335 Mira

Αίεν Υψικρατείν

(Always Dominate the Heights)

Callsign : TIGERS

Nato Tiger Association status : full member

On 20 August 1941, the headquarters of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) proposed to London the formation of two Greek Fighter Squadrons, in the first phase only receiving approval for the formation of one.

This was to be the 335 Ελληνικής Βασιλικής Μοίρας Διώξεως (Royal Hellenic Persuit Squadron), also known as No.335 (Greek) Squadron RAF, which makes it the oldest Squadron of the Greek Air Force.  The first pilots of the Squadron were members of the Ελληνικής Βασιλικής Αεροπορίας (Royal Hellenic Air Force) who had been sent to Iraq in 1940 to be trained by the British, as well as several pilots who fled to the area after the occupation of Greece.  (RAF Squadrons in the 300–352 series were staffed during the Second World War by volunteers from countries in occupied Europe.  In some cases, these RAF squadrons and personnel were regarded by their government-in-exile as serving concurrently with its own air force.)

The Squadron was first equipped with Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIB fighters, later replaced by Hurricane Mk.IICs and was assigned to 339 Fighter Wing of the RAF.  The Squadron operated with these aircraft until December 1943, when they were replaced with, first, the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VB and later the Spitfire Mk.VC.

The Squadron operated over North Africa, Italy, Yugoslavia, Albania and occupied Greece, more specifically Crete, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese.  During their stay in the Middle East, they also participated in convoy protection missions.  They participated in the Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October – 11 November 1942) and on 28 October 1942, the second anniversary of the Italian attack against Greece, they conducted a successful low-altitude attack on the headquarters of the Italian XX Corps in Libya.

In September 1944 the squadron moved to Italy and from there ultimately, in late October, to Greece.  There, along with the 336 Ελληνική Βασιλική Μοίρα Βομβαρδιστικών Μαχητών (Hellenic Royal Fighter Bomber Squadron) and the 13η Μοίρα Ελαφρού Βομβαρδισμού (Light Bombardment Squadron), which both also had been established in the Middle East, it was assigned to the Greek state by the British.

During WWII 335 Squadron lost 18 pilots, flying 5,555 sorties, totaling 8,500 combat hours and 12,000 flight hours for training purposes.

In June 1947 the 335 Μοίρα (Squadron) received the new Spitfire Mk.IX and Mk.XVI aircraft in order to be able to participate between 1947 and 1949 in the operations in support of the Ελληνικός Εθνικός Στρατός (Greek National Army) during the Greek Civil War (31 March 1946 - 30 August 1949).  This conflict consisted of a Communist-led uprising against the established government of the Kingdom of Greece.

In October 1953, it became the first Squadron to replace its propeller-driven aircraft with jets: the Republic F-84G "Thunderjet" and the Lockheed RT-33A "T-Bird".  It is also renamed in 335 Μοίρα Βομβαρδιστικών Μαχητών (Fighter Bomber Squadron).

The 335th was reassigned to the 111th Πτέρυγα Μάχης (Fighter Wing) and remained there until September 1957.  It then reassigned to the 110th Πτέρυγα Μάχης in Larissa and until May 1960, having already begun receiving Republic F-84F "Thunderstreak" aircraft since autumn 1957.  In November 1960, it assumes a strike role and is stationed at Tanagra.

In April 1963 the Squadron was designated as Combat Ready in all Strike Missions.  They used their strike aircrasft with great success in a very difficult period for the Eastern Mediterranean region.  They make the most of an airfield that for more than 25 years has been a landmark airfield both for the Hellenic Air Force and for NATO in general, while at the same time in cooperation with other squadrons of the Alliance they are establishing modern attack mission tactics.

In May 1965, it began receiving Lockheed F-104G "Starfighters" and on 30 June 1977, it transferred to 116th Πτέρυγα Μάχης in Araxos.  The Squadron operated the F-104G untill 31 May 1992.  With the arrival of the F-104G, the 335M takes over a significant part of the Hellenic Air Force's strike missions.  It is also the time when the 335M begins to participate in international exercises.

In April 1993 it received the second-generation Chance Vough A-7E and TA-7C "Corsair" aircraft and is renamed into 335 βομβαρδιστικό αεροπλάνο μοίρ (Bomber Squadron).  With these aircraft the bombing capabilities increased dramatically because they had great capabilities for transporting weapons, over long distances, with sufficient accuracy in attacking targets.

From 2009 a new era begins for both 335M and the Hellenic Air Force in general.  The Squadron now stops flying the A-7 E and starts receiving the brand new fourth-generation General Dynamics F-16C and F-16D "Fighting Falcon".

335M is now capable to carry out the entire range of missions, in day & night and under any weather conditions.

(all aircraft are to scale, not all drawings show an aircraft in 335 markings)

Aircraft

Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIB / Mk.IIC

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VB

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VC

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVI

Republic F-84F Thunderjet

Republic F-84F Thunderstreak

Lockheed RT-33A T-Bird

Lockheed F-104G Starfighter

Lockheed TF-104G Starfighter

Chance Vough A-7E  Corsair

Chance Vough TA-7C Corsair

General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon

General Dynamics F-16D Fighting Falcon

335 Royal Hellenic Persuit Squadron

335 (Fighter) Bomber Squadron

335 Squadron

110 Fighter Wing

111 Fighter Wing

116 Fighter Wing

336 Royal Hellenic Persuit Squadron

13th Light Bombardment Squadron

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