Bruce Dennis Posted 6 August , 2005 Share Posted 6 August , 2005 Hello, Does anyone have any information on air operations/personnel from RNAS/RAF Thasos? I am also interested in anything about the French units operating from there before the RNAS arrived and the Greek units which operated briefly at the same base. Anything would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeW Posted 6 August , 2005 Share Posted 6 August , 2005 Bruce, I can recommend "Royal Naval Air Service" by Brad King, published by Hikoki. It has quite a bit on RNAS operations in the Aegean. Brad works, or worked, not sure which, for the Imperial War Museum so the book contains hundreds of photographs from the museum's collection - something that normally doesn't happen because of the Museum's utterly exhorbitant "reproduction fees". Normally one photo costs about as much as any royalties that an author might hope to get! Also, if you go to the Cross & Cockade web-site and peruse their article index you will find a fair number of articles listed that deal with Aegean activites. Armed with issue and year numbers you will then be able to find copies at places like the RAF Museum or the Fleet Air Arm Museum. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 6 August , 2005 Share Posted 6 August , 2005 Hello, Does anyone have any information on air operations/personnel from RNAS/RAF Thasos? I am also interested in anything about the French units operating from there before the RNAS arrived and the Greek units which operated briefly at the same base. Anything would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, Bruce <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Helloh Bruce, I've got some personnel who have been "sighted" at Thasos, both RNAS and Greek but no French. This is the list of Greeks, all Royal Hellenic Navy Argyropolous, Sub Lt Feb 1917 Chalkias, Sub Lt Jul 1917 Chrysider, Sub Lt Aug 1917 Economou, CPO Dec 1917 Hambas, Flt Sub Lt Jan 1918 Logiardis, Flt Sub Lt Dec 1917 Melotopoulos, Sub Lt Dec 1917 Moriatinis,Aristides C. Lt Cdr no date Psychas,P. Sub Lt Feb 1917 Saketopoulos, rank not known a gunlayer Dec 1917 Skoufopoulos, Sub Lt Dec 1917 I have only brief details about some of these men. If this info is any use to you I can also list the 47 RNAS men I have identified at Thasos. They are mainly aircrew but not entirely so. If you want the list just say so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Dennis Posted 6 August , 2005 Author Share Posted 6 August , 2005 I would be very grateful for that list. I am slowly piecing together the story of the air activities there. Many thanks, Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeW Posted 7 August , 2005 Share Posted 7 August , 2005 manicafan, I would suggest you have a typo in that list, Hambas should be Hambras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 7 August , 2005 Share Posted 7 August , 2005 I would be very grateful for that list. I am slowly piecing together the story of the air activities there. Many thanks, Bruce <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi Bruce, All persons are RNAS unless otherwise stated. Ranks may not always fit period quoted: Aveling,Charles James, Surgeon [RN] Jul 1916 Barrington,Francis Edward Philip, Flt Sub Lt 1916 Blake,Alfred Montague, Flt Sub Lt Jul 1916 Blandy,Geoffrey Kelvin, Flt Sub Lt Jul 1916 & Oct 1916 Bremner,Francis Donald Holden, Flt Sub Lt Jun 1916 & Jul 1916 Burton,Stanley, Flt Sub Lt Jan1917 & Mar 1918 Bush,Richard Yorrol, Flt Lt 1916 Calder,Frederick Charles Clement, Capt [RAF] Oct 1918 & Jun 1919 Chambers,Frederick Forster, Lt [RNVR] May 1916 & Dec 1917 believed to be A/A officer Chambers,Robert E. Sub Lt [RNVR] Jul1916 Cliff,Victor Hugo, Flt Sub Lt Jan 1918 Cox,George Aubrey, Flt Lt Jul 1916 Cross,Bernard Charles Henry, Flt Sub Lt Jul 1916 Duggan,Patrick, Flt Sub Lt Jan 1918 Dunning,Edwin Harris Flt Cdr Jul 1916 Errington,A.G. Sub Lt [RNR] Jun1916 Finbow,William George, WO2 Jul 1916 Ford,Ernest Leonard, Flt Sub Lt Aug 1916 & Sep 1916 Fowler,Philip Kenning, Flt Sub Lt Feb 1917 Gallagher,Harry Thomas, Warrant Tel [RNR] Jul 1916 Gilmour,Charles, Flt Sub Lt Mar 1917 Graham,Henry Davenport, Flt Lt Mar 1917 Green Herbert Maurice, Ldg Mech F7738 Mar 1917 Haig,James Douglas, Flt Sub Lt Mar 1917 & May 1917 Hervey,Lionel Arthur, Flt Cdr Ingham,Joshua Martin, Flt Sub Lt Feb 1917 Jameson,Wilfred Chalmers, Obs Sub Lt 1916 Jones,William Basil Loxdale, 2/Lt [RM] 1916 Keightley,Gordon, Sub Lt [RNVR] May 1917 Kilner,Cecil Francis, Sqdn Cdr May 1916 & 1917 Kinkead,Samuel Marcus, Flt Sub Lt Jul 1916 Marchant,Alfred Palmer, CPO 232250 Mar 1917 Maxwell,John Earle, Sub Lt [RNVR] Mar 1917 Morley,Bernard C. Obs Sub Lt Jul 1916 Murray,David Fraser, Lt [RAF] Oct 1918 Oxley,Christopher Bernard, Sub Lt [RN] Jul 1916 Park,William, Lt Cdr [RNVR] 1916 Peberdy,Warner Hutchins, Flt Lt Jan1 1917 Rainey,Thomas Alfred, Flt Cdr 1916 Shepherd,Arthur L. AC2 F17635 Jun 1917 Simpson,Matthew Allister, Flt Sub Lt Dec 1915 & Aug 1916 Smyth-Pigott,Joseph Ruscombe W. Sqdn Cdr Mar 1917 Starbuck,Norman Henry, Sub Lt [RNVR] Feb 1917 Terraneau,Eric Guy, Warr Tel [RNR] 1918 Tyler,Alfred Robert, Air Mech1 F4201 Feb 1917 & Aug 1917 Williams,Walter Travers Swire, Flt Sub Lt Jul 1916 Wright,G.E. Obs Sub Lt 1916 Ive got a few snippets on a few of these men which would be better dealt with by e-mail If you care to respond Regards Duncan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 7 August , 2005 Share Posted 7 August , 2005 manicafan, I would suggest you have a typo in that list, Hambas should be Hambras. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi Mike Thanks for your correction Regards Duncan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeW Posted 7 August , 2005 Share Posted 7 August , 2005 Manicafan, Duncan of the famous Duncan Files? Hi Duncan! Bruce & Duncan, Starbuck's logbook is in the Liddle collection at Leeds Uni. It's interesting due to the fact that he flew the Alcock Scout - the bitza made up out of parts from various crashed machines. He also sounds as though he flew with the Battlestar Gallactica! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 8 August , 2005 Share Posted 8 August , 2005 Manicafan, Duncan of the famous Duncan Files? Hi Duncan! Bruce & Duncan, Starbuck's logbook is in the Liddle collection at Leeds Uni. It's interesting due to the fact that he flew the Alcock Scout - the bitza made up out of parts from various crashed machines. He also sounds as though he flew with the Battlestar Gallactica! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi Mike and Bruce Yes Mike I see my cover is blown Bruce I received your e-mail but I've tried to reply twice but had both of them returned as delivery failed Hope to hear from you soon Regards Duncan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 8 August , 2005 Share Posted 8 August , 2005 Hi Mike and Bruce Yes Mike I see my cover is blown Bruce I received your e-mail but I've tried to reply twice but had both of them returned as delivery failed Hope to hear from you soon Regards Duncan <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi Bruce I've given it two further shots same result Regards Duncan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunning30 Posted 14 December , 2006 Share Posted 14 December , 2006 My distant cousin Edwin Harris Dunning ("Ned") was in Thasos. He is mentioned in the list posted by manicafan. I would be very interested in any information you find about him and the operations they were involved in. Thank you. Caroline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Dennis Posted 15 December , 2006 Author Share Posted 15 December , 2006 My distant cousin Edwin Harris Dunning ("Ned") was in Thasos. He is mentioned in the list posted by manicafan. I would be very interested in any information you find about him and the operations they were involved in. Thank you. Caroline Caroline, EH Dunning DSC is in a group photo in the archives at FAA Yeovilton. The photo is of the officers of A Squadron No2 Wing RNAS Thasos 1916, negative No G.E.WRIGHT/19. He is 6th from the left in the back row, wearing a very fetching pith helmet and smoking a pipe. I am unable to access my detailed notes at the moment but email me direct and I will tell you what I know. Regards, Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apwright Posted 6 August , 2007 Share Posted 6 August , 2007 Helloh Bruce, I've got some personnel who have been "sighted" at Thasos, both RNAS and Greek but no French. This is the list of Greeks, all Royal Hellenic Navy Argyropolous, Sub Lt Feb 1917 Chalkias, Sub Lt Jul 1917 Chrysider, Sub Lt Aug 1917 Economou, CPO Dec 1917 Hambas, Flt Sub Lt Jan 1918 Logiardis, Flt Sub Lt Dec 1917 Melotopoulos, Sub Lt Dec 1917 Moriatinis,Aristides C. Lt Cdr no date Psychas,P. Sub Lt Feb 1917 Saketopoulos, rank not known a gunlayer Dec 1917 Skoufopoulos, Sub Lt Dec 1917 I have only brief details about some of these men. If this info is any use to you I can also list the 47 RNAS men I have identified at Thasos. They are mainly aircrew but not entirely so. If you want the list just say so. Sorry to drag this thread up again, but I thought you might be interested to know that some of these names appear on the War Memorial in Skala Prinou, Thasos. PATRIS EVGNOMONOUSA ANIGEIRE TODE MNIMEION AI YPER AVTIS PESONDAS EN POLEMO 1914-18 (A grateful nation erected this memorial to those who fell for her in war 1914-18) ARGYROPOULOS D. - Axiomatikos Aeroporos [lit. Pilot Officer] LOGIADIS I. - Axiomatikos Aeroporos OIKONOMOU [=Economou] - Axiomatikos Aeroporos SAKETOPOULOS V. - Axiomatikos Aeroporos ZAKKAS - Ypaxiomatikos [NCO] KREMMYDAS - Navtis [seaman] KOTSARAKIS - Navtis P GEORGIOU [i.e. Papageorgiou] - Navtis HATZIKYRIAKOU - Axiomatikos Aeroporias [lit. Air Force Officer] HAMBAS SP. Hope this is of interest! Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eschwege1917 Posted 3 June , 2012 Share Posted 3 June , 2012 Dear friends, I wish to inform you that on Sunday the 24th of June, a ceremony will take place at Thasos (scala Prinou - the old scala Kazaviti) dedicated to the Naval aviators, both Greek and British - Commonwealth, who operated from there during the Great War. During the ceremony there is going to be an unveiling of a new War Memorial substituting the present one. I insisted that the new War Memorial will include a marble plaque with the names of all those British and Commonwealth countries' airmen who lost their lives flying from Thasos. My research has ended up with the following list which I passed to "F.H.L. I. KIRIAKIDIS Manufacturing and Trading Co. Marbles & Granites S.A.", responsible for the Memorial manufacture: FSL A.J. Whetnall 18-11-1916 FL W.H. Peberdy 14-01-1917 FSL J.M. Ingham 30-03-1917 OSL J.E. Maxwell 30-03-1917 FSL J.D. Haig 20-05-1917 OSL G. Keightley 20-05-1917 AC2 A.L. Shephard 01-06-1917 AAM1 A.E. King 12-06-1917 Thereafter, I am going to make a speech at Lemena's Kalogeriko where I will also show images taken at Thasos between 1916 - 1918, belonging to FSLs PK Fowler and NH Starbuck who also served in Thasos... Everyone of you is mostly wellcome! Paschalis Palavouzis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revan Posted 2 December , 2012 Share Posted 2 December , 2012 Hello All, I read a document (French Army archives), where an aerial fight on 20 June, 1916, with Dunning on normally British Nieuport (Clerget engine). On 20 June, 1916 in night, there was normally a raid from Thasos with French aircrafts and English aircrafts. Two French Nieuport were in escort as normally two British aircrafts Nieuport. The document speaks of a fight of a Nieuport against 3 German seaplanes. The document says that ennemies were running away by action of Dunning and Oxley, and a bullet was crossing one Dunning's leg and pierced his aircraft tank. Text says that Nieuport was coming back with difficulty. Do you have some information about this aerial fight? I don't know if could to have some mistakes by text or no. Please, do you know if Oxley and Dunning were in the same aircraft? Thank you by advance. Greetings. Nico. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 3 December , 2012 Share Posted 3 December , 2012 Nico, This may help See Flight September 14, 1916 here http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1916/1916%20-%200788.html?search=oxley Rewards for the R.N.A.S. IN a supplement to the London Gazette issued on September 7th, it was announced that the King has been graciously pleased to -give orders for the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to the under-mentioned officers :—- Sub-Lieutenant (now Acting Lieutenant) C. B. OXLEY, R.N. Sub-Lieutenant Oxley was acting as observer with Flight-Lieutenant Edward H. Dunning, D.S.C., as pilot, on escort and reconnaissance patrol for a flight of bombing machines on the Bulgarian coast, on June 20th, 1916. Two enemy machines were engaged at close range and forced to retire, and as our machine withdrew Flight-Lieutenant Dunning was hit in the left leg, and the machine itself was badly damaged. Sub-Lieutenant Oxley, having first improvised a tourniquet, which he gave to Flight-Lieutenant Dunning, took control of the machine, whilst the latter put on the tourniquet. The pilot was obliged to keep his thumb over a hole in the lower part of the petrol tank in order to keep enough fuel to return to the aerodrome, where he made an exceedingly good landing regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 3 December , 2012 Share Posted 3 December , 2012 Dear friends, I wish to inform you that on Sunday the 24th of June, a ceremony will take place at Thasos (scala Prinou - the old scala Kazaviti) dedicated to the Naval aviators, both Greek and British - Commonwealth, who operated from there during the Great War. During the ceremony there is going to be an unveiling of a new War Memorial substituting the present one. I insisted that the new War Memorial will include a marble plaque with the names of all those British and Commonwealth countries' airmen who lost their lives flying from Thasos. My research has ended up with the following list which I passed to "F.H.L. I. KIRIAKIDIS Manufacturing and Trading Co. Marbles & Granites S.A.", responsible for the Memorial manufacture: FSL A.J. Whetnall 18-11-1916 FL W.H. Peberdy 14-01-1917 FSL J.M. Ingham 30-03-1917 OSL J.E. Maxwell 30-03-1917 FSL J.D. Haig 20-05-1917 OSL G. Keightley 20-05-1917 AC2 A.L. Shephard 01-06-1917 AAM1 A.E. King 12-06-1917 Thereafter, I am going to make a speech at Lemena's Kalogeriko where I will also show images taken at Thasos between 1916 - 1918, belonging to FSLs PK Fowler and NH Starbuck who also served in Thasos... Everyone of you is mostly wellcome! Paschalis Palavouzis Paschalis Palavouzis, I hope that your ceremony on 24th June went off well If you have any photographs of the event, then please let us have a look at them here best regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revan Posted 3 December , 2012 Share Posted 3 December , 2012 Hello Michael, Thank you very much for your answer and help. Now, I have all information. French archives text speaks of three German seaplanes, "Flight" of two, I don't know which is the true, but I imagine was an hard fight for them. It is well, that they were awarded a medal for this fight. I had read "Flight" newspaper, but only on "Aircraft Work at front - Official Information" on June 1916. I study aerial fight in Macedonia and Greece. Thank you for the link. Best regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revan Posted 3 December , 2012 Share Posted 3 December , 2012 Flying with the French, I find often an observer named GREAVES on June, 1916. And from THASOS, also. Greetings. Nico. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revan Posted 5 December , 2012 Share Posted 5 December , 2012 Hello, I think the landing ground or airfield was here (middle on photograph), because there is a drawing (normally by him: http://www.theaerodr...t-prejelan.html) in French Army archives (with this form of the island) and a text says (by Lt PREJELAN), that the airfield chosen by the British is North-West of the island and the only possible area on island for that . So I think (if no mistake by me) was here : (Photographs source: Google maps). What are you thinking on this? Please, could you confirm it? Thank you. Imagine that about one hundred years ago, military aircrafts were surely taking off from this area and for their missions and aerial fights. Greetings. Nico. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revan Posted 5 December , 2012 Share Posted 5 December , 2012 I have confirmation here: http://www.a-to-z-gu...und-on-thassos/ Interesting link at to read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 6 December , 2012 Share Posted 6 December , 2012 Nico, Many thanks for adding that link: it makes fascinating reading regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eschwege1917 Posted 12 March , 2013 Share Posted 12 March , 2013 Dear friends, After so long, I have finally found some spare time to report on the ceremony that took place on the 24th of last June at Thasos. The truly magnificent memorial was unveiled by the Mayor of Thasos and present were the Commander in Chief of the Tactical Air Force (Hellenic Air Force), Commander in Chief of the Hellenic Fleet, many of the local authorities, the locals and many tourists. During the ceremony two helicopters of the Hellenic Armed Forces (an AH-64A Apache of the Hellenic Army Air Force and a S-70B Aegean Hawk of the Hellenic Navy) made a low flypast, paying tribute to the WWI aviators who flew and fought from Thasos. I am posting some images of the memorial and the ceremony... Since then, I was very pleased to be contacted by ancestors of airmen that flew from Thasos during the Great War. They have provided me with more photos, logbooks and diaries of their beloved and you can easily guess that all this material gives a very clear picture of what was happening here at Thasos and the other RNAS bases in the Aegean between 1916 and 1918. Being a member of Cross and Cockade International I thought that some of this material could be published in the Society's Journal and thus prove useful to many others eager to learn about the activities in the Aegean during the war. So, in the coming issue (Vol 44/1) there is going to be an article by me, about FSL PK Fowler's (a New Zealander) service in the Aegean (including flying and fighting from Thasos). Also, very soon, there is going to be a major TV program (about an hour's duration) in the Hellenic TV dedicated to the Greek and foreign airmen of Thasos. It will obviously include many bits of my research on this issue. By the way, Nico, you are absolutely correct about the place where the aerodrome used to be. Regarding me, I would be very interested in the French aviators' activity (June 1916) over the area. Is it possible to contact me via pm? Regarding the Sopwith Camel's remains, found in February 2012 at Thasos, I would like to inform all of you that special care was taken to safeguard them in a secure place for future exhibition. Together with Dr Constantinos Lagos, I had the privilege of removing the soil and rust from the parts and protect them in anti-corrosion wax (also used by the British Museum). I 'll keep you informed with more news and all the developments concerning Thasos during WWI All the best, Paschalis Palavouzis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 13 March , 2013 Share Posted 13 March , 2013 Paschalis, Many thanks for the photographs and for the up-date on this regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revan Posted 23 March , 2013 Share Posted 23 March , 2013 By the way, Nico, you are absolutely correct about the place where the aerodrome used to be. Regarding me, I would be very interested in the French aviators' activity (June 1916) over the area. Is it possible to contact me via pm? Hello, Thank you for photographs and on 24th June. I read only now, your message. Yes, I will contact you by pm, if you want. Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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