FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1947
1947 - 0130.PDF
FLIGHT JANUARY 23RD, 1947 Air Operations in Greece Air Vice~Marshal D'Albiac's Despatch on a Qallant Campaign FROM the strategical point of viewthe Greek campaign can bedivided into three periods. Deal- ing with the November-December phase, A.V-M. D'Albiac recounts the circumstances attending the declara- tion of war, discusses briefly the Greek * problem and records, in a note on the Greek Air Force, that Greek pilots, many of whom had attended courses in England, were keen and what they lacked in modern war technique they made up for in personal bravery. Their aircraft consisted of a number of different foreign types, predomi- nantly French and Polish, with a limited range of spares. Operationally the Greek Air Force was controlled by the General Staff and was used almost entirely in direct support of the Army. In response to an urgent appeal for help, the British Government decided to send a contingent of the Royal Air Force to Greece from the Middle East. The force decided upon was two medium bomber squadrons, one mixed medium bomber and two-seater fighter squadron—all armed with Blenheim aircraft, and two single-seater fighter squadrons with Gladiators. On A.V-M. D'Albiac's arrival in Athens on 6th November, 1940, the advance elements of this force had already arrived and were ready for action. • Greek pilots .... what they lacked j • in modern war technique they made j ; up for in personal bravery. ', Every pressure was brought to bear on him to use his force in the same manner as the Greek Air Force—in close support of the land forces—but he appreciated that the best help he could give to the Greek armies was to concentrate his small bomber force on disembarkation ports being used by the Italians in Albania and important communication centres. He finally obtained agreement on this policy, and by the end of November the Italian advance had been stemmed and the Greek forces, which had by then com- pleted their concentration, were able to take the offensive. The Greek General Staff was most appreciative of the prompt and valuable help we had been able to provide for their soldiers who, with ferocious intensity, had dis- puted every foot of the Greek soil, and they expressed the view that it was largely due to our assistance that the situation had become satisfactory. One of the main difficulties the Air Vice-Marshal experienced in establish- ing his force, and one which was a constant handicap throughout the whole Greek campaign, was the ex- treme scarcity of aerodromes suitable for the employment of modern aircraft. R.A.F. units continued to arrive during November and December and by the end of 1940 the concentration was complete. All ancillary services were provided by the Army, and this arrangement is stated to have been particularly successful. Similarly, liaison between the British forces in Greece and the Greeks was at all times close tand cordial. Every evening the Air Vice-Marshal attended a confer- ence with the C-in-C and the Greek LATEST of the war-time despatches by Royal Air Force Commanders to be published as a supplement to " The London Gazette" is that by A.V-M. ]. H. D'Albiac, D.S.O., concerning Royal Air Force operations in Greece, from November, 1940, to April, 1941. During this period the R.A.F. in Greece was under his command. The report was submitted to the Air Officer Commanding- in-Chief, Middle East, on August ISth, 1941 General Staff to discuss the day's operations and to plan the programme of work for his force, and for the Greek Air Force, for the following day. These nightly meetings, attended fre- quently by the King and General Metaxas, were carried on throughout the R.A.F.'s stay in Greece. By the time the Greeks had taken the offensive and had driven all the Italian forces off Greek territory, in some sectprs even advancing into Al- bania, our continued bombing of Valona and Durazzo and the focal points on the enemy's rearward system was having a serious effect on his supply organization. In addition, during moonlight periods, our bomber effort, using Wellingtons from Egypt, was being extended to targets on the mainland oi Italy, and considerable damage was being inflicted on ports on both sides of the Adriatic. Our fighters were establishing a definite A change of air policy was forced upon us during the battle of Valona. moral if not numerical superiority. Serious operational difficulties, largely due to the weather, were en- countered during the period January to February, 1941. Enemy opposition was stronger and more modern fighters were being encountered. The Air Vice-Marshal goes on to refer to his visit to Cairo, where lie discussed a reinforcement plan en- visaging a total force in Greece of fourteen squadrons. At about the same time conferences were held to discuss the possibility of sending a British expeditionary force to Greece, but the Greek General Staff, on learn- ing the limited size of the force that could be made available, decided that its presence would only tend to pro- voke Germany, whilst it was not strong enough to be able to provide any very material support. The battle of Valoua was interest- ing inasmuch as a change of air policy was forced upon us. Air Vice-Marshal D'Albiac argued against close support ^by his bombers, but was reminded that the morale of some Greek soldiers had been severely shaken by enemy bombing, and that success might de- pend on the stimulus afforded by see- ing Italians treated in the same way. During February the first six Hurri- canes appeared, and their first flight over Athens was greeted with great enthusiasm. On their first sortie they shot down four enemy aircraft and later, in company with Gladiators, destroyed 27 e. a. without loss. The opening of the final phase of the campaign (March, to April, 1941) was notable for the decision to send a During moonlight periods our bomber effort, using Wellingtons from Egypt, was extended to targets on the main- land of Italy. British expeditionary force to the country. Arrangements were made for a defensive line to be prepared in suitable country, west of Salonika, covering the Larissa plain. The arri- val of the British force and the organization of a new front meant a further reorganization of the R.A.F. component, which was difficult because all squadrons were much below strength. A "refreshing interlude" was the battle of Cape Matapan, in which all our bombing squadrons took part. Six Swordfish arrived on the nth March and operated against Valona and Durazzo harbours. Several ships were sunk and more were hit while the Fleet Air Arm was operating in Greece. At the time of the German invaji the R.A.F. component was organized as follows: ... A Western Wing—consisting of one ;' bomber and one Gladiator squadroa supporting the Greeks in Albania. An Eastern Wing—consisting of two bomber and one Hurricane fighter squadrons supporting the Anglo-Greek ; forces facing the German advance. -^ In the Athens area was one bomber.-;;^ squadron and one fighter squadron in process of re-arming with Hurricanes. On the 6th April, when the German forces were on the march, 12 Hurri- canes met 20 Me 109s and shot down
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
