The story of the Greek PZL P24 fighter aircraft, 1940-41
By Pierre Kosmidis The Royal Hellenic Air Force (EVA) is the only air force during WW2 to operate the PZL.24 as its main fighter type. Two subtypes, thirty P.24F and six P.24G, were ordered and delivered in 1937-38. They were split between three Mirae Dioxeos (Fighter Squadrons): the 21st at Trikala, 22nd at Thessaloniki and […]
27 May 1941, when the hospital ship “Gradisca” almost sunk in Piraeus, by Vincenzo Giacomo Toccafondi
By Vincenzo Giacomo Toccafondi While writing the book “Le Navi Ospedale Italiane dopo l’Armistizio” I bought a certain number of photographs on ebay Germany. One of these portrayed the hospital ship Gradisca, the torpedo boat Lupo and what I believed to be the destroyer Carducci photographed from the stern, showing the two letters CD on the […]
“Poulos Verband”: Georgios Poulos and the notorious German collaborators in Greece, through rare photographs
By Pierre Kosmidis You can see more previously unpublished or rare photos, in the magazine LIGNE DE FRONT N°101 Greece found itself in the midst of war, on October 28, 1940, when it was attacked by Italy. Soon the Italian offensive turned into a fiasco and the Greek army found itself chasing the Italians deep into […]
The “Greek” M24 Chaffee Tanks
Photos by James Dixon, submitted to www.ww2wrecks.com and used by permission The M24 Chaffee, the replacement for the M3/M5 Stuarts, was a leap forward in light tank design, improving the concept in all directions. It had modern torsion bar suspensions, completely revised welded steel armor, improved protection and, more importantly, a much more potent lightweight […]
Book presentation: Le Navi Ospedale Italiane Dopo l’Armistizio (The Italian Hospital Ships After the Armistice), by Vincenzo Giacomo Toccafondi
From the presentation of the book by Amm Isp. Capo (c.a.) Vincenzo Martines Vincenzo Giacomo Toccafondi has already explored the world of Italian hospital ships with the recent valuable publication of the “Story of a white ship: Wandilla-Fort St.George- Cesarea- Arno 1912-1942” which ended with the sinking of the latter by of a British torpedo […]
The Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Air Force) over Kefalonia and Corfu, September 1943, by Maurizio Marras
By researcher and author Maurizio Marras Photos submitted to www.ww2wrecks.com by Maurizio Marras and used by permission After the fateful date of the armistice 8 September 1943, the Regia Aeronautica, such until 18 June 1946, did not immediately become “co-belligerent”, a name that moreover never appears in any official document, because of the clauses, of […]
“Hellas Liberty”: The floating Museum, a tribute to the 2,000 sailors and 424 Greek merchant ships lost during WW2
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos © www.ww2wrecks.com One of the four still existing Liberty ships in the world is “Hellas Liberty”, formerly named “SS Arthur M. Huddell”, located in Piraeus harbour, Greece, serving as a floating museum. Overall, 2,710 Liberty ships were built between 1941 and 1945, an average of three ships every two days. More than 2,400 […]
The tragic end of Bristol Blenheim Mk I of 211 Sqn RAF, at 16:07 hrs., April 13, 1941
By Pierre Kosmidis Source: 211 Squadron RAF Photos: As credited On the afternoon of Easter Sunday, 13 April 1941, six of the Squadron’s seven remaining serviceable Blenheims took off from Paramythia for an unescorted daylight attack on German forces some some 120 miles away to the NNE, advancing South via the Monastir Gap through Florina […]
Αναδύεται στη μνήμη η τραγωδία του “Marguerite”
By Pierre Kosmidis Σαν σήμερα, ακριβώς πριν από 69 χρόνια στις 13 Οκτωβρίου του 1943 μια τραγωδία εκτυλίχθηκε στον Πατραϊκό Κόλπο, η οποία χρειάστηκε σχεδόν 65 χρόνια για να έρθει και πάλι στην επιφάνεια, χάρη στην ιστορική έρευνα και τις επιτόπιες καταδύσεις από ομάδα Ελλήνων αυτοδυτών. Μια υπόθεση γνωστή στους καταδυτικούς κύκλους, αλλά όχι και […]
Tenente di Vascello Giuseppe Brignole and the Torpediniera Calatafimi in the Greek seas during WW2, by Vincenzo Giacomo Toccafondi
By Vincenzo Giacomo Toccafondi The performances of the Italian Royal Navy during World War II were modest overall and were marred by painful defeats, such as the air raid in Taranto and the disaster of Cape Matapan. The story of the torpedo boat Calatafimi and its commander T.V. (Tenente di Vascello) Giuseppe Brignole is a […]