117 Combat Wing

Mission

The mission of the 117 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 :

338 Fighter Bomber Squadron
339 All Weather Squadron

History

1955	In 1955 the first infrastructure works of the Unit started at Andravida area.
1960	In June 1960 the Killini - Andravida Air Detachment was established.
1961	In March 1961 after a ministerial decision, the 117 Combat Group was formed, with the simultaneous abolition of the Air Detachment. The 339 Sqn was assigned to the Combat Group with F-84F aircraft, coming from Elefsis Airbase.
1969	In May 1969, the 117 Combat Group was renamed to 117 Combat Wing and was chosen for the reception of new fighter F-4E (PHANTOM). For this purpose the older infrastructure was reconstructed and a new was built for the aircraft maintenance and personnel accommodation. In the meantime the 339 Sqn had transferred to 116 CW at Araxos.
1974	In April 1974 the first F-4E aircraft landed at the Unit, while the aircraft delivery was complete by the end of year. The 339 Sqn returned to the Unit along with the 338 Sqn, which had been disbanded up in June 1974. The two Fighter Squadrons 338 and 339, were formed in the Fighter Bomber and Interception role.
1976	In December 1976 the 368 Applied Training Flight was formed with four T-33 aircraft, which operated until March 1989.
1978	In 1978 the construction of the 3rd runway was completed and n November of the same year,the weather RADAR was installed. Ever since the Unit has been organized and operates in the same form as today.
1979	In 1979 the personnel accomodation construction was completed.
1991	In 1991, between August and November, the delivery of 28 new F-4E SRA aircraft was completed and placed under the 338 Sqn. Also, there was a redistribution of the 110 CW old aircraft between the 339 and 337 Squadrons.

338 Fighter Bomber Squadron

The 338 Squadron was formed on December 24 1952, at Elefsis airbase, as the 338 Fighter Bomber Squadron equiped with F-84G Thunderjet aircraft.

In April 1953, it redeployed to Larissa where it stayed till November 1956, and thereafter redeploed to the 112 Combat Wing. In May 1958 it was incorporated into the 115 CW at Souda and was equiped with F-84G aircraft till January 1960 when it was disbanded.

In August 1953 it was reformed as the 338 Fighter Bomber Squadron at 115CW and armed with the F-84F Thunderstreak.

In June 1974 it redeployed at 117CW Andravida where the F-4E Phantom II were delivered.
After the modernization, the Squadron aircraft assumed fighter bomber missions, with results comparable to those of third generation aircraft.

339 All Weather Squadron

The 339 All Weather Squadron was formed on July 7 1952, at Elefsis airbase, as the 339 Fighter Bomber Squadron and equiped with F-84G aircraft.

In August 1959 the Squadron received the new F-84F and redeployed to Larissa airbase.

In April 1960 it redeployed to the Nea Anchialos airport at 111 Combat Wing. In March 1971 it redeployed to Andravida airport at 117 Combat Wing where it is based till today.

In 1973 it redeployed temporarily to Araxos airport at 116 CW, in order to perform necessary infrastructure works at Andravida for the reception of the F-4E Phantom II.

After the works’ completion at 117 CW, the 339 Sqn returns and integrates in its force the new aircraft, and was renamed to 339 All Weather Intercept Squadron.

In September 1978, the Sqn takes on as its main role the Fighter Bomber mission and as secondary the Intercept. In February 1982 it assumes as a main role the Intercept and as a secondary the Fighter Bomber.