Air Operations During The Greek Civil War - Aircraft of The Greek Civil War

Aircraft of The Greek Civil War

• Airspeed Oxford: A small number of these utility aircraft were used by the RHAF for liaison and transport.
• Auster: A ubiquitous light plane of the period, the RHAF used the Auster as an observation and liaison aircraft and for numerous light duties. Most were A.O.P. 6 models.
• Avro Anson: Some of these utility aircraft were employed by the RHAF from the force's formation through the end of the civil war.
• Bristol Beaufighter: A heavier ground-attack aircraft, the Beaufighter Mark VIF (and some Mark VIII) was used by No. 108 Sqn. during the early RAF involvement in Greece. These were replaced by later model Mark X Beaufighters of No. 252 Sqn. later, although they were not heavily used by that point. The Beaufighters armed with rockets were particularly effective as an early support aircraft in operations during 1945. The Beaufighter ended its role with the withdrawal of No. 252 Sqn. in 1946.
• Curtis SB2C Helldiver: Forty of these dive bombers were acquired by the RHAF in late 1948 from the United States Navy. They proved to be the best strike aircraft of the RHAF and played an important role in the final operations to end the civil war.
• deHavilland Mosquito: Only a few of these aircraft were utilized by RAF units in Greece, with a small number of Mark XXVI aircraft employed by No. 55 Sqn. After the withdrawal of RAF units, however, it was reported that Mosquitoes of No. 13 Sqn. conducted reconnaissance during 1948 on behalf of the Greek government.
• Douglas Boston: This light bomber was the backbone of the RAF units which maintained a presence in Greece from the end of active operations in 1945 to the withdrawal of the RAF in 1946.
• Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Dakota: Primary transport of the Allies in the later half of World War II, the Dakota accompanied the RAF to Greece and was heavily used to supply British forces there. Dakotas comprised the only South African Air Force aircraft to be operated there. Many were transferred to the RHAF, as were a number of C-47s from US stocks. Some were outfitted with crude bomb racks for use on heavier raids.
• Hawker Hurricane: A single unit of Hurricane Mark IV aircraft, No. 6 Sqn., deployed with the first RAF units, but was withdrawn before taking a role in the conflict.
• Martin Baltimore: A small number of these light bombers were acquired by the RHAF from the RAF and employed by No. 13 Sqn. in general support duties.
• North American T-6 Texan and Harvard: Large numbers of these useful aircraft were operated by the RHAF during the civil war. Most were AT-6 versions from the United States, although a number of the Harvard model from the RAF were acquired as well. They were useful as liaison, observation, and light strike aircraft and were a critical part of the effectiveness of other Greek strike aircraft during the operations in 1948.
• Supermarine Spitfire: Backbone of both the RAF and RHAF during their operations in the war, the Spitfire was operated in both Mark V and Mark IX versions for most of the conflict. The RHAF did begin receiving some Mark XVI models later in the conflict, while the RAF had operated a number of the Mark XI for photo-reconnaissance. Heavily used for strafing and later for napalm strikes, the Spitfire lacked range and ammunition in the strike role. Additionally, it proved more vulnerable to ground fire than the other types operated by the RHAF.
• Supermarine Walrus: A single unit of these amphibian aircraft was deployed for mine-spotting duties in the Adriatic.
• Vickers Wellington: Past its primary life as a bomber, Wellingtons of the RAF Coastal Command were deployed to Greece to assist RAF forces there. They carried out a number of support tasks, including leaflet and bombing missions. Originally the Mark XIII was used, although some Mark XIV also arrived. A small number found their way into the Greek inventory.