Air War Over Greece 1940–1950: British, Dominions and United States Air Arms

[edwest2]

Scheduled for 30 March.


https://www.amazon.com/Air-War-Over-...%2C232&sr=1-15


Usual disclaimer,
Ed

[Edward]

Out now in UK

Air War Over Greece 1940–1950: British, Dominions and United States Air Arms
(Fonthill Media, an imprint of Pen & Sword Books - 26 January 2026) - UK
(Fonthill Media, an imprint of Pen & Sword Books - 30 March 2026) - US
by Victor Flintham
272 pages w/ 185 b&w photos - hardback (6.25" x 9.25")
£35.00
$59.95 US

"Following the Italian invasion of Greece in October 1940, the RAF reluctantly deployed three squadrons of Bristol Blenheim light bombers and one squadron of Gloster Gladiators, an obsolescent biplane fighter, to assist the Greek defenders. The fear among the Allies was that with Greece in Axis hands, enemy supply lines to North Africa would be significantly shortened, threatening the Allied position there and in the Middle East.

By the time Germany joined the invasion in April 1941, both the RAF and FAA had committed more squadrons and been joined by army units, but they were soon overwhelmed, retreating to Crete, from where they were evicted in May 1941 after a massive German paratroop operation. For the next three years the RAF and FAA attacked Axis forces on Crete, mainland Greece and in the Aegean with mixed success. In addition, Allied air arms, including USAAF units, dropped weapons and supplies to the Greek partisan groups. In late 1944, as the Germans were forced to withdraw from Greece, RAF units once again flew into Greek airfields, yet they were soon drawn into the bitter civil war, fighting alongside Greek government forces against Communist insurgents. After the final withdrawal of operational units in 1946, the RAF retained an air delegation in Athens until 1952, when Greece joined NATO.

Richly illustrated with detailed maps and rare and previously unpublished photographs, Air War Over Greece 1940–1950: British, Dominions and United States Air Arms examines in unique detail a neglected corner of military aviation history."

The Author
"Vic Flintham was born in London at the height of the blitz and educated at Kilburn Grammar School. He is the author of six acclaimed books on military aviation, and co-author of two more. He has also written numerous articles for aviation magazines. He learned to fly at 60, and flying his own aircraft around Europe has given him insights into the challenges confronted by pilots and navigators. He is a liveryman of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots and a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He has travelled widely and loves to indulge his passion for photography. He lives in Dorset with his wife Christine, an accomplished botanical artist."

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Air-...rdback/p/57249

https://www.casematepublishers.com/9...eece-19401950/

[Edward]

". . . examines in unique detail a neglected corner of military aviation history."

I understand the publisher's inclusion of this kind of expression (aka "the forgotten squadron") when it comes to marketing their new books on WWII history. However the air war over Greece has been well covered by several authors especially Chris Shores and Brian Cull.

Below are a few titles covering the air war over Greece.

I look forward to seeing what Mr. Flintham has discovered - especially among the 185 photos.

Wings Over Olympus: The Story of the Royal Air Force in Libya and Greece (George Allen & Unwin Ltd 1942) by T.H. Wisdom

On Spartan Wings: The Royal Hellenic Air Force in World War Two (Pen & Sword 2012) by John Carr

Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete (Squadron / Signal Publications 1987) by Christopher Shores and Brian Cull with Nicola Malizia

Fighters over the Aegean (Fonthill Media 2013) by Brian Cull

Blenheims over Greece and Crete: 1941-1941 (Fonthill Media 2014) by Brian Cull

A History of the Mediterranean Air War (2012-2025 series from Grub Street) by Chris Shores and Giovanni Massimello with Russell Guest et al

[leonventer]

Just to add to Edward's list of titles about the air war over Greece:

• "Die deutsche Luftwaffe in Griechenland im II. Weltkrieg 1941-1945: Einheiten, Standorte, Offiziere, FP. Nummern, Gefechte" by Byron Tesapsides, self-published, 2007, ISBN 960-630-743-3 (or 960-630-740-9?), 405 pages
• "Die deutsche Luftwaffe im Mittelmeer 1940-1945 Bände 1 & 2" by Karl Gundelach, Verlag Peter D. Lang, 1981, ISBN 3-8204-6641-X, 515 & 622 pages
• "Yugoslavia and Greece 1940-1941" by Basilio di Martino and Pier Paolo Battistelli, Osprey Pubs, 2024, ISBN 978-1-4728-5924-2, 96 pages

Regards,
Leon Venter

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Agree with the marketing part. By the way one of my brothers offered me last Christmas a book bragging to describe some so far unpublished secrets of WWII. It was actually a reprint of a book I bought in the late 1990s, with exactly the same content. While last millenium, Ultra was a new subject, I won't say so in 2026.

I will add to the list of books "Armed Rovers". It covers anti-shipping operations of RAF Beaufighters in the whole Mediterranean, but roughly half of the book is in the Balkans area.

What will be unique for me will be to have the Greek campaign of 1940-1941 described with the format of the "A History of the Mediterranean Air War", with detailled losses for all sides. While this serie has more errors than I would like, it oftens provides data that are not available elsewhere, especially regarding Italian units. But given the title of the book, it seems to focus on RAF and USAAF, that are well covered elsewhere.