Hurricane and Blenheim at Athens (German photos)

[Kari Lumppio]

Hello!

I first posted this as response to EdWest's photo posting "11-24" but it received no responses. In the hope that this was because it simply was not noticed, I post my query here anew.


Interesting album for the Allied planes this:
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=190268493328

The Hurricane photo titled "Eine Spitfire/Athen" - which squadron? Any further details?

The Blenheim IV (B 268) is from Greek AF, yes? Any details for this aircraft?



Kari

[Chris Goss]

YK? 80 Sqn

[Ex Shack]

Hi Kari
It looks like YK on the Hurricane and that means 80 Sqn at the time. From "Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete" by Chris Shores , Brian Cull and Nocola Malizia the only Greek Blenheim Sqn in the campaign was 32 Mira which had 12, the marking and the number seem to fit for a Greek a/c
Regards
Dick

[Kari Lumppio]

Hello!

Thank you both.

But of course YK and 80 sqn.

RAF knowledge is not my strongest point and internet search brought WZ as 80 sqn code. And most of the time in Greece 80 sqn planes carried no codes at all? Other fighter squadrons in Greece were 33, 112 and 208 if I can trust my ability to interpret Internet sources. Their codes did not match the photo either.

Have been interested in the RAF in Greece theme since I read Roald Dahl's writings about his flying career.



Cheers,
Kari

[Ex Shack]

Hi Kari
Try and find a copy of the book I quoted in my earlier post. I think it should be still available if only 2nd Hand. It was published by Grub Street who have a website and it might even be on there.It covers the campaign from Jugoslavia to the evacuation of Crete
Regards
Dick

[Stig Jarlevik]

Kari/Dick

Greece had 18 Blenheim Mk I in total. The initial batch of 12 delivered to order between October 1939 to Feb 1940 carried serials B251-B262

After the war broke out with Germany, RAF passed on 6 more which received serials B263 - B268.

A highly interesting photoalbum and indeed the last of the few for Greece

Cheers
Stig