The main casualties and the destruction of the last 35 years

The main casualties and the destruction of the last 35 years

Almost daily we hear about Turkish aircraft violating our national airspace and then intercepted by Greek fighter planes. But sometimes, this now classic scenario is not always successful outcome for fighter aircraft neighbor.

The entanglements between the fighter of the two countries, mostly developed in tough battles, sometimes ending in the fall of a fighter. The result is to be a race in search and rescue, and the diplomatic level on the impressions created.

The daily battle in the skies of the Aegean has become routine for all who attend through the media, which inform in simple terms, how many violations and the number of entanglements between Turkish and Greek aircraft every day. But the reality is very different and sometimes the air forces of both countries paid a heavy toll in this fight challenging the sovereignty and a defense of national airspace on the other.

The history of violations of Athens FIR by Turkish aircraft starts from a very old and, unfortunately, the Greek side did not care the first time to put the brakes on this activity. The first tentative steps of the Turks are not treated dynamically, when the Air Force we had and modern fighter aircraft, but also qualitative superiority over the level of Turkish pilots.

The first interception demonstrated the superiority of the Air Force with a festive way with dozens suffering of the Turkish pilots, either back hurry back to Turkey from various “mechanical” problems or abandon their aircraft before they reach their bases, because most times, under pressure from the Greek pilot, lost in the Aegean, and exhausts its fuel them. Specifically, the 1980, two Greek F-4E of 337 SCM forced the Turkish pilot an F-104G to leave the aircraft, south of Rhodes, for lack of fuel after a “tour” of the Turkish aircraft in the Aegean.

While the first night stop, when a Greek Mirage F1 illuminated the side of the projector a Turkish F-4E, led the Turkish pilot to think he met UFO, shouting it from the radio, thus demonstrating the quality of Turkish pilots. Also, the appearance of Greek Mirage-2000 in the role of deterrence in early 1990, did the Turkish pilots screaming terrified at the radio «Mirage … Mirage »when they met!

Below is a record of major aviation accident-broken that have occurred in the Aegean Sea and have been known to the general public the last thirty years.

The first dogfight

On the morning of 20 July 1974 found that Cyprus is under attack of Attila the known effects us all. Greek territory, armed forces began to spasmodic steps to be mobilized. The air force was on alert and asked all the aircraft ready for 5 and 2 minutes. The Turks on the first day began to engage in violations in the Aegean with F-5 aircraft and F-102, thus held, and the first engagements between Greek and Turkish aircraft. On July 22, 1974, and while the mass violations by Turkish aircraft continue, two Greek F-5A’s 337 MAI received the command to scramble to intercept two “unknown” tracks.

The F-5 that the first lieutenant aboard Ioannis Dinopoulos and pilot officer Thomas Skampardonis took off from 111 AM in New Anchialos and the hours 1.30 pm in Agios Efstratios spotted a pair of Turkish F-102. The Turkish aircraft failed after continuous rotations be found behind the plane of Second Lieutenant Skampardonis and even a rocket launcher and AIM-4 Falcon vs. without happily find their target.

Watching over the involvement of a greater height, the first lieutenant Dinopoulos fired two AIM9V against two Turkish aircraft thereby rebut a Turkish F-102. The second F-102 panicky tried to return to base, but due to depletion of fuel destroyed his attempt to land, resulting in fatal injury of the Turkish operator. The incident has demonstrated excellence and professionalism of the Greek pilot. Despite initial hesitation suffered the Turks continued to violate our air space …

The first loss, June 18, 1992

This day was destined to be one of the darkest in the history of the PA, since that day lost one of the heroic pilots of our aviation. That morning, two Greek Mirage F1CG of SCM 342 off from the CP 135 in Skyros to curb the formation of Turkish F-16. Behind the cockpit of a Mirage F1CG is the first lieutenant Nicholas Sialmas. The two formations, following the recognition made by the Greek aircraft involved in a dogfight in a restricted area of ​​Agios Efstratios west of Limnos.

Turkish pilots, called as “lamers” by by our pilots, taking advantage of the superior performance offered by a third-generation aircraft like the F-16 compared with a second-generation aircraft such as Mirage F1 has managed one of those found to be 6 hours of Greek aircraft. The first lieutenant Sialmas refusing to accept a “Jacket” in the queue, perform immersion in order to avoid the pursuer. However, the low level they were at the Mirage F1 does not give much room early disengagement, resulting in collisions at sea.

The Turkish persecutors (Ilhan Filiz), who follows him in this sinking, manages the last minute and bring the aircraft and saves the conflict with the sea. The Turks left the area, but a eellinas pilot lost in the waters of the Aegean defending his homeland from invaders. In honor of built in Agios Efstratios monument, bearing the emblem of the 342 SCM serving. Also, she was named Cape tip Nikolaos Sialmas. The least we could do the state to honor a pilot who gave his own life to protect the rights of our country.

Rhodes, February 8, 1995

This day will remain etched in the minds of pilots who served time in the 342 SCM. It was an ordinary day-formation consisting of four Turkish F-16-violate the Athens FIR south of Rhodes. Two Greek Mirage F1CG get the command to take off from the CP 126 in Heraklion, Crete to identify the “unknown” tracks. The two formations involved six miles west of Karpathos and although the possibilities of modern F-16 was higher than the Greek aircraft, Greek pilots applying appropriate tactics, managed to isolate a Turkish when the Mirage F-16C.

The Turkish pilot, trying to escape his pursuers, sinking out with a high degree glide something which led to put his aircraft on a collision course with the sea without being able to restore it. The Turkish pilot flying officer Mustafa Yildirim manages to successfully eject from the aircraft, while the Turkish F-16C crashed sixteen miles south of Rhodes. Immediately take off a helicopter search and rescue AB-205 from Rhodes and, after failing to successfully pick the Turkish pilot, then transfer him to hospital in Rhodes to be provided with first aid.

The Turkish first lieutenant accept the visit of Consul at the hospital, while the Turkish side stated that the accident was due to “mechanical failure” of the fuel system … After hospitalization, the Turkish pilot was transported by Greek C-130 back to Turkey.

Lesvos, December 27, 1995

In December 1995 series to savor what Greek stem were pilots of the Turkish Phantom Squadron 112 Filo. Specifically, two Turkish F-4E after 2 pm violated the national airspace of the island and continued their journey north to Lesbos. Two Greek F-16C stand, owned by TA 330, departing from the CP 130 Lemnos to restrain the pair of Turks.

The Greek formation identified the two attackers west of the island and quickly evolved to recognize a hard dogfight. The superiority of the Greek F-16 pilots and Greek forces the Turkish pilot Altug Karaburun to perform an extreme maneuver, resulting in a Turkish F-4E serial number 67-301 nailed in the sea area of ​​the island and induce death in the operator it. The co-pilot Ogur Kilar manages to eject successfully rescued by a Greek helicopter AB-205, which transports him to the hospital of Lesvos. The rest is known, since given an olive branch, moved back to Turkey.

Chios, October 8, 1996

That day a package of Turkish fleet, consisting of two F-16C / D and four F-4E, violated Athens FIR and headed for the island of Skyros. The Greek response was immediate. Two Greek Mirage 2000 of 331 SCM 135 taking off from BDSM Skyros to face another “educational” Flight of the neighbors. Before long the two Greek Mirage-2000 and two Turkish F-16 launching a dogfight with the stubborn Turkish pilots not to leave our air-space. Turkish pilots, ignoring safety rules, trying to hook the Greek fighter without success. Then the Turkish F-16D two-seater made an explosion …

The operator anticipates Osman Cicekli be ejected from the F-16 while the Turkish pilot Nail Erdogan lost with his aircraft … Cause of the explosion was a Greek Magic-2 missile fired from a Mirage-2000 in order to end the dangerous effects the Turkish pilot. The Greek AB-205 once again took the role of rescuing the Turkish operator. The second F-16C, not wanting to have the fate of his colleague, fled to the Turkish coast. The pilot Osman Cicekli admitted to the hospital of the island and returned to Turkey.

In an aside that shooting is the identity of the pilot was rescued after leaked the rumor that it was not Turkish but Israeli pilot who participated in the activity of the Turkish Aegean. In Greek aircraft serial number 236 painted a Kill-mark with the inscription «mehmetcik-busters», but unfortunately not for long, as quickly xevaftike … After years, the Greek side has admitted that the shooting, but returned in the error Greek pilot …

Karpathos, May 23, 2006

The most recent air incident between the two airlines of Greece and Turkey to the collision of two fighter aircraft F-16C, twenty miles southeast of Karpathos, which resulted in the tragic death of Flight Lieutenant Konstantinos Iliakis. Specifically, on that day a formation of the Turkish fleet, consisting of a photo-ID RF-4E and two F-16C of 192 Filo provided escorts (Escort) in RF-4E, violated Athens FIR directed to Crete in order to identify and photograph the positions of missiles S-300. Two Greek F-16C of 343 Squadron took off from 115 AM to Souda to recognize the enemy formation. Southeast of Karpathos detected the formation and Captain Iliakis headed for the Turkish RF-4E to recognize the pod which brought the Turkish aircraft, but also to record and the serial number of the RF-4E.

The Turkish pilot (Hali Ibraim Osdebir) the F-16 that came with the RF-4E in an effort to prevent recognition by the Greek F-16C’s Flight Lieutenant Iliakis perform dangerous maneuvers leading to hit the hood of Greek aircraft and find death of the Greek pilot. The Turkish pilot managed to eject and collected by a foreign merchant ship and then received by a Turkish helicopter. Another heroic pilot of Air Force fell defending the Greek domination so strongly challenged in recent years.

This peculiar air war in the Aegean continues today and is becoming more fierce, the Turkish pilots to become more aggressive. The percentage of experienced Turkish pilots ever increasing and the existence of flying tankers helps them to remain more and more time over the Aegean. Opposite but always find the heroic pilots of the PA. The Greeks handlers, with a high level of education they receive, and having right on their side, after fighting at home, keep the air Thermopylae impenetrable by would-be intruders …

The risk, however, a new air accident remains open to both sides of the Aegean. Unfortunately, the Greek political leadership in recent years, exploit this dominance of aviation, we continuously samples showing ypochorisis.I Turkish air with constant violations of our national airspace has a dual benefit deny our sovereign rights, and also provides Free training for pilots of the routine engagements with Greek aircraft. Hopefully the unjust death of Flight Lieutenant Iliakis will be the last in this undeclared air war, not to have again mourn another loss Greek aviator.