341 Squadron Hellenic Air Force participation in TLP 2004-2

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341 Squadron Hellenic Air Force participation in TLP 2004-2
By Nicholas Tselepidis (all photographs copyright by 341 Mira & ACIG)
Feb 8, 2004, 17:25

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The Hellenic Air Force usually takes part in the second and fourth TLP sessions each year, out of the 6 in total. This year in TLP 2004-2, 341 Mira (Squadron) sent its F-16 Block 50's to take part in NATO's Tactical Leadership Program. The Squadrons main role is SEAD with Air Defence as a secondary role. In the particular Aegean environment however, with THK a/c challenging the legal status quo, all PA Squadrons that have Air Defence as a "secondary" role, in fact are much more efficient in it than Air Defence Squadrons from other countries, who do not have to provide QRA deployments with two to five minutes readiness "24/7" under "peacetime" conditions: with other words, the peace-time conditions of Hellenic units are not different than "wartime", except that weapons are not fired (at least not most of the time anyway!).

341 Mira (Squadron) being assigned by the Hellenic Air Force General Staff as part of NATO's Rapid Reaction Force, has been evaluated by NATO and is under constant review by the HAF General Staff. Its pilots take part in air-air refueling exercises, night and day, with Tankers from allied countries.

341 Mira (Squadron) callsign "Velos" ("Arrow", former callsign "Ace") was founded on July 1954 in Elefsis and operated with Cl.13A Mk.II's [F-86E(M)] Sabres. From August 1957 until September 1964 the unit provided the second Acroteam in Greek Air Force history: the "Hellenic Flame". Its Leader was then 341 CO Captain E.Tsamousopoulos and its original members included 1st Lieutenants A.Frangopanagos and K.Adam and 2nd Lieutenants F.Kollias and N.Patiris. Until 1960 the unit was stationed in Nea Anchialos and Tanagra, before returning to its current home: 111PM(FW) at Nea Anchialos. In July 1965 the first F-5A/B's were received and replaced the Sabres. During the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on July 1974 the F-5's were dispersed in various airfields around the country and one pair that scrambled from Heraklion on July 20 1974 witn Pantelis Mitsainas as leader and Socrates Tsouras as wingman, intercepted 2 USN F-4J's. When they approached at 3-4NM the Phantoms assumed attack positions and they split. This resulted in two 1 vs.1 engagements. While the first pair disengaged soon, Mitsainas after calling in that he was under fire, assumed a target solution twice and requested clearence to return fire. He was ordered to disengage and when he landed in Heraklion he was bingo fuel and his engines switched off when he was taxiing. The F-5's remained in service until August 1993 when 341 disbanded and its a/c went to 343 Mira in Mikra Macedonia, which was the last unit to retire its F-5's in 2001. On 30 March 1998 it was reactivated in order to receive the second batch of Peace Xenia II F-16C/D Block 50's and assumed SEAD as its main role, while it was assigned by the General Staff to the NATO Rapid Reaction Force.