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Europe & Cold War Database
Pharewell to 337's Phantoms...
By Nicholas Tselepidis
Oct 25, 2005, 03:18
Phantom Pharewell... On Friday the 16th of December 2005, at Larisa Air Base, home of the 110th FW, the retirement ceremony for the Phantom II SRA's took place, and ACIG was there! This does not mean that all the Phantom II's of the Hellenic Air Force were retired: The Upgraded Peace Icarus 2000s (F-4E AUP) will remain in service at least until 2015, while the RF-4Es will be retired next, around 2009... The Phantom II SRA's however (Southern Region Agreement) that were delivered from US ANG in 1991 and that are fiscal year '67 and '68 machines, were "officially" retired on Friday the 16th of December, since they were not upgraded. "Unofficially" however they will keep flying for several months to come!
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| At the entrance of 337 Mira, the Spook bows out painted in the tail of T-33A "TR-561"... |
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| Inside the Squadron building Spook greets his guests surrounded by the photos of the Squadron's pilots. |
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| The Chief of the 7th CAOC, Tactical Air Force Commander Lt.General Yiagkos Ioannis (left) talks to the HAF CO Lt.General Avlonitis Georgios (in the middle wearing the flight suit) while 110 FW CO Col. Diamantidis Christos is on the right. |
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| In the briefing room of 337 Mira, the MoD Spilios Spiliotopoulos (one of the original HAF Phantom pilots that brought the Phantoms from Homestead in April 1974 and who was in CAP when the THK F-102A was shot down by the HAF F-5A during the Cyprus invasion later that summer), and HAF CO Lt.General Avlonitis Georgios, are briefed before their flight. |
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| With the MoD as backseater and 337 Mira XO Lt.Colonel Kouroumanis Nikolaos in the front seat, F-4E SRA "68-506" wearing the special anniversary scheme, is just about to start taxiing for take off. |
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| Ceremonies are nice, but life still goes on and 337 Mira will keep flying for several months to come... |
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| F-4E SRA "67-381" is taxiing to take off as part of the 4 ship formation. |
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| On the static display at the ceremony, the oldest Greek Phantom, "67-0345" was displayed. |
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| With one pilot and one technician as honour guard. |
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| 337 Mira CO Lt.Colonel Theodore Syrmos is about to start reading the Order of the day. |
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| One of the several flyby's by the 4 ship formation having the Greek MoD and HAF CO as backseaters. |
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| "68-506" has just landed and is taxiing to the ceremony. |
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| Followed by "68-424" a few details of which we will see in a while. |
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| 337 personnel is lined up in front of the Phantom SRA's. |
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| "68-0481" was the third SRA taking part in the flyby... |
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| While as you can see here, "68-402" was the fourth one. |
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| "68-506" seen from the back as the cremony is proceeding. |
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| "68-424" is unique in the HAF for having a single piece windscreen. This was developped by McDonnell Douglas as part of the "Super Phantom" project. |
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| Here wee see the underside with the 2 front Sparrow nests and the nose gear of ex Missouri ANG "68-424". |
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| While inside the fronseat cockpit we see the helmet with its interesting artwork... |
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| After the ceremony has ended and the guests have departed, the technicians begin their work... |
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| The special patch for the retirement of the SRA's was worn by all 337 personel... Spook is all in tears... |
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| "Antio file..." (Goodbye my friend...) |
337 Mira will be equipped with the remaining 20 F-16 C/D Block 52+ that are located in Souda and the 'Ghost' will continue its tradition of being the best Squadron in the HAF! The legacy is long and honourable and the GHOST will fly again between the clouds with the missiles under his arms...
All photos by Nicholas Tselepidis
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