Air War for Yugoslavia Greece and Crete 1940-41The air battle for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete began in June 1940 with the Italian declaration of war. In the past, there has been much controversy amongst air historians on many of the details of the operations. It was here, for example, that "Pat" Pattie believed by many to be the Royal Air Force's "unknown" top-scoring fighter pilot of the whole war, saw most of his action. Just how many kills did he achieve and how? Taken from extensive research into available British, Italian and German records, and interviews and correspondence with survivors or relatives of those present, this book seeks to provide an accurate portrait of the air war for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete from 1940-41. |
Contents
The ltalian Attack οn Greece | 1 |
Tables | 22 |
Maps | 26 |
Forward the Royal Air Force | 29 |
The Battles of Spring | 63 |
Crete and the Sea Lanes October 1940 April 1941 | 127 |
The German Invasion | 169 |
Evacuation | 275 |
The Defence of Crete Phase 1 | 312 |
The lnvasion of Crete | 335 |
Appendix | 405 |
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Common terms and phrases
112 Squadron 21 Mira 80 Squadron AA fire aboard aircraft airfield Albania Alexandria April arrived Athens attack bale Blenheims bombers bombs Breguet XIXS British Capt claimed shot commander convoy crash-landed crashed Crete crew cruisers defence destroyed destroyers dived Egypt Eleusis engine escort Eskadrila evacuation fighters flames flew Fliegerkorps Fliegerkorps VIII flight flown Flt Lt flying force force-landed four Fulmars German Gladiators Greece Greek ground Grupa Gruppo Autonomo Gruppo BT gunner guns harbour Heraklion Hurricanes intercepted island Italian JKRV Junkers killed Koritza landing Larissa later loss Lt Cdr Luftwaffe Maleme Menidi Messerschmitts miles Oblt operations Paramythia patrol Pattle pilots Piraeus raid reconnaissance Regia Aeronautica reported Savoia Scarpanto Serg ships sorties Sottoten Sqn Ldr Squadriglia Staffel Stormo BT strafing Stukas Sub Lt Suda Bay Swordfish target torpedo troops Uffz unit Valona vessels Wellingtons wounded Yugoslav