Greece – Andravida Air Base

Author: Ian French

Photographers: Jon Astley, Mark Forest, Ian French, Paul Witty & Hellenic Air Force

117 Pteriga Machis (Combat Wing), moto “Defend yourselves against the enemies” was established in 1960 at Andravida as 117 Combat Group with 339 Mira transferring from Elefsis with F-84F Thunderstreak. In 1969 117 Combat Wing was chosen to receive the F-4E Phantom and as a result Andravida was significantly upgraded to accommodate the aircraft. Under the Peace Icarus I & II programmes 58 new F-4E were acquired from 1974 to 1979. The pilots were all F-84F pilots and all conversion training was undertaken at Homestead AFB in the USA.

339 Mira Pantos Kerou (All Weather Fighter Squadron) moved to Araxos in 1973 and the first F-4Es arrived at Andravida in 1974 to equip 338 Mira Dioxis Vomvardismou (Fighter Bomber Squadron). Deliveries were completed in 1974.

In 1976 368 Sminos Efarmosmenis Ekpedefsis (Applied Training Flight) was established with the T-33A Shooting Star and operated four aircraft until its disbandment in 1989.

28 additional ex USAF Phantoms from the Indiana National Guard were delivered in 1991 under the Southeastern Regional Agreement and these were delivered to 338 MDV whose own aircraft were transferred to 337 MPK and 339 MPK. In a reverse move the F-4E SRAs were withdrawn in 2005 and the F-4Es from 337 and 339 MPK were used to re-equip 338 MDV.

However, before then, in 1997 the Phantom upgrade programme commenced and was called Peace Icarus 2000. This involved both structural and electronic upgrades. DASA in Germnay was chosen as the main contractor with systems being supplied by Elbit in Israel. The prototype upgrade was undertaken at Manching, Germany with the remainder at Hellenic Aerospace Industries. The first upgraded aircraft was delivered in 2002 and the last in 2005.

339 MPK disbanded in 2017 and its aircraft absorbed into 338 MDV.

337 Mira Pantos Kerou (All Weather Fighter Squadron)

337 MPK, call sign Fantasma (Ghost), was established in 1947 under 110 PM at Elefsis and was the first jet fighter squadron. In 1956 it transferred to 112 PM at Larissa and in 1959 to 115 PM at Souda. In 1960 it returned to 112 PM but by 1967 was transferred to 111 PM at Nea Anchialos to operate the F-5. In 1978 it transferred to 117 PM at Andravida to operate the F-4 but then immediately transferred to 110 PM at Larissa.

Aircraft operated (jet era): T-33A 1952-1959, F-84G 1952-1959, F-86D 1960-1967, F-5A 1967-1978, F-4E 1974-2006 and F-16 from 2006.

338 MDV Mira Dioxis Vomvardsmou (Fighter Bomber Squadron)

338 MDV, call sign Aris, was established in 1952 under 112PM at Elefsis. It transferred to 110PM at Larissa in 1953, to 112PM in 1956 and 115PM at Souda in 1958. It disbanded in 1960 but reformed in 1964 at Elefsis. It transferred to 117PM at Andravida in 1974 to operate the Phantom where it still resides today.

Aircraft operated (jet era): F-84G 1952-1960, F-84F 1964-1974 and the F-4E from 1974.

339 Mira Pantos Kerou (All Weather Fighter Squadron)

339 MPK, call sign Aeas, was established in 1952 under 112PM at Elefsis but moved to 110 PM at Larissa in 1953 and then back to Elefsis in 1956. It returned to 100 PM at Larissa in 1959 and moved to 111 PN at Nea Anchialos in 1960. It moved to 117 PM at Andravida in 1971 and disbanded in 2017, its 65th year and its aircraft were absorbed into 338MPK.

Aircraft operated (jet era): F-84G 1952-1959, F-84F 1959-1973 and F-4E 1974-2017.

Aviation Press would like to thank the Defence Section of the British Embassy, Athens, Colonel Konstantinos Gkoumatsis and the Hellenic Air Force for their assistance with the visit

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