“Remarkable Personalities” with Stavroula Karali presents Part II of a historical tribute to Greek aviators and their operations during World War I.
Returning to the Voice of Greece studio are Konstantinos Lagos, professor at the Hellenic Air Force Academy, and Pantelis Vatakis, retired brigadier general and Hellenic Air Force pilot. They are the authors of “1918 – World War I: Greek Wings in Battle,” published by Psichogios Publications.
Part II of the tribute focuses on Greece’s position during World War I, Eleftherios Venizelos’s strategy and geopolitical ambitions, as well as his profound disagreement with King Constantine, which led to the National Schism.
At the heart of the discussion are the operations against the Goeben and the Breslau, the bombing raids over the Dardanelles, and the extraordinarily dangerous missions flown by Greek aviators in aircraft with limited capabilities, open cockpits, and virtually no safety measures.
Mr. Vatakis and Mr. Lagos describe just how dangerous it was to fly the aircraft of that era. They also discuss the missions undertaken by Greek aviators, which today might be described as “suicide missions.”
A special place in the program is devoted to Aristeidis Moraitinis, known among the Allies as the “Fearless Aviator.” He took part in perilous missions and emerged as a leading figure and symbol of the Hellenic Naval Air Service, before meeting an untimely end just weeks after the conclusion of the Great War.
The two authors also recount the story of Spyros Champas, a young aviator who did everything in his power to take part in a dangerous mission from which there would be no return.
The discussion concludes with a flight filled with Greek color over Constantinople, just days after the end of the war.
Produced and presented by Stavroula Karali
Sound engineer: Efi Georgopoulou