Page 135 - Airpower in 20th Century - Doctrines and Employment

135
royal HelleniC air forCe (rHaf) during world war ii. organization and operations

Figure 9: A No.13 Light Bombing Squadron Martin A-30 Baltimore setting course at dawn
(Archive of the History Museum, HAF 40093).

to Saint Jean near Haifa. Its main task was to offer air-cover over an area extending
from Cyprus and Beirut to Haifa and Tel Aviv occasionally reaching Alexandria,
Mersa Matruh and even Tobruk in Libya.
On October 14 and 24, during anti-submarine patrols, the Squadron was credited
with shooting up two enemy U-boats on the surface. As a result of the intensive com-
bined allied aerial action over the Eastern Mediterranean, the Sea became relatively
safe for Allied convoys. Part of the credit undeniably belongs to No. 13 Hellenic
19
Squadron, which was warmly congratulated by the allied commanders .
During the first months of 1943 the Squadron received new Blenheim known as
“Bisley’’ at Landing Ground 07. The most important development during the last
months of 1943 was the gradual replacement of the Bristol Blenheims by Martin
A-30 Baltimores of the Mk III type, having enhanced capabilities such as increased
range and heavier bomb load (Figure 9). Thus, the Squadron carried out offensive
sweeps, photo-recce and bombing sorties over the Southern Aegean. Until December
12, 1943, the Squadron had completed 1.302 missions, 740 of which were convoy

19
Ibid, pp.189-190.