Hellenic Air Force - Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia
Tanagra Air Force Base
Greece
November 2014
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Hellenic Air Force Days
Each year the Hellenic Air Force opens the doors to most of its air force bases for the local residents to visit. They are low key affairs covering at least Friday, Saturday and Sunday with usually just a one or two of their operational aircraft on show, however as each base is the home to many retired aircraft and Tanagra has one of the largest collections it is these aircraft that are put on display.
Curiously Tanagra's collection of aircraft had recently increased by a further two with the addition of the two specially painted A-7E Corsairs IIs from Araxos, which had flown just days after their retirement in mid October. A Mirage 2000-5 in the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) shelter could be viewed from just outside but not photographed according to the security guards looking after it. |
| Republic F-84F Thunderstreak (52-6742 '742' really 52-6743). |
| Left to right: Republic F-84F Thunderstreak (52-6742 '742' really 52-6743). A-7E Corsair IIs (158825 and 160616). |
| Left to right: Douglas C-47B Skytrain (KK156) ex RAF and supplied to HAF in 1949 and served until 1996 ending its years as a target tug. It was transported to Tanagra in 2005. F-102A Delta Dagger (56-1001 marked 0-61106). |
| Left to right: Phantom RF-4E (7487) formally of 348 MTA, 110 PM wearing special markings celebrating its 50 years. It is inscribed; 'Phabulous Phantom Phorever' and '50 Years F-4 Phantom II 1958 - 2008' on the tail. |
| Left to right: Lockheed RF-104G Starfighter (6662 'FG-662') and two-seat TF-104G Starfighter (5961 unmarked 'TF-5961') which has been repainted in the last few years. |
| Left to right: Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star (53-5801 'TR-801'), Canadair CL-13 Sabre 2 (F-86E) painted in 'Elliniki Flogas' colours (19235 '235') and Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter (66-9132). |
| Left to right: Mirage F.1CGs (129 and 115) 115 is painted in a special 342 MPK scheme. |
| Left to right: One of the Tanagra based Mirage 2000EGs (217) of 332 'Geraki' All Weather Squadron (332 Mira Pantos Kerou - MPK). It had been armed with two Aérospatiale AM39 Exocet anti-ship missile. One of which had a hand-written inscription in Greek which read, "No matter how strong is the wind, no matter how strong is the rain, I will destroy you 'little boat'". |
