Emmanouil Argyropoulos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emmanouil Argyropoulos
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E. Argyropoulos and his Nieuport IV.G aircraft
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| Born | c. 1889 |
| Died | 4 April 1913 (aged 23–24) Lagkadas, Thessaloniki, Kingdom of Greece
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| Cause of death | Plane crash |
| Nationality | Greek |
| Known for | First Greek aviator First casualty of Greek Military Aviation |
| Aviation career | |
| Air force |  Hellenic Army
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| Battles | Balkan Wars |
| Rank |  Lieutenant |
Emmanouil Argyropoulos (born 1889, died April 4, 1913) was a brave Greek pilot. He was one of the very first people to fly an airplane in the early 1900s. Emmanouil was not only the first Greek pilot to fly over Greece, but he also became the first person to die while serving in Greek military aviation.
Greece's First Pilot
Emmanouil Argyropoulos was first a civil engineer. But he loved flying more than building. So, he went to Paris, France, to learn how to fly airplanes.
Learning to Fly
In January 1912, Emmanouil earned his pilot's license. He then returned to Greece. He brought his own airplane with him. It was a Nieuport IV.G model.
Flying High
On February 8, 1912, Emmanouil made history. He became the first Greek pilot to fly an airplane in Greece. People were very excited about this event. He took off from Athens. He flew for 16 minutes around the city. He even flew over the famous Acropolis.
An hour later, he took another flight. This time, the Prime Minister of Greece, Eleftherios Venizelos, was his passenger. The Prime Minister was very impressed. He believed Greece should use airplanes for its military right away.
Joining the Military
When the Balkan Wars started in October 1912, Emmanouil joined the army. He became a Lieutenant in the military aviation.
A Tragic Flight
On April 4, 1913, Emmanouil was on a mission. He was flying a captured Ottoman airplane. It was a Blériot XI. His plane crashed from 600 meters high. This happened near Lagkadas, close to Thessaloniki.
Emmanouil and his passenger, Konstantinos Manos, both died. Konstantinos was an athlete and a poet. Emmanouil Argyropoulos was the first Greek military pilot to die in service. His death marked the end of air missions in the Balkan Wars.
