Latinbear Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 To mark the retirement of the RF4E from Hellenic Air Force service and the disbanding of 348 squadron a spotters' day and formal retirement ceremony was held at Larissa air force base. Although initially limited to 300 places, overwhelming demand to attend led to just over 500 enthusiasts from 28 countries being granted access to the spotters day Thursday 4th May. As to be expected security was tight but despite the numbers, entry and processing was carried out pretty quickly and the whole day was efficiently run. The organisers had very helpfully laid out a crowd line of what must have been at least 2,000 feet along the southern taxiway to allow everyone plenty of room. There was also a souvenir stall which was busier than the first day of the Harrods sale. We were treated to several sorties by the resident Phantoms and F16s of 337 squadron as well as a practice flight by the T6 from Team Daedalus and the F16 from Zeus both of which were displaying on the Friday. The F4s, along with a Mirage 2000 and an F16 were also practicing their formation for Friday's ceremony. Unfortunately they practiced (quite naturally) along their crowd line which was at the western end and at 90 degrees to the runway which meant they were quite a way away and on the Friday we were facing the sun which was obviously not great for photos. We would love to have had them do a practice down the runway of course! A few low passes and top sides would have been terrific and although the squadron had opted for a flying programme to benefit the spotters the final decision regarding the flying was out of their hands. The Friday saw the base open to the public for speeches and a religious ceremony combined to mark the squadron's disbanding. I reckoned the spotters present outnumbered the locals 2:1. The airshow consisted of the mixed formation flypast, the three F4s and Zeus and Daedalus as mentioned. Everybody was then allowed onto the apron for a closer look at the flagship Phantom, a retired RF84 and an F16. By midday it was all over and time to leave the base. The weather was officially scorchio and so while much, much better than standard UK issue grey overcast the heat haze was unhelpful. A huge thank you to the Hellenic Air Force and the personnel of 348 squadron and the 110th Combat Wing at Larissa for putting on such a great event and which was entirely free of charge as well. For those interested the June edition of "Combat Aircraft" magazine has a 12 page spread on 348s Phantoms. I picked mine up from the newsagent this morning but have yet to read it. 1. Today, for you, we make the exception. 2. 3. 4. The flagship. 5. The old adage - follow the smoke and you'll find your Phantom. Spot the second one. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Friday's flypast. Unfortunately we were facing the sun. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. The coolest job in the world. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. The pilots did a great job. Turning towards the crowd and stopping along the taxiway as well. 23. 24. 25. 26. 26. It was intended that we get access to these by being bussed over using an hourly service. I was told that the busses arrived when everybody was along the crowd line photographing the flying Phantoms and thinking there was no interest the buses disappeared never to be seen again! 27. Team Daedalus. 28. Good luck waiting for the crowd to clear. 29. 30. Contrary to expectations the base museum was not accessible on the Friday which was a huge shame. 31. There is a memorial in the south-east corner of the base outside the wire and which sits on a mound some 25 feet high. Taken from there. 32. Worn with with pride! 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. There were a few of these littering the airfield. 40. A sad sight. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. That's the lot. Thanks for looking 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 Not seeing any pics unfortunately Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latinbear Posted May 7, 2017 Author Share Posted May 7, 2017 Thanks for letting me know. Will try and fix this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 Great shots from what must have been a memorable day but one tinged with sadness. Another favorite type getting closer to extinction Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latinbear Posted May 7, 2017 Author Share Posted May 7, 2017 Thanks Mark, much appreciated. It was a really good day and as the F4 is my favourite aircraft then it was something that had to be done. It is very sad indeed that its days are numbered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 Lovely to see Mount Olympus as a backdrop to a 'Toom photo, not many operators left now of this iconic design. cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latinbear Posted May 7, 2017 Author Share Posted May 7, 2017 1 hour ago, Jinxman said: Lovely to see Mount Olympus as a backdrop to a 'Toom photo, not many operators left now of this iconic design. cheers Agreed. I suspect that several of those operators won't be putting on spotters' days either ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 Some lovely images of what looked to be a great event, tinged with sadness. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Aer Lingus Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 Phantastic Photos looked like a fantastic event look forward to seeing more pics ! Thanks for sharing Eamonn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 (edited) Ah, memories of a great base ... A few shots of Larissa in the early 1980s. Martin Edited May 7, 2017 by RidgeRunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latinbear Posted May 8, 2017 Author Share Posted May 8, 2017 13 hours ago, RidgeRunner said: Ah, memories of a great base ... A few shots of Larissa in the early 1980s. Martin Those were very nice! You'd have been "Midnight Expressed" if they knew you'd taken those. In the shot of the RF84s there is a black rectangle that looks about two stories high with various light rectangles on it. Any idea what it is? While I was waiting at Thessaloniki at the departure gate I noticed the "No photos" sign on the windows as the view is of the military part of the airfield. A few old F5s and a C47 could be seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 8, 2017 Share Posted May 8, 2017 1 hour ago, Latinbear said: In the shot of the RF84s there is a black rectangle that looks about two stories high with various light rectangles on it. Any idea what it is? Hi! That is a calibration board, given that it is/was a recce base. We used to fly through SKG (Thessaloniki) regularly and you could see the operational F-5s. There were also two F-86Fs/Canadair Sabres, one preserved on the ramp and the other in a car park (as I remember). Great days! My mates and I had a week in Greece in 1982. I managed to get us in to the HAI facility at Tanagra. We visited Elefsis, Megara, Andravida, Araxos, Tatoi and Athens-Hellenikon (everyday). We got stopped once but managed to convince the rozzers we were simply having lunch. It just happened to be under Tanagra's approach! Martin M 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 8, 2017 Share Posted May 8, 2017 6 minutes ago, RidgeRunner said: That is a calibration board, given that it is/was a recce base. I see it is still there! (your shot of the F-4s) Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latinbear Posted May 8, 2017 Author Share Posted May 8, 2017 2 hours ago, RidgeRunner said: I see it is still there! (your shot of the F-4s) Martin It is indeed. Thanks for the info, much appreciated. On the way to my hotel (the Royal) on the Friday evening I passed an old F84 and F5 by a gate on the south side of the base and they are visible on Google as well. I also saw an F86 sitting on the roof of a garage or motor parts retailer a bit further on down the road but having had a sweaty, stressful drive in the rush hour traffic I was in desperate need of a beer and couldn't be bothered to stop to take a picture. Naturally I'm regretting that now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 8, 2017 Share Posted May 8, 2017 All great stuff!!!! . The Greeks (and the Turks) operated many types that I love - F-104, F-84, F-5, C-130, Noratlas, Huey, S-2, F-100, and more. A great part of the world!!! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 Awesome - I'm very jealous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latinbear Posted May 15, 2017 Author Share Posted May 15, 2017 Thanks for all the kind comments - very much appreciated. I've added a few more images. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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