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In the museum’s “Leros” hangar,
a display is made showing 100 years of Greek aviation. The display includes
a Spitfire Μk.ΙΧc and a Helldiver SB2C-5, formerly belonging to the Athens
War Museum, a F-84G Thunderjet wearing the colours of the first Hellenic
aerobatics team, the F-84F Thunderstreak that became its successor, a Tiger
Moth training biplane and the specially painted F-104Gs Starfighter named
“Tiger” and “Olympos” to commemorate the disbandment off booth Starfighter
units.
The most recent additions to the collection are a Dornier Do-28 Skyservant
and a T-37 Tweet booth resaved after the type’s withdrawal from active use
by the air force. The museum’s collection includes more than forty aircraft
and the number is still growing.
One of the many fields where the museum’s activities have been unique is the
recovery of 2nd World War aircraft wreckage. This activity, internationally
described under the term “Aviation Archaeology”, is conducted both by the
museum and the private sector.
On May 1993 a mixed team composed of personnel from the museum and the HAF’s
special team of frogmen, hauled up the remains of a British Blenheim Mk.I
bomber from Lake Prespa. However, the most complete similar task organized
by the same units in July 1996 was the spectacular hauling up of a British
Blenheim Mk.IV F, which was shot down during the battle of Crete near the
city of Rethymno. The Blenheim is displayed almost as it was found on the
seabed. Similar expeditions have been done on a Ju-52 and a JU-87 Stuka in
recent years. |
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