Greek Air Force Museum

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The Curtiss SBC2C was on display at the War Museum before restoration (1992)
de Havilland Tiger Moth
Sikorsky Η-19Β
The wreck of the Bristol Blenheim is exhibited in the salvage state
Vehicles are also part of the museum's collection

The Museum of the Greek Air Force ( Greek Μουσείο Πολεμικής Αεροπορίας Mouseio Polemikis Aeroporias , Hellenic Air Force Museum) is an aviation museum in Dekelia about 15 km north of Athens city ​​center .

history

The war museum in Athens , built in the 1970s, was also intended to house the collection of the air forces , but this was only possible to a limited extent due to its central location. In 1986 the air force decided to found its own museum, and in 1992 the Dekelia airfield in Attica was converted for this purpose. This airport was Athens' first airport and for a long time government airport. Most recently it was used by the air force. The War Museum brought the Curtiss SB2Cas an exhibit; Starfighters and other planes that were present several times stayed there, as did the first plane of the Greek Air Force. Further machines were acquired in exchange with other aviation museums.

tasks

In addition to collecting, maintaining and restoring historical aircraft, the museum also takes care of decommissioned air force goods, some of which are sold in auctions.

Recovery from the seabed:

A special feature of the museum is the salvage from the seabed. On the one hand, this serves to procure exhibits that are rare; on the other hand, the actions contribute to media coverage for the museum. A permit from the original owner is obtained for the sunken machines; in the case of the Junkers machines, the recovery was even accompanied by experts of the aircraft type from Germany. The first aircraft recovered was a Bristol Blenheim in the summer of 1996, followed shortly afterwards by a Ju 52 , which was recovered from Leros from a depth of 41 meters as part of a Navy diving exercise . On March 23, 2007 a Ju 87 (Stuka) and a Ju 88 were salvaged off Larissa. After the rescue, the machines were prepared for the pressure difference and examined by forensic doctors for traces of the crew's DNA. After completing this preliminary work, the machines were dismantled. All three Junkers aircraft are in good condition and are currently being restored; the badly damaged Bristol Blenheim is exhibited as a wreck.

Exhibits (aircraft)

Web links

Commons : Hellenic Air Force Museum  - Collection of pictures, videos, and audio files

Coordinates: 38 ° 6 ′ 34.3 "  N , 23 ° 46 ′ 53.5"  E