Greek Markings

[EricGoedkoop]

Does anyone know when the Greeks first used the blue-white-blue roundels and rudder stripes? The earliest picture I can find is from 1919, ex-RAF DH-9's with overpainted British markings. Greece purchased its first military aircraft way back in 1913, though. Were the Greek national markings used at all during World War One?

[MikeW]

Eric,

the very limited shots that I have show either no markings (Greek navy) or British markings in the case of Greek pilots flying with the RNAS No.2 Wing. Not much help, sorry.

Mike

[EricGoedkoop]

Thanks, Mike.

[Tomasz]

Eric,

1. accordnig to Greek sources the birth of blue/white/blue roundels took place in August 28th 1917. However I am not sure how quickly the new insignias were really applied. Greek army aviation used French aircraft. It acted under French command and for a long time consisted of French/Greek Escadrilles. Greek Navy aviation was bound to RNAS/RAF in the very same way.

2. I doubt that we can rely on b/w photos judging the color od the insignias. Greek insignia could be created through overpainitng of red outer rings on French built aircraft or red roundel centers on British built aircraft. It is risky to guess now if the shade of the new blue was the same as that already found on the aircraft.

Best wishes,

Tomasz

[EricGoedkoop]

Thanks, Tomasz.

I have found nothing so far to indicate that the Greek markings were used before the end of WWI. I think you're right about the shades of blue - the French and British blues were quite different and I doubt the Greeks would have used two different colors to match. It seems that for many of the minor air forces, advertising nationality wasn't nearly as important as advertising allegiance. Any Allied marking - French, British, whatever - would keep the Greek aircraft from being shot up by their own boys, and ultimately that was the point.

[DTB]

Hi all,

Just to add that the 4 french/greek escadrilles carried french roundels during the war. Most of the personnel of this escadrilles were french.

N 531 : created in march 1918 as 2nd greek escadrille, all pilots were french. Only the commanding officer, Alexandre Zanna, was greek and I think he was not a pilot.

Br 532 : created in november 1917 as 1st greek escadrille, had AR 2 bombers and Nieuport fighters until creation of N 531 I suppose. Had some greek flying personnal : one known pilot, S/Lt Psalidas. And several observers : Lt Maniadakis, S/Lt Petropoulos, S/Lt Georgiades and S/Lt Coronas.

Br 533 : created in july 1918 as 3rd greek escadrille. All the personnal was greek except the commanding officer, a french captain (Anglezot).

Br 534 : created in july 1918 as 4th greek escadrille. The CO was french, and I don't know for the personnal.

After the was all the planes (Nieuport, SPAD, AR2 bombers, Breguet 14) were given to the greek army. The Breguet then wore greek roundels with a fuselage roundel. I don't know how were painted the fighters.

Regards,
DTB

[agblume]

there is an excellent book (in English) titled "Helennic Wings, An Illustrated
History of the H.A.F. and Its Precursors 1908 - 1944," prepared by the
Hellenic Air Force General Staff, edited and compiled by Flt.Lt. George
J. Beldecos, HAF, published in 1999 - ISBN 960-86135-2-3. on page 39
there is a color plate with wing and rudder markings. you might be able
to find it through IPMS Greece or the Hellenic War Museum in Athens.
it has lots of great photos and is well worth adding to your library.
best wishes, august

[Angiolillo]

Great!

I'll buy it straight on.

Any other source for wartime Greek color shemes, expecially views from above? I am interested in WWI but also in the Greek-Turkish war.

Thanks,

Andrea