The Royal Hellenic Air Force 1940-41
Elleniki Vassiliki Aeroporia

The Royal Greek Air Force was actually two separate entities; the Army Higher Air Force Command and the Navy Higher Air Force Command. Both were directly under the Command of the Commander in Chief, Land Forces, and the Commander in Chief Navy respectively. The Army Command controlled the Fighter, Bomber, and Ground Support Squadrons while the Navy Command controlled the Naval Co-operation Squadrons. Both were 'administered' by the Greek Air Ministry however and so are presented as a single organisation here.

By December the Air Force virtually ceased to exist (it had suffered over 50% losses - principally fighters and bombers), the Greeks had committed to a policy of forward defence which although of excellent morale value had little effect on the actual outcome of events in Albania. Fighters were often sent up against attacking forces ten times their numbers, while bombers and ground supports were used against enemy troops in the front line rather than supply and communication centres to the rear. This resulted in a battle of attrition, which although they performed well, eventually destroyed the air force. Since the air force had large numbers of Polish, French, and German aircraft there was no ready supply of spare parts either!

From late November British air units began to arrive to take over responsibility for air defence as the bulk of the Greek Air Force was no longer operational due to losses and maintenance problems. In fact by January the Greeks had virtually no operational combat aircraft. When the Germans invaded (06 April 1941), even with the aircraft supplied by Britain, the combined Greek Air Force had only 41 operational combat aircraft.

1. Mire Stratiotkis Synergassias (Army Co-Op).
2. Mire Naftikis Synergassias (Naval Co-Op).
3. Mire Dioxes (Fighter Command).
4. Mire Vomvardismou (Bomber).
5. Miscellaneous Aircraft (Training, etc).