Boeing Stearman Model 75, part one, European Users

 

The Boeing-Stearman Model 75 was one of the most widely produced American trainer biplanes of the 1930s and 1940s, with almost 11,000 machines being built and the type being exported to various countries around the globe, among them, the following ones:

• Greece: In 1945 the Royal Hellenic Air Force (RHAF) acquired 30 Stearman Kaydet PT-13/PT-17 trainer biplanes (the main difference between them was the engine). They were employed in anti-malaria dusting campaigns all over Greece, equipped with removable DDT gear. 
  The unit, aptly called 'Anti-Malaria Squadron' was based at Eleysis Air Base, in central Greece, being dependent of the RHAF, but also of the Agricultural and Health ministries. 
  Since the aircraft were a donation of the American Mission for Aid to Greece (AMAG), they had not Greek roundels painted. 
  The Stearmans were part of the RHAF until 1969 (although they were sent to supply depot units -IE, withdrawn from active service- years earlier) when they were sold to private aeroclubs. 
  It is known that at least one was employed during the Greek Civil War (1946-1949) in reconnaissance duties.
• Yugoslavia: Jat Airways, the national airline of Yugoslavia, acquired six Stearman PT-17 machines in 1946/1947 for crop dusting duties. They received the following registrations: YU-AER, YU-AES, YU-AET, YU-AEU, YU-AEV and YU-AEW. 
  They were used for crop dusting duties, operated by Jat's pilots until the late 1950s. At least one (YU-AET) was reconverted into a two-seater trainer for civilian pilot training in the winter of 1970-1971. 
  During their career with Jat, they suffered numerous accidents and mishaps affecting to five out of six machines.
  One machine, YU-AEW is known to have been stored for the Belgrade Air Museum in 1984, however, it was destroyed during the Yugoslav Wars (1991-2001) and the ones showed nowadays there are two ex American machines registered as YU-BAD and YU-BAI.

Sources:

1st https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing-Stearman_Model_75

2ns https://www.haf.gr/en/history/historical-aircraft/stearman-kaydet-pt-13-17/

3rd https://air-britain.com/pdfs/archive/Archive_2010.pdf

Supermarine Spitfire. European Users, part eight. Greek Spitfires.

 

During World War 2, two Hellenic squadrons serving under Royal Air Force's (RAF) command were formed. These were Nos. 335 and 336 Squadrons plus one famous ace, Ioannis Agorastos 'John' Plagis (or Plagis) who was born in southern Rhodesia to Greek parents, achieved ace status flying the Spitfire with No. 185 and No. 126 (Persian Gulf) Squadrons. Flying the Spitfire he took part in the aerial Battle of Malta, Operation Overlord and the subsequent campaigns up to Operation Market Garden when he was shot down but with lights wounds only. After that, he and his squadron transitioned to the North American Mustang Mk. III (the RAF equivalent to the P-51B/C).

The Greek squadrons, were, as stated above, Nos. 335 and 366:

• No. 335 (Greek) Squadron RAF: This veteran unit of the North African Campaign, began to transition from the Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIc to the Supermarine Spitfire Mk. V in December 1943. Operating from Libya, they were assigned to shipping protection off the Libyan coast as the Allies advanced through Italy. In September 1944 they were rebased to Italy, after the squadron was fully converted and trained to the usage of the Spitfire.
  Operating from Savoia, Nuova and Biferno airfields, the squadron flew offensive sweeps over Albania and Yugoslavia. 
  In November 1944 the squadron was rebased to Hassani Air Base, in Greek soil, as the Germans retreated. From there they flew fighter sweeps over Crete and the remaining German positions in the Aegean Sea. 
• No. 336 (Greek) Squadron: This unit received its first Spitfire Mk. Vc in October 1943. They had transitioned from the Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIc and, in November 1943 they took part in various aerial raids against Crete, which turned to be very dangerous due to the German anti-air defences and the presence of the Luftwaffe. By March 1944 they were fully converted to the Spitfire and in early September they were moved to Italy, where, operating from Nuova and Grottaglie, carried out raids over Yugoslavia. 
  In November 1944, together with No. 335 Squadron, they were rebased to Hassani Air Base, where they carried out operations against Crete and the German garrisons in the Aegean Sea until the end of the war.

After World War 2, on 25th April 1946 both Greek squadrons were officially transferred to the Royal Hellenic Air Force and renamed to Mira 335 and Mira 336 ('Mira' means 'Squadron' in Greek). 

They were based at the Air Bases of Sedes (Thessaloniki - Mira 335) and Araxos (Peloponnese - Mira 336). During 1947 and 1948 the Greek Government bought a total of 109 Spitfire Mk. IX from RAF's stocks. During the Greek Civil War they were widely employed against communist guerrillas. 

Mira 335 operated the Spitfire Mk. V from April to December 1946 and then both the Spitfire Mk. IX and XVI from December 1946 to October 1953.

Mira 336 operated the Mk. V also from April to December 1946 and then the Mk. IX from December 1946 to August 1949, when they were replaced with the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver shortly after this conversion the Greek Civil War ended with victory of the governmental forces, after Yugoslavia ceased to support Greek Communist Partisans.

Two more units were formed by the Royal Hellenic Air Force. One squadron - Mira 337, which operated a mixture of Mk. IX and Mk. XVI from March 1947 to June 1952. This unit operated from Elefsis, in Athens. 
The other unit was the Scholi Aeroporias (Flying School) which operated the Spitfire Mk. XVI as advanced trainers from 1948 until September 1953.

It is stated that a single Spitfire PR.XI was also delivered to Greece in May 1947, together with three PR.XIII, but they were in reality the Vicker Wellington GR.XIII.

Sources:

1st AJ-Press - Monografie Lotnicze 40 - Supermarine Spitfire Part 3 (translated)

2nd https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Plagis

3rd https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/335th_Squadron_(HAF)

4th https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/336th_Bomber_Squadron

5th http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/335_wwII.html

6th http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/336_wwII.html

7th https://www.haf.gr/en/history/historical-aircraft/

8th https://www.f-16.net/units_article318.html

9th https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/337th_Squadron_(HAF)