Two images spring to mind when the word ‘Okinawa’ is mentioned, and they could not be more different. One is of a Pacific Island of beauty and wonder, sand kissed beaches and palm trees, the other of those sands saturated in the blood of the fallen from some of the most vicious fighting in World War Two.
The 527th Aggressor Squadron – the final six months.
SHOW OF STRENGTH FROM GLOBAL STRIKE COMMAND
The beginning of Irish military aviation actually began in another country as in 1922 a Martinsyde Type A mkIII was purchased to allow General Michael Collins to escape from London after the treaty talks with Great Britain had failed. By June of that year the Air Service Headquarters had been established at Baldonnel with thirteen aircraft and fourteen pilots and though the pace of change was slow at first, in 1926 the Cadet Scheme began to select future pilots and this process is still in use.
A-7, Goodbye to a warrior
The Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) A-7 Corsair II made its last ever operational flight on Friday October 17th at Araxos Air Base in Western Greece. The Hellenic Air Force (Greek Air Force – HAF) had two days of activities to celebrate the Corsair and Pixelsnipers were there to witness the events.
Located 2.5 Kilometres (km) from the town of the same name, Andravida Air Base is located in the region of Elis, Western Greece. It is home to two squadrons of McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II’s, a detachment of Bombardier CL-215’s and the Greek Air Force Air Tactics Centre (KEAT).
