Figure 1.--This photograph is unidentified, but looks like RAF personnel with Greek civilians and miliary men we would guess about December 1944.A reader thinks the image may be Italian, "It looks like it was a RAF food relief flight. I think it is towards the end of the war and civilians could be ex resistance fighters. I think its more likely Italy than Greece. Can't get the image bigger to read the badges. "

As the British forces began arriving in Greece (September 1944), the Royal Air Force arrived with them. RAF operatiins began at the Araxos airfield. It was captured (September 23). The many airfields around it were secured within a month. This included Megara which was captured by 4 para in a parachute drop. Kalamaki close to Athens became the center of RAF activity in Greece. It was renamed Hassani (December 1) and became home to No. 337 Wing RAF. Ot included Spitfire and Beaufighter, Dakota (C-47), and Wellington squadrons. Royal Helenic Air Force Spitfire Sqauadrons arrived (November 1944). Thevwere Greek-manned ynits flying with the RAF. They became the first operational units of the trvonstitited Royal Hellenic Air Force. As a far as we can tell, these units did not play an important role in air operatiions against the Germans. in the Balkans or the Reich itself. Allied Mediterannean air operations were primarily conducted by the Americans from bases in soutthern Italy which had been obtained when the Allies invaded Italy a year earlier (September 1943). The supply routes were shorter and the Allies by late-1044 dif not need additional air bases to procecute the air war against Germany. The Greek air bases were primarily used to support British units securing Greece as the Geramns retreated north. The RAF units soon got involved in the conflict with Communist dominated ELAS resistance group and ultimnately the Greek Civil War.

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Created: 2:55 PM 7/15/2020
Last updated: 2:55 PM 7/15/2020