Battle of Athens (1941) facts for kids

The Battle of Athens happened on April 20, 1941. It was a short but intense air battle over the city of Athens, Greece. This fight took place between the Royal Air Force (RAF) from Britain and the German air force, known as the Luftwaffe. It was one of the last big air battles during the Battle of Greece in World War II.

The famous author Roald Dahl gave this battle its name. He was a pilot in the RAF and flew in this very battle. He later wrote about his experiences in his book Going Solo and a short story called 'Katina'.

What Was the Battle of Athens?

The Battle of Athens was a dogfight, which means it was an air battle where fighter planes fought closely. It lasted for about half an hour. This battle was a key moment as German forces were taking over Greece.

Roald Dahl's Role in the Battle

Roald Dahl was a pilot flying a Hawker Hurricane for the RAF's 80 Squadron. He was right in the middle of the action. His personal accounts give us a lot of information about what happened that day.

How the Battle Started

According to Roald Dahl, his squadron of twelve Hawker Hurricane planes was flying over Athens. They were flying in a special formation to help boost the spirits of the people in the city. Suddenly, a very large group of German Luftwaffe planes attacked them.

The German planes included many different types. There were Messerschmitt Bf 109s and Bf 110s, which were fast fighter planes. They also had some Junkers Ju 87s (Stukas) and Junkers Ju 88s, which were bomber planes.

How Many Planes Were There?

The people of Athens thought there were about 200 German planes. Roald Dahl himself estimated that the Germans had 152 bombers and fighters attacking them. This was a huge number compared to the twelve RAF Hurricanes.

The Fight and Its Outcome

The battle was fierce and quick. The RAF pilots fought bravely against the much larger German force.

Losses for the RAF

During the battle, four RAF pilots were shot down and sadly killed. One of these pilots was a very famous ace named Marmaduke "Pat" Pattle. Another pilot, William "Timber" Woods, also lost his life. One more RAF pilot lost his plane but managed to escape safely.

German Losses

Roald Dahl said that Greek people watching the battle counted 22 German planes shot down. However, other reports suggest that the Germans lost eight aircraft. After the battle, Roald Dahl and the remaining pilots from his squadron managed to leave Greece safely.