The Aerodrome Forum - View Single Post - Greco-Turkish war 1919-1922

DTB · 15 July 2003, 02:14 AM

Hi all,

I saw that there are some tukish forumites so maybe they can help.

I'm looking for information on the aerial aspect for the greco-turkish war (1919-1922).

I did found an interesting web site giving a complete history of this little-known war... in turkish language, that I don't read.
( *http://www.tayyareci.com * )

A short résumé of the war (info collected from the book "Ionian Vision" :

1919 : Occupation of Smyrna (Ismir) and eastern Thrace by the Greeks. Turkey is divided between occupations zones among western powers : France in Cilicia, Italy in the South-west, and Istambul by England-France-Italy-USA. The official leader of Turkey is still the sultan in Istambul, but Mustapha Kemal controls Anatolia and forms a government in Ankara.

feb 1920 : The Kemalist defeat the french in Cilicia. Pro-turk party forms in France and ask for and agreement with the kemalists.

june 1920 : The greeks launch a general offensive and occupy all for NW turkey. To regular turkish troops fight them, but irregulars "Tchetedjis" who make sneak attacks and retreat out of greek occupation zone. To eradicate them, the greek high command lauch this offensive.

dec 1920 : Venizelos (greek pro-allied prime minister) looses elections and (pro-german) King Contantine comes back to power. Venizelist officers are fired from the army and replaced by royalist officers.

jan 1921 : the royalist greek high command launches a test attack against the turks in Inonü. The new turkish regular army resists (Ismet Pacha).

march 1921 : Great greek offensive, followed by massacres of turkish populations around Ismid and Marmara Sea. In july, the greek now occupy the Eski Sehir/ Afyon Karahissar line. But the massacres they committed made them loose the sympathy of the western powers and their weapons supply.

Aug 1921 : Sakarya Battle : the greeks try to occupy Ankara but Kemal resists. The Greeks withdraw in good order in the Eski-Sehir / Afyon-Karahissar line.

Aug 1922 : Turkish offensive, the greek army routs.

9 sept 1922 : The turkish army take Smyrna (Izmir) and commits massacres in the greek and armenian population.

About the aerial aspects of the war :

As I have understood, the turkish air force had a few remaining aircraft from the ottoman air force : 7 Albatros B III, 14 Albatros D III, 1 Albatros C I, 7 Albatros C II, 10 Halberstadt D V, 8 AEG C IV, 2 Nieuport 17, 5 Fokker D I, 7 Fokker D VII.

I suppose they performed a few aerial reccos on the front. The greek air force was not very numerous either, so I don't think we had any dogfights.

As I know, the greeks had these planes :

- Breguet 14, SPAD XIII, Nieuport 28 for the army.

- DH 9, Camel for the navy.

Later in the war, the turks improved their air force by 4 Pfaltz D III, 3 Albatros D Va, 1 DFW C VII, 5 Gotha WD 13, 2 Albatros C XV. Aircraft sold by smugglers I suppose.

The italians gave them (I suppose) 2 Fiat R2, 6 Saml B1 and *3 Nieuport 27 because they didn't like the greek occupation of the Smyrna district.

But the french gave them enought planes to make an efficient air force : 37 Breguet 14 and 21 SPAD XIII in the end of 1921 after the treaty signed between Franklin Bouillon and the Kemalists (20 oct 1921).

Any info, correction, additions would be welcome !

Regards,

DTB

15 July 2003, 02:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
DTB Two-seater Pilot Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: France Posts: 121	Hi all, I saw that there are some tukish forumites so maybe they can help. I'm looking for information on the aerial aspect for the greco-turkish war (1919-1922). I did found an interesting web site giving a complete history of this little-known war... in turkish language, that I don't read. ( http://www.tayyareci.com ) A short résumé of the war (info collected from the book "Ionian Vision" : 1919 : Occupation of Smyrna (Ismir) and eastern Thrace by the Greeks. Turkey is divided between occupations zones among western powers : France in Cilicia, Italy in the South-west, and Istambul by England-France-Italy-USA. The official leader of Turkey is still the sultan in Istambul, but Mustapha Kemal controls Anatolia and forms a government in Ankara. feb 1920 : The Kemalist defeat the french in Cilicia. Pro-turk party forms in France and ask for and agreement with the kemalists. june 1920 : The greeks launch a general offensive and occupy all for NW turkey. To regular turkish troops fight them, but irregulars "Tchetedjis" who make sneak attacks and retreat out of greek occupation zone. To eradicate them, the greek high command lauch this offensive. dec 1920 : Venizelos (greek pro-allied prime minister) looses elections and (pro-german) King Contantine comes back to power. Venizelist officers are fired from the army and replaced by royalist officers. jan 1921 : the royalist greek high command launches a test attack against the turks in Inonü. The new turkish regular army resists (Ismet Pacha). march 1921 : Great greek offensive, followed by massacres of turkish populations around Ismid and Marmara Sea. In july, the greek now occupy the Eski Sehir/ Afyon Karahissar line. But the massacres they committed made them loose the sympathy of the western powers and their weapons supply. Aug 1921 : Sakarya Battle : the greeks try to occupy Ankara but Kemal resists. The Greeks withdraw in good order in the Eski-Sehir / Afyon-Karahissar line. Aug 1922 : Turkish offensive, the greek army routs. 9 sept 1922 : The turkish army take Smyrna (Izmir) and commits massacres in the greek and armenian population. About the aerial aspects of the war : As I have understood, the turkish air force had a few remaining aircraft from the ottoman air force : 7 Albatros B III, 14 Albatros D III, 1 Albatros C I, 7 Albatros C II, 10 Halberstadt D V, 8 AEG C IV, 2 Nieuport 17, 5 Fokker D I, 7 Fokker D VII. I suppose they performed a few aerial reccos on the front. The greek air force was not very numerous either, so I don't think we had any dogfights. As I know, the greeks had these planes : - Breguet 14, SPAD XIII, Nieuport 28 for the army. - DH 9, Camel for the navy. Later in the war, the turks improved their air force by 4 Pfaltz D III, 3 Albatros D Va, 1 DFW C VII, 5 Gotha WD 13, 2 Albatros C XV. Aircraft sold by smugglers I suppose. The italians gave them (I suppose) 2 Fiat R2, 6 Saml B1 and *3 Nieuport 27 because they didn't like the greek occupation of the Smyrna district. But the french gave them enought planes to make an efficient air force : 37 Breguet 14 and 21 SPAD XIII in the end of 1921 after the treaty signed between Franklin Bouillon and the Kemalists (20 oct 1921). Any info, correction, additions would be welcome ! Regards, DTB __________________ Faire face !