Greece: Warplanes of the Second World War preserved

Warplanes of the Second World War preserved in Greece‍

The aim of this website is to locate, identify and document Warplanes from the Second World War preserved in Greece.  Many contributors have assisted in the hunt for these aircraft to provide and update the data on this website.  Photos are as credited.  Any errors found here are by the author, and any additions, corrections or amendments to this list of Warplane Survivors of the Second World War in Greece would be most welcome and may be e-mailed to the author at hskaarup@rogers.com.

Greece

Following the German invasion of Greece and the flight of the Greek government to Crete and then Egypt, the Hellenic State was formed in May 1941 as a puppet state of both Italy and Germany.  Initially, Italy had wished to annex Greece, but was pressured by Germany to avoid civil unrest such as had occurred in Bulgarian-annexed areas.  The result was Italy accepted the creation of a puppet regime with the support of Germany.  Italy had been assured by Hitler of a primary role in Greece.  Most of the country was held by Italian forces, but strategic locations (Central Macedonia, the islands of the northeastern Aegean, most of Crete, and parts of Attica) were held by the Germans, who seized most of the country’s economic assets and effectively controlled the collaborationist government.

The puppet regime never commanded any real authority, and did not gain the allegiance of the people.  It was somewhat successful in preventing secessionist movements like the Principality of the Pindus from establishing themselves.  By mid-1943, the Greek Resistance had liberated large parts of the mountainous interior (“Free Greece“), setting up a separate administration there.  After the Italian armistice, the Italian occupation zone was taken over by the German armed forces, which remained in charge of the country until their withdrawal in autumn 1944.  In some Aegean islands, German garrisons were left behind, and surrendered only after the end of the war.

Aviation Museums in Greece

War Museum, Vassilissis Sophias Avenue, 2 Rizari Street, 106 75, Athens.

Crete War Museum, Chromonastiri.

Hellenic Air Force Museum, Dekeleia – Tatoi Air Base, TGA 1010, Athens.

Elefsis Heritage Park, Elefsis Air Base, Elefsina.

Larisa Base Museum, Larisa Air Base, Larisa.

Tanagra Base Collection, Tanagra Air Base, Tanagra.

Thessaloniki War Museum, 4 Grigoriou Lambraki, Pedio Areos 3, Thessaloniki.

P.A.L.I.S. Foundation, Vouliagmenis Avenue & Patriarhou Grigoriou E 1-3, 166 73, Voula.

Hellenic Air Force Museum, Dekelia Air Base, Tatoi

(Konstantinos Stampoulis Photos)

Bristol Blenheim Mk. IVF (Serial No. L9044).  This aircraft served with RAF No. 203 Squadron based in Crete during the Second World War.  The Squadron covered the British withdrawal from the island.  It was accidentally hit by a British torpedo boat and crashed near the sea of Rethymno on 28 April 1941.  The three-member crew survived with the help of a man from Crete.  The aircraft was brought to the surface and moved to the museum in the summer of 1996 by a mixed team composed of members of HAF’s special team of frogmen and museum experts.

(Author Photo, 1982)

(Dimitris Kamaras Photos)

Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver (BuNo. 83321).  This is the last survivor of 48 ex-USN divebombers delivered to Greece in the spring of 1949.

(Dimitris Kamaras Photos)

de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth (Serial No. T6776).

(Konstantinos Stampoulis Photo)

Douglas C-47B Skytrain (Serial No. KJ960), coded PA.

Douglas TC-47J Skytrain (Serial No. SX-ECF).

(Georgios Pazios Photo)

Junkers Ju-52m (Wk. Nr.).  This Luftwaffe transport was shot down on 13 Nov 1943 during the Battle of Leros.  It was salvaged by the Hellenic Air Force in October 2003 off the coast of Leros and is now on display at the HAF Museum, undergoing restoration.

(Author Photo, 1982)

(Dimitris Kamaras Photos)

North American T-6G Texan (Serial No. 49-3424).

(IWM Photo, CM 2212)

Major X F Varvaresos, Commanding Officer of No. 335 (Hellenic) Squadron RAF, standing in front of a Hawker Hurricane Mk. I of the Squadron, embellished with the colours of the Royal Hellenic Air Force, at Aqir, Palestine.

(IWM Photo, CBM 1720)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I with pilots of RAF No 335 (Hellenic) Squadron at LG 20/Qotafiyah I, west of Daba, Egypt.

(IWM Photo, CM 6922)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIC pilots of RAF No. 335 (Hellenic) Squadron at Dhekeila, Egypt.

(IWM Photo, CM6922)

RAF air gunners attached to 13th Squadron, Royal Hellenic Air Force, stand in front of Martin Baltimore Mark V, FW852 'Y', at Pescara, Italy, where the Squadron operated as part of No. 254 Wing RAF, Balkan Air Force, in missions over northern Italy and Yugoslavia.

(IWM Photo CNA 4686)

The Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou (third from right) and the Greek Air Minister, M Fikioris (second from right), accompanied by Air Commodore G.W. Tuttle, Air Officer Commanding Air Headquarters Greece (seventh from right), and other Allied officers, inspects a line of Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vs and pilots of RAF No. 336 (Hellenic) Squadron during an official ceremony at Kalamaki/Hassani to welcome Greek units serving with the Allied Air Forces back to their homeland.  No. 337 Wing RAF, of which Nos. 335 and 336 (Hellenic) Squadrons RAF and No. 13 Squadron, Royal Hellenic Air Force formed part, arrived in Greece on 16 November 1944, and continued operations there until its disbandment on 15 June 1946, after which the Greek squadrons were transferred to Greek control.

(Matteo Arrotta Photo)

Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.IXc (Serial No. MJ755), Reg. No. G-CLGS.  Built at the Castle Bromwich factory in 1943, MJ755 was delivered to No. 43 Sqn RAF in August 1944, which at the time was covering operations in Southern France.  This fighter served on the Mediterranean front in 1944 and 1945.  In 1947 it was transferred to the Royal Hellenic Air Force and later retired and put on display at Tatoi Air Force Base, then went on to the Hellenic War Museum n Athens.   MJ755 is possibly the sole surviving example of the 77 Spitfires delivered to the Hellenic Air Force.  It has been made airworthy, and will fly from Dekelia Air Base north of Athens.

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