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    On Spartan Wings: The Royal Hellenic Air Force in World War Two
    On Spartan Wings: The Royal Hellenic Air Force in World War Two
    On Spartan Wings: The Royal Hellenic Air Force in World War Two
    Ebook335 pages5 hours

    On Spartan Wings: The Royal Hellenic Air Force in World War Two

    By John Carr

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    This WWII history chronicles the courageous but ill-prepared Greek air force from the Battle of Greece to the Battle of El Alamein and beyond.

    On October 28th, 1940, when Greece was invaded by Mussolini’s Italy, the Royal Hellenic Air Force was severely outgunned. Without warning, the RHAF’s paltry fleet was pitted against the much larger and more advanced Regia Aeronautica, whose pilots had recently honed their skills in the Spanish Civil War. Though the British Royal Air Force gave whatever assistance it could, the aerial war was unequal from the beginning.

    Greek flying aces such as Marinos Mitralexis managed to keep morale high. But even as individual pilots and crewmembers fought valiantly, the RHAF was seriously depleted by the end of 1940. The end came in April 1941 when Hitler sped to the rescue of Italy’s faltering forces. The Luftwaffe overwhelmed what was left of the RHAF, leaving a single mira, or squadron, to escape intact to Egypt. Out of this small squadron grew three full mirai, whose pilots, now equipped with modern aircraft, played a decisive part in the Allied victory at El Alamein.

    Until Greece was liberated in October 1944, the RHAF units ranged over targets in the Aegean Sea, Italy and Yugoslavia. In this comprehensive history, John Carr draws on meticulous research and firsthand accounts to shed light on the skill and heroism of the Greek airmen and their contributions to WWII air warfare.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOpen Road Integrated Media
    Release dateJul 19, 2012
    ISBN9781781598986
    On Spartan Wings: The Royal Hellenic Air Force in World War Two

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    • 5/5
      An excellent English language history of the Ryoal Hellenic Air Force throughout the Second World War. Relying on Greek language sources and memoirs it offers a valuable addition to WW2 aviation history. The air force fought valiantly in obsolete machines against overwhelming odds in the Italian and German invasions of Greece. Three squadrons were reformed in Egypt and fought in the North African campaign and later as part of the Balkan Air Force. The author does not shy away from telling of the communist inspired mutinies these squadrons suffered. Highly recommended.

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    On Spartan Wings - John Carr

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