Greek Air Force

Greek Air Force -Πολεμική Αεροπορία-
Lineup	September 1912
Country	Greece
Armed forces	Greek armed forces
Type	Armed forces ( air forces )
Strength	Active soldiers: ≈33,000 reservists: ≈30,000
motto	Αἰὲν Ὑψικρατεῖν ( Greek : " Always rule the heights")
insignia
Aircraft cockade
National emblem ( vertical stabilizer )

The Greek Air Force ( Greek : Πολεμική Αεροπορία Polemiki Aeroporia ) is the second largest branch of the Greek armed forces with 33,000 active officers, NCOs, and soldiers. Another 30,000 serve in the reserve .

history

The Henri Farman was the first aircraft in the Greek Air Force and was used in the Balkan Wars and World War I.

Military budget of a country as a function of GDP for 2010. Data from list of armed forces in the world.

In 1911, the Greek government consulted French specialists to set up the Hellenic Aviation Service. In June 1912 the Greek Naval Aviation was launched, the official announcement of which took place in 1914. In September 1912, the Greek army received its first aircraft squadron, called "Aviators Company" (Greek: "Λόχος Αεροπόρων"). This means that the two classic armed forces, the army and the navy, now each had their own combat aircraft . The Greek army and naval aviators were used in the following wars:

• First Balkan War (1912-1913)
• Second Balkan War (1913)
• First World War
• Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)

In 1930 the Ministry of Aviation was founded, which established the air force as an independent third branch by merging the “Hellenic Army Air Service” and “Hellenic Naval Air Service” (naval aviation) . In the Kingdom of Greece , the air forces carried the designation "Royal Hellenic Air Force" (RHAF) between 1935 and 1973 (Greek: Ἑλληνικὴ Βασιλικὴ Ἀεροπορία , Ellinikí Vasilikí Aeroporía ). The Greek Air Force has been involved in the following wars and conflicts:

• Second World War
• Greek Civil War (1946-1949)
• Korean War (1950–1953)
• Turkish invasion in the Cyprus conflict (1974)

For years Greece spent a very high percentage of its gross domestic product on defense purposes, which was just below or above the percentage of its opponent Turkey . The cause was the perceived threat to Greece from the Turkish air forces, which often violated Greek airspace and even overflowed Greek islands. For example, there were 29 airspace violations in a single day. A Greek pilot had an accident during an attempt to intercept it in 2006.

assignment

The mission of the Greek Air Force is primarily to ensure a favorable air situation in order to protect the state, the population as well as civil and military facilities and to contribute to freedom of action for military operations by the army and navy. Even in peace, the air forces perform air sovereignty tasks. They monitor the airspace of Greece and keep reactive fighter aircraft formations ready.

organization structure

The official management of the Greek Air Force is the responsibility of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force with headquarters in Athens .

Command structure of the Greek Air Force

• General Staff of the National Defense
  • General Staff of the Air Force
    • Chief of the Air Force Tactical Command (HTAFC)
      • also Commander Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) 7
    • Head of the Transport and Logistics Staff (HAFSC)
    • Head of Training Staff (HATC)

Air Force Associations

F-16D 2005 in Denmark

Mirage 2000 of the Greek Air Force

Greek TA-7C Corsair II

F-4E 2008 in Tanagra

Task forces

• 110th Squadron, in Larisa
  • 337th Fighter Squadron "Ghost" - F-16 Fighting Falcon - C / D Block 52+

• 111th Squadron, in Nea Anchialos
  • 330th Fighter Squadron "Thunder" - F-16 Fighting Falcon - C / D Block 30
  • 341st Fighter Squadron "Ace" (SEAD - Squadron) - F-16 Fighting Falcon - C / D Block 50
  • 347th Fighter Squadron "Perseus" - F-16 Fighting Falcon - C / D Block 50

• 114th Squadron, in Tanagra
  • 331st squadron "Aegeus" - Dassault Mirage 2000 - 2000-5 Mk2
  • 332nd "Falcon" squadron - Dassault Mirage 2000 - BG / EG

• 115th Squadron, in Souda ( Crete )
  • 340th Fighter Squadron "Fox" - F-16 Fighting Falcon - C / D Block 52+
  • 343rd Fighter Squadron "Star" - F-16 Fighting Falcon - C / D Block 52+

• 116th Squadron, in Araxos
  • 335th Fighter Bomber Squadron "Tigers" - F-16 Fighting Falcon - C / D Block 52+ Adv.

• 117th Squadron, in Andravida
  • 338th Fighter Squadron "Ares" - F-4 PI2000 - F-4E Phantom II
  • 339th Fighter Squadron "Ajax" - F-4 PI2000 - F-4E Phantom II

• 350th anti-aircraft squadron, in Thermi
  • 11th anti-aircraft missile squadron - S-300P , 9K330 Tor-M1 in Heraklion
  • 21st Air Defense Missile Squadron - Patriot PAC-3 , in Keratea
  • 22nd Air Defense Missile Squadron - Patriot PAC-3, in Skyros
  • 23rd Air Defense Missile Squadron - Patriot PAC-3, in Thermi
  • 24th Anti-Aircraft Missile Squadron - Patriot PAC-3, in Tymbaki
  • 25th Anti-aircraft Missile Squadron - Patriot PAC-3, 9K330 Tor-M1 in Kavala
  • 26th Anti-Aircraft Missile Squadron - Crotale , Patriot , in Tanagra

• 380th air surveillance squadron, in Larisa

Support associations

• 112th Operations Squadron (Transport and Logistics Squadron), in Elefsina
  • 31st season of special operations "Achilles"
  • 353rd Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron - Lockheed P-3B Orion
  • 354. “Pegasus” transport relay - Alenia C-27J Spartan
  • 355. "Hephestus" transport relay - Lockheed C-130H / B Hercules
  • 356. Hercules transport relay - Bombardier CL-215
  • 358. "Phaethon" search and rescue team - Bell 205 , Bell 212 (two Eurocopter AS 332C1 Super Puma ordered, addition at the end of 2012)
  • 384. "Puma" search and rescue team - Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma

• 113th Squadron, in Thessaloniki-Mikra

Canadair fire-fighting aircraft in action

• • 383. Proteus air squadron - Canadair CL-215 , Canadair CL-415

Training associations

• 120th Training Squadron, in Kalamata
  • 361st training relay
  • 362nd training relay
  • 363rd training relay
  • 364th training relay
  • Survival Training School

• 123rd Technical Training Squadron
  • Air defense training center
  • 128th training relay
• 124th Training Squadron, in Dekelia
  • 1st training relay
  • 2nd training relay
  • 3rd training relay

Aircraft inventory

Status: end of 2012

Aircraft	photo	origin	use	version	active	Procured	Remarks
Warplanes
F-16 Fighting Falcon		United States	Multipurpose fighter	F-16C F-16D	116 39	170	Available versions: 32 C / D Block 30, 38 C / D Block 50, 55 C / D Block 52+, 30 C / D Block 52M
Dassault Mirage 2000		France	Multipurpose fighter	2000BGM-3 2000EGM-3 2000-5 Mk.2	2 15 24	55
McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II		United States	Multipurpose fighter	F-4E AUP	34	38
Transport aircraft
Alenia C-27J		Italy	Transport plane	Spartan	8th		The other aircraft will be equipped with air refueling systems.
Lockheed C-130 Hercules		United States	Military transporter	C-130H C-130H	5 10		Avionics Upgrade (AUP) by SPAR Aerospace and HAI
Embraer ERJ 145		Brazil	VIP transport early warning system (AEW & C)	ERJ 135L (R) ERJ 145H	2 4		0 also known as "Ericsson Eerie Eye"
Gulfstream V		United States	VIP transportation	G500	1		Avionics Upgrade (AUP) by SPAR Aerospace and HAI
spotter
EAB Pegasus II		Greece	Reconnaissance (RUAV)	E1-79 E1-II	16		drone
Training aircraft
Cessna T-41 Mescalero		United States	Trainer	T-41D	19th		Military version of the Cessna 172 Skyhawk, trainer aircraft for basic pilot training
Beechcraft T-6 Texan II		United States	Trainer	T-6A T-6A NTA	25 20		Training aircraft for basic pilot training
Rockwell T-2 Buckeye		United States	Trainer	T-2C T-2E	5 35		Training aircraft for pilot training
helicopter
Agusta A109		Italy	MEDEVAC helicopter	A-109 Power	3
Bell 212		Italy	VIP helicopter	Bell-212	4th
Bell 205		Italy	SAR helicopter	AB-205	13		manufactured under license by Agusta
Eurocopter Super Puma		Italy	CSAR & SAR helicopters	AS 332C1	12		Two with MEDEVAC configuration, the first four were ordered by the Department of Commerce.
Fire fighting aircraft
Canadair CL-215		Canada	Fire-fighting aircraft		13
Canadair CL-415		Canada	Fire-fighting aircraft	415GR 415MP	7 1		CL-415MP has SAR capabilities.
PZL M18 Dromader		Poland	Fire-fighting aircraft	M-18 M-18BS	23

Retired aircraft types

Air Force SBC2C. (1992 at the Athens War Museum, now at the Greek Air Force Museum. )

• Canadair F-86 Saber
• Cessna T-37
• Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
• Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
• Dassault Mirage F1
• Douglas DC-3 (C-47 Skytrain)
• Grumman HU-16 Albatross
• Hawker Hurricane
• Lockheed T-33
• Lockheed F-104 starfighter
• McDonnell F-4 Phantom II
• NAMC YS-11
• North Noratlas
• Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter
• Republic F-84 Thunderjet
• Republic F-84F Thunderstreak
• Supermarine Spitfire
• Vought A-7 Corsair II

Incidents

This list is incomplete and has only just begun (October 2017).

Total losses from DC-3 / C-47

There were 17 total losses in 79 DC-3 transport aircraft. During the operation in the Korean War there were four total losses of DC-3:

• On January 4, 1951, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47D (registration number 49-2617 ) slipped on landing at Wonju Airfield (K-38) and was controlled by the pilot from the side of the runway, including the chassis and one end of the wing was destroyed. All occupants survived, but the machine had to be written off.

• On May 26, 1951, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47D (registration number 49-2612 ) was flown into a mountain near Daegu Airport in low clouds. All five inmates died.

• On December 22, 1952, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47D (registration number 49-2616 ) rolled onto the active runway at Suwon Airfield (K-13) without clearance and was hit by a Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star (registration number 49 -0722 ). The fully loaded F-80 exploded with the DC-3. All five crew members and eight passengers (six wounded US soldiers and two nurses) were killed, as was the pilot of the F-80. The cause was determined to be that the Greek pilots did not understand the standard English instructions from the tower correctly. As a result, an order was issued that all Greek pilots must understand English well enough to understand the air traffic control instructions.

• On December 26, 1952, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47D (registration number 49-2632 ) failed shortly after take-off from Chinhae Airfield (K-10) at a height of 50 m. The left wing of the machine collided with a tree top and the plane crashed into the snow-covered hills 2 km south of the airfield. All four crew members and ten passengers were killed.

In addition, there were other total losses of DC-3:

• On July 10, 1947, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47B (registration number KJ841 ) was destroyed at the Konitsa makeshift airfield near the Albanian border.

• On May 31, 1948, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47B (registration number KN339 ) was destroyed during a landing with retracted landing gear ( belly landing ) at the Thessaloniki-Sedes military airfield . The crew was unharmed.

• On October 24, 1948, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47B (license number 43-16264 ) converted to a makeshift bomber was destroyed in a take-off accident at Elefsis airfield . The machine went off the runway, collided with the airfield fence and broke. The bomb load did not explode and the crew remained uninjured.

• On December 10, 1948, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47B (registration number 43-48865 ) failed during the dropping of supplies at Goura ( Corinthia ). The aircraft was destroyed in the subsequent emergency landing. The crew was unharmed.

• On April 6, 1949, supplies were dropped from a Douglas DC-3 / C-47B (registration number 43-49249 ) in the Greek Civil War near Theotokos on Mount Grammos during a fierce firefight. After the drop, the commander made a deep overflight "to raise the morale of the fighting soldiers". The aircraft was hit by an artillery shell from its own troops and crashed. All seven inmates died.

• On December 8, 1954, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47D (registration number 49-2639 ) crashed at Elefsis Airfield and went up in flames. All three crew members and sixteen passengers died.

• On February 12, 1956, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47B (registration KJ989 ) was flown in mountainous terrain in the Dirfys mountain range on the island of Evia . All inmates died.

• On January 12, 1970, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47D (registration number 49-2624 ) crashed in the Kithairon Mountains, about 50 km northwest of Athens . All 5 crew members and 21 of the 25 passengers perished; according to other reports, no one survived the accident.

• On September 1, 1970, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47B (registration number 43-48782 ) flew into the Mitsikeli mountain range near the Albanian border. All inmates were killed; the number is unknown.

• On June 5, 1971, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47D (registration number 49-2614 ) had a landing accident at Preveza Airport when one of the tires burst and the aircraft was thrown off the runway. The fire that broke out destroyed the aircraft. All inmates survived, but several injured.

• On September 18, 1973, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47D (registration number 49-2628 ) had an accident in Crete while spraying and was destroyed. The crew survived the accident.

• In June 1987 a Douglas DC-3 / C-47B (registration number KK181 ) was irreparably damaged in a taxiing accident at the Thessaloniki-Sedes military airfield . The right main landing gear had collapsed while taxiing, causing the wing to hit the ground. All inmates survived.

• On December 27, 1991, a Douglas DC-3 / C-47B (registration number KK171 ) was irreparably damaged in a takeoff accident at Dekelia Airport . One crew member was killed, the other three and both passengers survived.

Accidents with other types of aircraft

• On July 22, 1974, a Nord Noratlas 2501D (registration number 52-133) was hit by heavy anti-aircraft fire while approaching Nicosia airport during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and crashed just under 4 kilometers from the runway. Of the 32 inmates, 31 were killed.

• On February 5, 1991, a Lockheed C-130H Hercules of the Greek Air Force (GrAF 748 ) was flown into the Othrys Mountains ( Greece ), 24 kilometers west-southwest of the Volos-Nea Anchialos airport . All 63 occupants, 5 crew members and 58 passengers, were killed in this CFIT ( controlled flight into terrain ).

• On December 20, 1997, a Lockheed C-130H Hercules of the Greek Air Force (GrAF 750 ) was flown into Mount Pastra ( Greece ). The machine was approaching the Tanagra military airfield . In this CFIT ( Controlled Flight into Terrain ) all 5 crew members were killed.

See also

• List of weapons systems used by the Greek Air Force

Web links

• History of the Hellenic Air Force (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original dated May 12, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
2. ↑ World Air Forces 2013 ( English , PDF; 4.0 MB) In: Flightglobal Insight . 2013. Archived from the original on December 16, 2012. Retrieved on April 12, 2013.
3. ↑ Alenia Aeronautica: delivery of two C-27Js to the Hellenic Air Force (pdf, English) ( Memento from September 2, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
4. ↑ Greek Eurocopter program (English)
5. ↑ Canadair CL-415MP
6. ↑ Description of the Canadair CL415 (English) ( Memento from March 2, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
7. ^ Austrianwings.info: The last corsair is retiring , accessed on October 22, 2014.
8. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), June 2016, pp. 56–57.
9. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), June 2016, p. 57.
10. ↑ accident report DC-3 Count 49-2612 , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on 28 October 2017th
11. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), June 2016, p. 60.
12. ↑ accident report DC-3 Count 49-2616 , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on 28 October 2017th
13. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), June 2016, p. 60.
14. ↑ accident report DC-3 Count 49-2632 , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on 28 October 2017th
15. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), September 2016, p. 106.
16. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), September 2016, p. 106.
17. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), March 2016, p. 10.
18. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), March 2016, p. 10.
19. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), March 2016, pp. 11–12.
20. ↑ accident report DC-3 Count 43-49249 , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on 29 October 2017th
21. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), September 2016, p. 109.
22. ↑ accident report DC-3 Count 49-2639 , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on 29 October 2017th
23. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), September 2016, p. 106.
24. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), September 2016, p. 109.
25. ↑ accident report DC-3 Count 49-2624 , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on 29 October 2017th
26. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), September 2016, p. 108.
27. ↑ accident report DC-3 Count 43-48782 , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on 29 October 2017th
28. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), September 2016, p. 102.
29. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), September 2016, p. 102.
30. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), September 2016, p. 104.
31. ↑ Air-Britain Aeromilitaria (English), September 2016, p. 106.
32. ↑ accident report DC-3 Count KK171 , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on 29 October 2017th
33. ↑ accident report Noratlas 52-133 , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on February 6 of 2019.
34. ^ Accident report C-130H Hercules GrAF 748 , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on February 8, 2020.
35. ^ Accident report C-130H Hercules GrAF 750 , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on February 8, 2020.