Emblem

“Διά μόχθου τ’ άριστα” (Labour yields optima)

Location

Dekelia Air Base

Established

1968

Subordination

Hellenic Air Force Support Command (HAFSC)

Aircraft served

• Bell – 47G
• C-47 Dakota
• Bell 47G-3B-2
• Bell 47G-5
• GRUMMAN G164A

Aircraft serving

• PZL M18-B
• M18-BS
• SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE MK. IX

Mission

The mission of the 359 MAEDY is to cover the public services demands for the air fire fighting and agricultural section such as crop-dusting and air fertilization.

The main objective to air fire fighting missions is the early spotting and extinguishing of forest fires.

The unit has a total of 43 fixed-wing and rotary propeller aircraft in its inventory.

The 359 MAEDY’s fleet today consists of 19 single-seat PZL M.18 Dromaders, 3 two-seater training PZL M.18BS Dromaders and 11 Grumman G.164A airplanes. In addition, 10 more helicopters were added to this force, three Bell 47G-3 B-2, five Bell 47G-5 and two Bell OH-13H.

History

The 359 MAEDY was established in March 1968, with the purpose of supporting the civil sector and for the public benefit.

A year and a half after its formation, the unit operated exclusively with crop dusting helicopters and particularly with ten Bell 47G-3B-2 and Bell 47G-5. In November 1969 the unit was merged with the 357 Helicopter Squadron, which was located in Elefsis air base.

In August 1970 the unit redeployed to Dekelia where it is based since then. Soon after, C-47 A/B Dakotas, special adapted for crop-dusting, were added to its inventory.

In May 1974, 10 crop-dusting Grumman G.164A were purchased and added to its inventory, while in March 1976 13 G.164A were delivered and the total came up to 23.

A few years later, the unit was equipped with the Polish PZL M.18 Dromader of PZL Mielec. In March 1983, 8 PZL M.18 were delivered to the unit for the first time. By the end of January 1984, 30 airplanes of this type were enlisted to its inventory.

Three months later, 359 MAEDY came administratively and operationally under the Air Force Training Command (HAFTC). In February 1988 the unit came under the Air Force Support Command (HAFSC), where its present subordination is.

In November 2021 the historic A/C SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE MK. IX was delivered to the Squadron and perform its first flight.