page_title: Air operations during the Greek Civil War
section_title: Offensive support by the RHAF
hierarchical_section_title: Air operations during the Greek Civil War / Offensive support by the RHAF
caption_attribution_description: English: A Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver is about to be catapulted from the U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Sicily (CVE-118) off Piraeus, Greece in August 1949. Sicily loaded 42 Helldivers at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia (USA) for delivery to the Hellenic Air Force and left Norfolk on 31 July. Most of the planes were catapulted from the carrier and flown ashore by crews from the Sicily due to unusally bad weather and limited port facilities at Piraeus.
context_page_description: Air operations during the Greek Civil War involved primarily the air forces of the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the government of Greece against ground elements of the ELAS and other anti-government forces.
context_section_description: Operation Coronis was launched in July 1948 against enemy forces in the Grammos Mountains with the support of Nos. 335 and 336 Sqns. operating from Yannina and Kozani.  Additional aircraft included AT-6 Texan and Auster aircraft.  Ultimate results were a draw as anti-government forces withdrew across the border to Albania.  No. 337 Squadron RHAF had been formed with Spitfire IX aircraft, giving the RHAF three Spitfire units.  For heavier bombing, Dakotas were jury-rigged with racks for bombs up to 500 lb each.  RAF deHavilland Mosquito photo reconnaissance aircraft were reportedly used in the affair.  RHAF flew 3,474 sorties during the operation, suffering one lost Spitfire plus a further 22 damaged.
  Operations in September 1948 centered on the Vitsi Mountains area, and were supported again by the RHAF.  They were marked by better cooperation with GNA units and the first use of napalm, although this was not used heavily.  These operations lasted through the end of the year, bringing the grand total of sorties for 1948 to 8,907 combat and 9,891 transport, with the loss of twelve airmen.  A major attack at Florina by guerrilla forces was defeated with significant air support by the RHAF.
  August 1949 marked the final series of operations against the guerrilla forces, and again the RHAF played a large role in supporting government forces.  In particular, during the final portion of the month, No. 336 Sqn. began employing its newly acquired Curtiss SB2C Helldiver aircraft, of which 40 had been acquired from the United States Navy.  This operation resulted in the final destruction of opposition military resistance and resulted in a final ceasefire being signed.  During August 826 sorties had been flown dropping 288 tons of bombs and firing 1935 rockets.  Napalm was used again, with 114 such strikes being made.
caption: A Curtiss SB2C is launched from USS Sicily off Piraeus, in August 1949.
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