Hellenic Tactical Air Force History

On May 30,  1952,  after a HAFGS mandate, the fist two Combat Wings came under the command  of HTAF HQ:

• The 110 CW, with the Spitfire, Helldiver and C-47 aircraft
• The 112CW (under partial operational command) with Harvards

In June the Headquarters was fully operational, and started to participate in National and NATO exercises.
Near the end of the year, the Spitfires & Helldivers were replaced by F-84 jets.

On February 1953, the Headquarters moved to its present location, renamed to 28th ATA (Tactical Airforce Headquarters) and operated for the first time the Operations and Communications Centers.
Also in 1953, the 28th ATA operationally came under the NATO HQ  6th ATAF (Izmir).
The 111 Combat Wing comes under 28th ATA command, with the 340, 335 & 336 Fighter Bomber Squadrons, equiped with F-84Gs.
The 339 SQN is established in 112 CW with F-84G aircraft. Also the 348 SQN, with F-84Gs modified to reconnaisance role.

On January, the Joint Air Photographic Interpretation Center (JAPIC) is formed to the 110CW.
The 338 SQN is formed at the 110 CW with F-84G aircraft. Furthermore the 339 SQN  is deployed  to the 110 CW with the same aircraft type.
Till the end of the year, two Day Intercept Squadrons, namely 341 and 342 are established in 112 CW, and are equiped with F-86E aircraft.

142 Air Defence Wing (ADW) is formed, including the Radar Units of CHORTIATIS, PILION and PARNIS.
348 air-reconnaisance SQN is relocated to 110 CW, and is equiped with RT-33 aircraft.
342 SQN is established in 112 CW, with F-86E in Day Intercept role.

350 “NIKE” SQN , comes into operation and equipped with “NIKE” missiles.
Modernization of 111 CW 341 Day Interception Squadron with the F-86E, and 343 All-Weather Squadron with the F-86D aircraft.

117CW is formed, which includes the 339 Fighter Bomber SQN with F-84F aircraft. (The unit began to operate as Combat Group).
350 “NIKE” SQN becomes fully operational after a succesful NATO Evaluation.

116 CW is operational with the 336 Fighter Bomber Sqn (deployed from 114 CW), with F-84F aircraft. ( The unit began to operate as Combat Group).

An extended modernization of telex channels and data relay systems took place in the 28th ATA HQ.
335 FB SQN was formed a 114 CW, with F-104G aircraft.

336 FB SQN of 116CW is equipped with F-104G aircraft.
Modernization of 341 SQN with F-5A/B aircraft in Intercept role, and set up of 349 SQN with RF-5A aircraft in 111CW.

Modernization of 337 SQN with F-5A/B aircraft in Intercept role.
The 28th Support Squadron was formed.

28th ATA HQ was renamed to 28th Tactical Airforce Command (TAFC).
113 CW comes under the command of 28th TAFC

342 All-Weather SQN of 114 CW is modernized with the F-102 aircraft.
Establishment of 353 Naval Cooperation SQN at 112CW with “Albatros” aircraft

126 Combat Group (CG) comes under the 28th TAF.
Modernization of 338 FB SQN and 339 AW SQN of 117 CW with F-4E aircraft.
In July, the 131 CG comes under the 28th TAF

Modernization of 342 AW SQN of 114 CW with F-1CG aircraft.
Modernization of 340 and 345 SQNs of 115 CW with A-7H aircraft.

The name of the HQ changes to 28th Tactical Air Force Headquarter (TAF HQ), and a new Branch of “Air Defense” was setup under it.
Establishment of 347 SQN with A-7H, in 115 CW and deployment to the 110 CW.
130 CG comes under the HQ.
The delivery of F-1CGs is completed and 334 All Weather (AW) SQN is established at 114 CW.

The HQ title changes to Tactical Air Force Headquarter (TAF HQ) without the numerical prefix. Furthermore, the new organization layout came into force, which included the Branch of Tactical Operations and the Logistics Branch.
Modernization of 348 SQN of 110CW with the RF-4E aircraft.
Set up of the 1st and 2nd  Air force Area Control Centers (AACC)  in 142 ADW in order to modernize the Air Defense System (ADS), with the HADGE system. In December the 2nd AACC came into force. Its area of responsibility was the South sector.

In July the 1st AACC came into force. Its area of responsibility was the North sector.
In March, the 112 CW with its Squadrons, comes under the Air Force Support Command (AFSC). In 1980 the 112 CW is no longer subordinate to TAF HQ.

In August the new organization of ATA HQ came into force, which consists of:

• A’ BRANCH: Offensive Operations
• B’ BRANCH: Air Defense
• C’ BRANCH: Logistics

In March, according to the new official regulation, the A’ Branch (Offensive Operations) is renamed to A’ Branch (Operations). The Air Defense Branch is abolished and the A4 Directorate is set up, under the A’ Branch. Finally two new branches are created : B’ Branch (Training – Personnel) and C’ Branch (Support).

Abolishment of the 142 Air Defense Wing (ADW). All RADAR Units are now directly subordinate to the HTAF. The Air Tactics Center (ATC) came under the administration of the HTAF as an independent unit.

332 AW SQN is set up in 114 CW and is gradually equipped with M-2000 aircraft.
330 and 346 SQNs in 111 CW are set up and are gradually equiped with F-16C/D aircraft.