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Crews and ground personnel, in front of a new Phantom, during the entry into service ceremony in Andravida in April 20 1974.

THE FIRST PERIOD

April the 5th of 1974, is a historical day for the Greek Phantoms.At noon of that day, six HAF F-4Es landed at the 117 CW base in Andravida.
Fifteen days later on Saturday, April the 20th, an entry into service ceremony was held in 339 FB Sq. in 117 CW.The Military regime of Greece was making the most of the significance of the event.They presented the delivery of the Phantoms, as a proof of the good relations with the US and the strengthening of Greece’s defences, in a time when tensions with neighbouring Turkey were taking a turn for the worse.
In 117 CW, hard work was going ahead with the acceptance of the F-4E.Many new aspects were introduced with this aircraft, one of which- the two member crew,- was altogether unknown in the post- WWII Hellenic Air Force.
While deliveries continued as planned, relations between Greece and Turkey deteriorated.And, even more ominously, relations with Cyprus, were becoming sour also.
The Military Junta of Athens, tried to get rid of the Archbishop Makarios, President of Cyprus.
Their efforts culminated to a coup, staged by Greek officers stationed in the island.This in turn, led to the Turkish invasion in July, 1974.
When, in the morning of Saturday, July 20 1974 the Turks invaded Cyprus, the Greek Armed Forces were put on alert.
This applied of course to the 14 F-4Es delivered so far, of 339 Sq.
According to the Air Force HQ orders, five of these were relocated to the 114 CW in Tanagra AFB, with the task of air defence.The rest remained in 117 CW, in Andravida.
Then, an incident occured that lead to the destruction of one of the new aircraft.
All F-4Es were in readiness armed and fully laden with bombs.The crews were briefed and ready for any mission that was going to be asked to carry out.
This was the situation in the morning of July 22nd, when the order was given for the 4 QRA Phantoms to take off individually and formate later in the air, en route to the target
Nos 1, 2 and 4 took off immediately.No 3, encountered some technical problems while still in its shelter, and was delayed.
Soon after take-off, the crews were ordered to proceed not to pre-determined targets, but to 126 CG in Iraklion, Crete!
This, after all was a mere re-location, in order to be stationed nearer Cyprus.
The three aircraft that took off normally, flew in parallel to the west coast of Peloponisos and took a course to the western tip of Crete.They flew over sea, to the south side of the island, jettisoned their bombs and fuel, took a turn and came to land to Iraklion from the East.The whole flight took place in low altitude to avoid enemy radar.No 3 aircraft, was repaired and took off also.In order to catch-up with the rest of the formation, it took a different course.It didn’t go to the south of Crete, but flying over the south coast of Peloponisos, flew straight for Iraklion jettisoning its bombs in the Cretan sea.This brought it over Iraklion at the same time as the other aircraft!

The ill-fated 01506

During the finals for landing, the aircraft followed this pattern:First the No 1, then the No 3 that had just arrived, No 2, and No 4.Although the Phantoms had jettisoned bomb load and fuel, they were at their landing weight limit.This, combined with the strong side winds that are common at Iraklion, made landing a not so simple affair.Phantom No1 landed normally, as did No 3.As No 3 was taxiing, No 2 (72-01506) came to land, touching down "heavy".This resulted in the tyre of the port main gear to burst, with the aircraft skidding on the runway on the gear’s bare wheel.
The control tower, not knowing the aircraft’s numbering, because of the radio silence observed, and seeing the third aircraft to land pouring smoke, called on the radio:"No 3, you have a fire!"
From the "real" No 3 which was taxiing, the crew replied:"checking", and started the appropriate checks, as they had no indication of fire.The crew of No 2 (the one with the fire), did not answer, as they were busy trying to face the emergency.Their port landing gear had collapsed and the wing was scrapping the tarmac engulfed in flames!
The tower seeing all this, called:"No 3, you have a fire, eject!".
Then, two things happened:
1) The crew of No 2, ejected.
2) The crew of No 3, failing to detect any sign of fire, obeyed the order from the tower.They did not eject, but followed the "emergency evacuation" procedures.They stopped the aircraft, pulled the "quick release" levers freeing them from their seats,opened the canopies and climbed out of the aircraft.
As they were walking way, they saw the smoke on the runway and realized what had happened.Their aircraft was intact, in fact it flew the next day.
With the runway closed, No 4 went to land in 115 CW in Souda, returning the next day when the wreckage of 01506 was removed.
The F-4 Phantom was never used in combat during the Turkish invasion.
Many argue, that these aircraft could have made a great contribution to the defence of Cyprus, and would have certainly inflicted great destruction to the Turkish forces, on the day of their invasion.
The decision not to use them was one taken by the Military Junta.No other combat aircraft were sent either.
The Greek government took advantage of this incident to acquire two "attrition replacement" aircraft.
F-4Es 74-1618 and 74-1619 were ordered in autumn of 1974,on the same terms as in the original contract.These were delivered in June 1976.

One of the first RF-4Es to be delivered (071762), in a stop-over en route to Greece.

PEACE ICARUS II

There were no Phantom deliveries during July of 1974.These were resumed in August of the same year and were concluded without any other delay.One of the aims of the first democratic government,after the fall of the "Junta", was to strengthen the Armed Forces, in order to face the growing Turkish threat.
Among their plans was the ordering of more Phantoms.These plans were frustrated by two obstacles: The lack of funds and the reluctance of the US administration to sell more of these aircraft.
It should be remembered , that Greece had left NATO, in the aftermath of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
Eventually, negotiations for a further Phantom sale were initiated in the summer of 1976, and were finalized in the 22nd of October of the same year, with the signing of a LOI for 18 F-4Es and 8 RF-4Es.This last purchase, had some differences from the first one.Two, of the eight reconnaissance aircraft were acquired "free" through the MAP, while the other 6,along with the 18 -Es were bought from McDD, as a Direct Commercial Sale, without the involvement of the US government.
The contract for the sale of 24 aircraft (18 F-4Es and 6 RF-4Es), was signed in Athens on June 16, 1977.
The contract was worth US$ 91,000,000.This time, a very small number of pilots had to go to the US for training.
In fact, only four went for training to the RFs photo-reconnaissance systems.
As an interesting note, the Greek RF-4Es are similar in configuration to the USAF RF-Cs and not to the German
RF-4Es.
All the F-4Es of this last order, carried the TISEO, as this was standard on all -Es built at the time.
The same delivery procedure was followed as in the first order, only this time, a Greek pilot was flying as a back seater.