SOPWITH PUP
The Sopwith Pup was acquired by the Navy for use
during the campaigns of the First World War and the Asian Minor campaign.
Maximum Speed : 180 km/h
Engine / Horsepower : LE PHONE 80 HP
SPAD VII
The SPAD VII was the replacement for the Nieuport 24
Bis. It served in the First world war and the Asia Minor campaign, for the Air Force.
Maximum Speed : 180 km/h
Engine / Horsepower : HISPANO SUIZALE 150-180 HP
NIEUPORT 24 BIS
The Nieuport 24 Bis was a pursuit aircraft introduced
into service in 1917, with the 531 Mira Dioxis (Pursuit Unit). It served in the First
world war and the Asia Minor campaign, for the Air Force.
Maximum Speed : 186 km/h
Engine / Horsepower : PHONE 130 HP
BREGUET 14
The Breguet 14 was a bomber introduced into service
after the entry of Hellas into the First World War. It served in the First world war, for
the Air Force.
Maximum Speed : 184 km/h
Engine / Horsepower : RENAULT 300 HP
Dorand AR.1
12 Dorand AR.1 aircraft comprised the core of the 532
Pursuit Unit, which was established on December 12, 1917. The plane was used by the Air
Force in reconnaissance missions.
Maximum Speed : 152 km/h
Engine / Horsepower : RENAULT 190 HP
Maurice Farman
The Maurice Farman aircraft was introduced into service
shortly after the Henri Farman. It served in both Balkan wars, and the First world war,
for the Army Air Force and Naval Air Force.
Maximum Speed : 100 km/h
Engine / Horsepower : RENAULT 70 HP
Henri Farman
The Henri Farman was the first aircraft to enter
service with Hellas. It served in both Balkan wars, and the First world war.
Maximum Speed : 100 km/h
Engine / Horsepower : GNOME 60 HP |
