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From ACIG.org ACIG Database
Since the Cyprus crisis in 1967 the Hellenic Air Force (Eliniki Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA) General Staff started studying the prospect of acquiring a new fighter of non-U.S. origin, in order to avoid the "spare parts shortages" encountered in November of that year, when the Americans did not supply any spare parts using various excuses, at the same time when there was a crisis between Greece and Turkey. The embargo imposed by the U.S. Congress on Greece because of the military Junta that was in power in Athens at the time, despite the CIA's involment in training and funding the Colonels, also stopped deliveries of the third batch of F-5A/Bs to EPA. Earlier in 1965 36 F-104G's were delivered, and along with the F-5's they were the first brand new fighters the PA received for almost 25 years. In 1970-71 Greek pilots went to France and flew the Mirage III and the Mirage F.1C. The French offered to give Greece production line rights and 20% participation in the F.1 program... The main drawback of this offer was the hard cash needed to finance it. Already in 1972 the Nixon administration lifted the embargo and the F-4E was offered to Greece, along with the A-7 the T-2 and the C-130... This 'giant' deal was to completely modernise EPA and was going to be funded by the FMS program. The Colonels grasped the chance to modernise the Hellenic Air Force and to improve relations with the US at the same time, coming out of the political isolation in the international scene. On 13th of February 1972 the contract for the Phantoms was signed under the codename "Peace Icarus" and was valued at 160,000,000 $USD.
In 1973 the 117th Fighter Wing (PM) was designated as the unit to receive the F-4E's, and the Andravida Air Base was about to be completely upgraded with new HAS, taxiways and hangars. The crews, coming from the F-84F, were sent to Homestead AFB in Florida and were trained in both a-a and a-g missions, before starting to return in April of 1974. The 338th and 339th Squadrons were about to receive the Phantoms and on April 20 1974 the induction ceremony was held in Andravida. By the time of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on July 20 1974, 23 F-4Es had arrived in Greece and 42 pilots were declared "combat ready" by their USAF instructors at Homestead and had returned to Greece. Eight of those pilots were also qualified as intructors on the Phantom. The Greek Phantoms were dispersed to various locations, including Tanagra and Heraklion, were one of them suffered a "heavy landing" and was written off. On July 22nd 1974 three F-4Es were on a CAP over the Aegean, and their crews witnessed over their radios the dogfight between Turkish F-102A's and Greek F-5A's, in which Fl.Lt. Dinopoulos Ioannis (a former trainee of Lt.Colonel Mpalles, the F-4E's senior instructor pilot), shot down one THK Delta Dagger and caused the crash landing of the second one. The Phantoms, along with all other PA fighters, were ordered to turn their weapons selectors to "Arm" during their CAP's. They were not, however, sent to Cyprus because the fall of the Junta brought free Democratic rule back to Greece, and the new Goverment did not want to risk a war with Turkey.
The Greek Phantoms remained dispersed until the end of 1974 when they returned to Andravida and the routine peace-time training resumed. In 1976 a further order of 18 F-4Es and eight RF-4Es was placed (Peace Icarus II). The second batch F-4Es went to the 337 Mira (Squadron) at Larissa, which up until then operated the F-5A/B and replaced them with Phantoms in 1978, while the RF-4Es went to 348 Mira, also at Larissa which used them along with RF-84F's until 1991 when the Thunderflashes retired. Also two more "attrition replacements" were delivered in 1976 (with fiscal year '74 serials), although only one F-4E was destroyed in Heraklion during the Cyprus invasion. In the late 70's the Greek Phantoms were tasked with interception duties over the Aegean, although the Mirage F.1CGs were better dogfighters, they were supplemented by the Phantoms which had better range and also were equipped with the DIAS EW suite. There are reports of at least one THK F-104 crashing SE of Kastellorizo Island after being intercepted by 337 Mira Phantoms in the mid-80's, and while after 1989 the third generation fighters took over the duties of frontline interceptors, the usefulness of the Phantom remained, especially in bad weather conditions when the F-16 has significant problems operating in. For example at the night of the "Immia crisis" on January 31st 1996, all Greek and Turkish F-16's were grounded due to bad weather: Phantoms and Mirages were the only fighters in the air. When Greece and the United States agreed to sign a new Treaty regarding the US bases in Greece (Southern Region Agreement), as an offset 28 F-4E's were offered to Greece. These 131st Sq Missouri ANG machines started to arrive in the summer of 1991 and were taken over by 338 Mira. The following year the Luftwaffe offered 27 RF-4E's, seven of which were used as spare parts sources. Meanwhile, all the Greek Phantoms were put through a SLEP to extend their flight hours, while 36 went thru the "Peace Icarus 2000 Advanced Upgrade Program" and are now entering service with 338 and 339 Squadrons. The ex-ANG Phantoms are being flown from Larissa by 337th Squadron, while the RF-4E's remain at their exclusive operator, the 348th Squadron. Today the Peace Icarus 2000s are serving with 338 and 339 Squadrons, the SRA's are with 337 Squadron and the RF-4E's are with 348 Squadron. Project "Peace Icarus I" - 72-01500 thru 72-1535 - 74-1618, 74-1619 Project "Peace Icarus II" - 77-1743 thru 77-1760 RF-4Es - 77-0357 thru 77-0358 supplied through MAP - 77-1761 thru 77-1766 supplied through direct commercial sale Ex-ANG F-4Es, supplied 1991-1992 67-0345 67-0350 67-0377 67-0381 68-0318 68-0361 68-0363 68-0381 68-0393 68-0394 68-0402 68-0405 68-0408 68-0412 68-0424 68-0426 68-0432 68-0438 68-0440 68-0442 68-0444 68-0445 68-0480 68-0481 68-0496 68-0506 68-0515 68-0517 Ex Luftwaffe RF-4Es 69-7449 69-7450 69-7454 69-7460 69-7464 69-7471 69-7476 69-7482 69-7486 69-7487 69-7491 69-7493 69-7495 69-7496 69-7498 69-7499 69-7500 69-7506 69-7507 69-7508 69-7511 69-7519 69-7529 69-7531 69-7533 69-7534 69-7535 Camouflage of Greek Phantoms: The Peace Icarus I & II aircraft were delivered in the "SEA scheme" consisting of FS 34079 Green, FS 34102 Green, FS 30219 Tan on upper sides and undersides in Grey FS 36622. After 1975 when the Mirage F.1CG's arrived in Greece still painted in their original "Mirage bleu" camouflage of the AdlA and this was found to be very effective in the Aegean environment and was adopted by EPA F-4Es and F-5As tasked with interception, so that in the early 1980s these were all re-painted in FS 35164 Blue with underside Silver FS 17178. No official name exists for this colour scheme, but it is usually referred to as "Aegean Blue".
In 1989 the first F-16C/Ds supplied to EPA arrived painted in the "Ghost" scheme, originally developed by the USN aggressor units, which was found to be even more fitting to the Greek needs. Consequently, "Ghost" - consisting of FS 35237 Blue, FS 36251 Grey, and FS 36307 Grey in a wrap-around pattern - started replacing the "Aegean Blue" on Greek Phantoms after 1996 as well. The Peace Icarus 2000 AUP Phantoms are painted in "Ghost" also, but the radar cone is now all Grey and the IFF antennae ahead of the windshield are the distinguishing differences.
The ex-ANG Phantoms retained their Hill Grey II scheme (consisting of FS 26118 and FS 26270 Greys), until 1996 when they were also painted "Ghost", with the black tip on the radome and the large serials on the fin.
The original batch of RF-4Es supplied from the USA were painted in the "SEA scheme", while the ones coming from the Luftwaffe retain their German camouflage (FS 34079 and FS 34082 Greens and FS 36044 Grey). In newer times some of the RF-4Es were re-pained in the SEA scheme again after their SLEP. 117PM (FW) 339 Mira (Sqn.): The unit acquired its first F-4E Phantom IIs on 5 April 1974, while based at Andravida. The first CO was Lt.Col. Sotirios Kontogiannis. On 20 April 1974, the official delivery ceremony was held in Andravida. Three months later, on 20 July 1974, the last crews returned from Homestead AFB, where they were trained by the 31st TFW USAF. The Phantoms were almost immediatel dispersed without being in the operational plans of the General Staff. On 22 July 1974, eight F-4Es are sent to Heraklion under cover of three CAP Phantoms, but one aircraft was lost in a landing accident. The three CAP Phantoms were then ordered to "arm" their weapons because of an engagement between EPA F-5As and THK F-102As. The unit continued flying CAP missions until October, when the Phantoms returned from dispersal to Andravida and resumed their training syllabus. In late 1970 they were all fitted with the DIAS EW suite. In 1978 339 Mira received all Peace Icarus II Phantoms (s/n "7xxxx") while giving the Phantoms it had received in 1974 to 337 Mira. In 1999 the unit started to send its Phantoms to the Hellenic Aircraft Industries for SLEP and AUP. Deliveries of refurbished aircraft started in 2003, and the unit is ever since flying and training on Peace Icarus 2000 Phantoms.
338 Mira (Sqn.): In April 1974, the Squadron was split in two Flights, one equipped with F-84Fs and the other with F-4Es. First CO of the F-4E-flight and later the whole unit was Lt.Col. Harilaos Aggelopoulos. Its pilots operated with 339 Mira until August 1974 when F-4E deliveries resumed, and 338 then started to phase-out remaining Thunderstreaks. In 1991, the unit gave its aircraft to 337 and 339, and received ex-ANG Phantoms.
In 1999, 338 and 337 once again swapped their aircraft as the PI2000 upgrade was initiated both units have sent most of their old mounts to Tanagra.
110 PM (FW) 337 Mira (Sqn.): In September 1978, this unit moved from Nea Anchialos to Larissa and received its first Phantoms from 339 Mira, in turn giving its F-5s to 343 Mira, CO was Lt. Col. A.Makris. During the 1980s the Squadron - along with 342, 334 and 339 and 338 - was mainly tasked with interception duties over the Aegean. In 1999 the unit swapped its aircraft with 338 and received ex-ANG Phantoms, all of which were meainwhile put through a SLEP to extend their flying hours limit.
348 Mira (Sqn.): On 29 September 1978 the first RF-4Es purchased in the USA landed at Larissa. The unit operated two flights until 1991, one of which was equipped with RF-4Es (of which five remained intact by the early 1990s), and the other with RF-84Fs. In 1993 27 ex-Luftwaffe RF-4Es were received, seven of which acted as sources of spare parts, while 20 were taken into service. Between 1999 and 2001 all the surviving recce Phantoms underwent a PDM and were repainted, some retaining their German colors while others receiing the "SEA scheme". Also various Recce pods are being tested in order to enhance their capabilities and some are reported to have been bought.
Recommended surfing: Phantoms in Hellenic Skies
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