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Greek F-104G 122302 of 335th
Squadron of Hellenic Air Force, probably coming from their
Eleusis Air Base. It was its first participation to Tiger Meet
arriving to replace the missing tooth just let by disbandment of
RAF Squadron 74 at Singapore and its famous Lightning FMark 1s.
The Greek unit was formed in September 1941 having first Hawker
Hurricanes, next Vickers Supermarine Spifires. Squadron 335 with
these materials flew numerous missions over North Africa, Italy
and Mediterranean Sea. In 1953, Spits were superseded by Republic
F-84Gs which lasted until 1957 to be replaced by F-84Fs of the
same manufacturer. It was during 1963 than Squadron 335 got brand
new F-104Gs, the ones who were at Cambrai for this twelveth Tiger
Meet.
When writing this text, I remember that just after after visiting
the astonishing Antics Collections at the Athens Fine Art Museum,
I went to a souvenir shop and found and bought, in a metal finish
with partial blue or red colours, transparent glued canopy, unit
markings and national cokades, an all metal Thunderjet having a
span of about 12-15 centimeters. I sold it later to a chap, fan
of aircraft, to amass money and buy a four-stroke Ducati engined
cyclomotor...which sounded as a true motorcycle! I add that
during my stay in Greece, I visited during several hours the
whole Military Flying School on Tatoï airfield with DH Tiger
Moths in very great quantities alongside NA T-6s, all in full
activity. A great moment of my youth in short knickers but I
could not use my Rolleicord during the visit...
I should be happy to receive by e-mail or see in the binaries.aviation,
from some Hellenic collector, a picture of this nice aluminium or
iron F-84G model which surely was not at all scarce and permitted
me to learn all possible flying attitudes I could imagine from a
fighter, this in company of a comparable size rough aluminium
model of the twin engined Lavochkin La-26. This latter came from
the big collection of similar models of all military planes
hanging from ceiling of the Briefing Room of a squadron of 11th
Fighter Wing of Luxeuil, France, flying then in 1955 Thunderjets.
As far as I know this swept-back medium bomber never existed and
was a pure product evolved by NATO intelligence specialists
trying to have an idea of Soviet air equipement...Snif for this
true rarity also sold...
