Air operations during the Greek Civil War facts for kids

Air operations during the Greek Civil War were when planes were used in the fighting. The main air forces involved were from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the government of Greece. They flew against groups like the ELAS and other forces who were fighting the Greek government on the ground.

British Air Power Arrives

When British forces arrived in Greece in September 1944, they brought the Royal Air Force (RAF) with them. The first airfield they took control of was Araxos on September 23, 1944. Within a month, many other airfields were secured, including Megara, which was captured by British paratroopers.

Near Athens, an airfield called Kalamaki became the main base for the RAF. It was renamed Hassani on December 1, 1944. Several RAF squadrons, which are groups of aircraft, were based there:

• No. 32 Squadron RAF flew Supermarine Spitfire V fighter planes.
• No. 94 Squadron RAF also flew Supermarine Spitfire V fighters.
• No. 108 Squadron RAF used Bristol Beaufighter VI planes.
• No. 216 Squadron RAF had Douglas Dakota IV transport planes.
• No. 221 Squadron RAF flew Vickers Wellington XIII bombers.

In November 1944, two new squadrons joined them: No. 335 Squadron RHAF and No. 336 Squadron RHAF. These were Greek pilots and crews flying within the RAF. They were the first groups that would later form the Royal Hellenic Air Force (RHAF). Both flew Spitfire Vb fighters.

Another airfield, Sedes, was opened in northern Greece after it was freed. No. 32 Squadron moved there.

RAF Joins the Fight

On December 2, 1944, a protest turned violent when British forces fired, killing ten people. This led to attacks on police stations by anti-government groups. Because of this, RAF planes began flying missions against these groups, mostly around Athens.

• Fighter Attacks: No. 73 Squadron and No. 94 Squadron used their Spitfires to shoot at ground targets.
• Light Bombing: No. 108 Squadron carried out light bombing missions.
• Rocket Attacks: A small group of Beaufighters from No. 39 Squadron RAF joined No. 108 Squadron. These planes were armed with RP-3 rockets, which were very effective. In just two weeks, they hit 105 targets, including buildings, command posts, and supply areas.

The regular planes of No. 108 Squadron flew 265 missions in December. The heavy bombers of No. 221 Squadron mostly delivered supplies and dropped leaflets. They also flew two bombing raids at night. The Greek Spitfire squadrons did not take part in these attacks, but the new No. 13 Squadron RHAF helped with leaflet drops.

End of Early RAF Operations

The RAF faced a big attack on December 19, 1944, when anti-government troops attacked their base at Kifisia. Many British soldiers were captured. No. 221 Squadron dropped supplies to these prisoners as they were marched north.

By January 7, 1945, Athens was secure, and a ceasefire was agreed upon on January 11. Although some fighting continued, most British fighter squadrons left Greece by summer 1945. Hassani remained an important RAF base. Later, No. 252 Wing RAF arrived with three squadrons flying Douglas Boston V planes: No. 13 Squadron RAF, No. 18 Squadron RAF, and No. 55 Squadron RAF.

Royal Hellenic Air Force Takes Over

In 1946, the Greek squadrons that had been part of the RAF officially became the Royal Hellenic Air Force (RHAF). Besides Nos. 13, 335, and 336 Squadrons, the RHAF also included No. 355 Squadron RHAF, which flew transport planes like the C-47, Avro Anson, and Wellington. Other small planes like the Auster AOP were used for connecting different units.

RHAF in Action

As the Greek Civil War continued, the Democratic Army of Greece grew stronger, and the government lost control of many rural areas. The Greek National Army tried to fight back, but it was difficult.

In March 1948, the RHAF began attacking landing strips used by the anti-government forces to receive aid from Albania and Yugoslavia. The United States also got involved, leading to Operation Dawn in April 1948. RHAF planes supported this operation, flying 641 missions. They lost one Spitfire and ten others were damaged. Dakota transport planes were used to drop leaflets and supplies. The operation was successful, but RHAF planes had to stop five miles from the northern border to avoid causing problems with other countries.

RHAF Supports Ground Forces

A Curtiss SB2C Helldiver takes off from the USS Sicily (CVE-118) near Piraeus, Greece, in August 1949.

In July 1948, Operation Coronis was launched against enemy forces in the Grammos Mountains. Nos. 335 and 336 Squadrons supported this operation, flying from Yannina and Kozani. Other planes like the AT-6 Texan and Auster also helped. The fighting ended in a draw, as the anti-government forces moved across the border into Albania.

The RHAF formed a third Spitfire unit, No. 337 Squadron RHAF, which flew Spitfire IX planes. For heavier bombing, Dakota transport planes were fitted with bomb racks to drop bombs up to 500 pounds. RAF deHavilland Mosquito planes were also used for taking photos from the air. The RHAF flew 3,474 missions during this operation, losing one Spitfire and having 22 others damaged.

Final Operations

Operations in September 1948 focused on the Vitsi Mountains. The RHAF again provided support, working better with the Greek National Army. This was also the first time napalm was used, though not very often. These operations continued until the end of the year. In 1948, the RHAF flew a total of 8,907 combat missions and 9,891 transport missions, losing twelve airmen. A major attack by anti-government forces at Florina was defeated with strong air support from the RHAF.

August 1949 saw the final series of operations against the anti-government forces. The RHAF played a big part in supporting the government troops. In the last part of the month, No. 336 Squadron started using its new Curtiss SB2C Helldiver planes. The RHAF had received 40 of these planes from the United States Navy. This operation led to the final defeat of the opposition, and a ceasefire was signed. In August alone, RHAF planes flew 826 missions, dropping 288 tons of bombs and firing 1,935 rockets. Napalm was used again in 114 strikes.

Aircraft Used in the Greek Civil War

• Auster: A small, light plane used by the RHAF for observation and other light duties.
• Bristol Beaufighter: A powerful ground-attack plane used by the RAF. It was very effective, especially when armed with rockets.
• Curtiss SB2C Helldiver: Forty-two of these dive bombers were used by the RHAF starting in spring 1949. They were the best attack planes for the RHAF and played a key role in the final stages of the war.
• Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Dakota: These were the main transport planes for the Allies. The RAF used them heavily to supply British forces. Many were given to the RHAF, and some were even fitted with bomb racks for bombing missions.
• North American T-6 Texan and Harvard: Many of these planes were used by the RHAF for observation, connecting units, and light attacks. They were very important for helping other Greek attack planes.
• Supermarine Spitfire: This famous fighter plane was the main aircraft for both the RAF and RHAF during the war. It was used for shooting at ground targets and later for napalm strikes. However, it didn't have a lot of range or ammunition for attack missions and was easily hit by ground fire.
• Vickers Wellington: These older bombers were used by the RAF for various support tasks, including dropping leaflets and some bombing missions. A few also joined the Greek air force.

Air Units in the Greek Civil War

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force (RAF) had a large presence in Greece from September 1944 until the RHAF was fully formed in 1946.

• No. 13 Squadron RAF: Flew Boston V light bombers from Hassani from September 1945 to April 1946.
• No. 18 Squadron RAF: Also flew Boston V light bombers from September 1945 to March 1946.
• No. 32 Squadron RAF: A main RAF fighter squadron, it flew Spitfire VC planes from September 1944 to February 1945.
• No. 39 Squadron RAF: Sent a small group of Beaufighter VIFs with rockets to help No. 108 Squadron in December 1944.
• No. 55 Squadron RAF: A third Boston V light bomber squadron, it stayed in Greece until November 1946 and also used Mosquito XXVI planes.
• No. 73 Squadron RAF: Flew Spitfire LF.IXs and played a big role in the fighting around Athens in December 1944.
• No. 94 Squadron RAF: Flew Spitfire VB and VC planes and was heavily involved in supporting British operations around Athens in 1944.
• No. 108 Squadron RAF: Provided the main RAF attack force with its Beaufighter VIFs from October 1944 to January 1945.
• No. 216 Squadron RAF: This was the only RAF unit with Dakota transport planes in Greece, flying transport missions from October 1944 to March 1946.
• No. 221 Squadron RAF: Used Wellington XIII aircraft for various support roles from October 1944 to April 1945.
• No. 252 Squadron RAF: Equipped with more modern Beaufighter X aircraft, it was one of the last RAF forces to leave Greece in December 1946.

South African Air Force

The South African Air Force (SAAF) had a small number of planes in Greece for a short time.

• No. 40 Squadron SAAF: Sent four pilots who flew Spitfire Vs from December 1944 to February 1945.
• No. 44 Squadron SAAF: The only full SAAF squadron in Greece, it was a transport unit with Dakota IV aircraft, operating from Hassani from December 1944 to March 1945.

Royal Hellenic Air Force

The Royal Hellenic Air Force (RHAF) was formed from Greek units of the RAF in 1946 and took over all air duties from the RAF by the end of that year.

• No. 13 Squadron RHAF: Based in Hassani, it flew Baltimore and Wellington planes for support and reconnaissance from November 1944 to October 1946.
• No. 335 Squadron RHAF: Originally an RAF unit with Spitfire VB fighters, it became an operational fighter squadron in May 1945. It later received Bf 109 G-6s and newer Spitfire models.
• No. 336 Squadron RHAF: A sister unit to No. 335, it also flew Spitfire VB fighters. It later became the only RHAF unit to operate the Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver, starting in 1948.
• No. 337 Squadron RHAF: Formed in July 1947 as the third RHAF fighter squadron, it flew Spitfire IX (and later XVI) fighters until the end of the war.
• No. 355 Squadron RHAF: This was the main transport squadron of the RHAF, using Anson, Wellington, and C-47 aircraft for supplies. It also flew some bombing missions with modified planes.

See also

• Greek Civil War