National Experiences - British Commission for Military History

o ya l He l l e n i C air fo r C e (rHaf) d u r i n g wo r l d wa r ii. or g a n i z at i o n a n d op e r at i o n s 137
join No. 1 SAAF Wing covering
the El Alamein front and escorting
SAAF bombers. On October 23, it
was re-stationed at LG37 just 75
miles from the front, in order to participate
in the Battle of El Alamein.
At the second anniversary of
the Italian attack against Greece
was approaching (October 28 th ),
Squadron Leader I. Kellas asked
permission to “celebrate” the anniversary
by carrying out a strafing
operation against the Headquarters
of the Italian XX Corps which was
based behind the Axis lines. The attack
was fierce. Twelve Hurricanes
of No.335 (together with another
dozen of No.274) caused significant
damage to enemy lorries, tents
and pillboxes 22 .
In November, 9 pilots of No 335
formed the basis of No.336 Hellenic
Fighter Squadron. From February to
January 1944 the Squadron was stabilised
at Mersa Matruh in Egypt,
carrying out shipping escort mis-
Fi g u r e 11: Ground crew servicing the engine
of a Supermarine Spitfire (Archive of the
History Museum, HAF 40072).
sions, anti-submarine patrols, offensive reconnaissance, interceptions and training
sorties.
On July 23, 1943, the two Hellenic Fighter Squadrons in co-operation with Nos
74, 451, 127, 94, 213, 238 and 252 Allied Squadrons took part in operation “Thetis”,
a massive ground-attack sweep on Crete 23 . On November 13, 1943, the mission
was successfully repeated under the code- name “Operation Sociable” and again on
November 15 and 17.
In December 1943, its request of No.335 quest to be converted to the Spitfire Vb
and Vc was finally met (Figure 11). In total, during 1943, the Squadron logged on
more than 8.000 hours of combat and 3.400 hours of training. From March 1, 1944,
the Squadron operated from the Bersis airfield in Tunisia. In September 15, No.335
headed for its new base in Canne, Italy.
22 st Protocol No. 2620/62015/5-1-1943/Air Ministry / Air-Force Staff / 1 Office / Report on the activity
of 335 Hellenic Fighter Squadron, Cairo.
23
G. Ioannidis, Revenge raid in Greek heroic airmen (1940-1945).