111 Combat Wing

Mission

The mission of the 111 CW, is to maintain a high level of readiness and effectiveness. It is achieved by the appropriate organization, training of personnel and maintenance of the available means and systems. Furthermore, the undertaking and carrying out of air operations, at any given time, in total success.

Organization

The unit is organized according to the typical Combat Wing organization.

It has the following Squadrons :

330 Squadron

341 Squadron

347 Squadron

History

1950	The construction of the Airfield starts in 1959 and is completed in 1953. In the same year, the 340 Fighter Bomber Squadron (FB Sqn) was established with F-84G aircraft, being the first Combat Squadron of the Wing.
1953-1960	The 335 and 336 Fighter Bomber Squadrons were established, at first with F-84G aircraft and later with F-84F aircraft. Afterwards, the 341Day Interception Squadron with F-86E aircraft and the 343 All-Weather Squadron with F-86D aircraft redeployed and remained at the Unit.
1965-1970	In 1965, the modernization of the Wing started with the replacement of F-86 aircraft with F-5 aircraft. Specifically, the 341 Sqn, the 343 Sqn and the 337 Sqn were modernized with F-5 aircraft. Finally, in 1970, the 349 Sqn was equipped with RF-5 aircraft.
1988	In December of 1988, the 330 Squadron was established in the Unit
1989	The new F-16C/D Block 30 combat aircraft entered the inventory of the 330 Sqn, the arrival of which began on January 1989.
1990	On February 5th 1990, the 346 Squadron was established and it was relocated at 110 CW in May ΄97
1997	In July 1997, the 347 Squadron was re-activated with F-16 Block 50 aircraft.
1998	In March 1998, the 341 Squadron was also activated with F-16 Block 50 aircraft.

330 Squadron

On 9th January 1989, the 330 Squadron was established at 111 Combat Wing. It operated from the facilities of the 341 Sqn, while the first pilots, who manned it, were among the six who were trained in USA, at Luke AB, Arizona. The technicians were trained in Fort Worth, TX, at GENERAL DYNAMICS, the manufacturer of the F-16 aircraft.

In the first year of the Squadron’s operation more than 2500 flight hours were accomplished. The training of the pilots was conducted by the six pilots who were trained in the United States of America, with the help of two American pilots. All ground personnel was trained in the Squadron.

341 Squadron

It was established in 112 Combat Wing, at Elefsina, in July 1954 and was equipped with the F-86E combat aircraft.

From 21 until 26 June 1955, an echelon of the Squadron consisting of 25 combat aircraft, pilots and technical personnel, was relocated at 111 CW in Nea Anchialos. On the 3rd of November 1956 the Squadron was relocated at 114 CW, in Tanagra.

An excellent chapter of the long history of the 341 Squadron is that from August 1957 to September 1964. In this period, the Flying and Technical personnel of the Squadron formed the second acrobatic flight of HAF with the F-86E aircraft, and named it Acroteam (from the acronyms of the words ‘Acrobatic Team’). In early 1962 its name changed to ‘Hellenic Flame’ and with this very name it conducted flights till 1964.

In May 1960, this squadron returned to 111 CW and in July 1965, it replaced the F-86E with the new F-5A/B Freedom Fighter. In June 1971, it changed its primary role from Reconnaissance to Fighter-Bomber. In 1975, its role changed from to Day Interception. In August 1993, the 341 Day Interception Squadron was disbanded and its aircraft were delivered to the 343 Day Interception Sqn at 113 CW, Thessaloniki.

On March 30, 1998, the Squadron was re-established in order to receive the F-16C/D Block 50.

347 Squadron

On January 7th 1997, the 347 Squadron was re-established at 111 Combat Wing. Its core comprised of pilots and technicians from 330 and 346 Squadrons, who were trained in the new F-16 C/D Block 50D aircraft capabilities, at Luke AB, Arizona.

On August 22nd 1997, the official ceremony for the delivery of the first 8 F-16 C/D Block 50D aircraft took place. The Squadron was responsible for the reception of all the aircraft of this specific type, until the re-establishment of the 341 Squadron, when personnel and assets were equally divided between the two Squadrons.

After its successful evaluation by HTAF, the Squadron was the operational duties of bombing and interception.